Marine Pilot

A marine pilot is a navigation expert who boards a ship to advise the master on local conditions in confined or congested waters, where pilotage is usually compulsory by national or port law. The pilot’s local knowledge of tides, currents, traffic, and berthing supplements rather than replaces the master’s authority, who retains command throughout. IMO Resolution A.960 sets recommendations on pilot training, certification, and operational procedures, and the master-pilot exchange is a defined bridge resource management step.