Extended Operational and Trade Vocabulary

Marine Pilotage, Pilot Districts, and Pilots' Associations glossary

Vocabulary of marine pilotage: IMO Assembly resolutions on pilot transfer arrangements and on training and certification of maritime pilots, the superseding chain from A.485(12) and A.889(21) to A.960(23), A.1045(27) and A.1108(29), and the pilot-district and pilots’-association concepts governing compulsory and deep-sea pilotage.

290 defined terms.

Showing 250 on this page (page 1 of 2).

A

A.1045(27): IMO Assembly Resolution adopted 30 November 2011 containing Recommendations on Pilot Transfer Arrangements, replacing A.889(21).
A.1108(29): IMO Assembly Resolution of 2015 amending Recommendations on Pilot Transfer Arrangements to align with SOLAS V/23 and clarifying rigging and equipment requirements.
A.485(12): IMO Assembly Resolution on Recommendations on the Training, Qualifications and Operational Procedures for Maritime Pilots Other than Deep-Sea Pilots, superseded by A.960(23).
A.486(12): IMO Assembly Resolution of 1981 on Recommendations on the Training, Qualifications and Operational Procedures for Deep-Sea Pilots.
A.889(21): IMO Assembly Resolution of 1999 on Pilot Transfer Arrangements, later superseded by A.1045(27).
A.960(23): IMO Assembly Resolution adopted 5 December 2003 containing Recommendations on Training and Certification and on Operational Procedures for Maritime Pilots other than Deep-Sea Pilots.
Abeam Boarding: Pilot transfer technique in which the pilot boat comes alongside the ship's lee side amidships rather than abreast of the bow or stern.
Accommodation ladder: Inclined ladder hung over the ship's side for access.
ACP: Autoridad del Canal de Panama, the Panama Canal Authority operating compulsory pilotage through the Canal.
ACP Pilot House Master: Senior Panama Canal pilot grade qualified to handle the largest neopanamax vessels through the Agua Clara and Cocoli locks.
AD Navigation ADX: Portable Pilot Unit family from Norwegian manufacturer AD Navigation AS providing high-precision RTK GNSS positioning for pilots.
Adelaide Pilots: Flinders Ports pilotage service handling vessels entering Port Adelaide, Outer Harbor, and the Port River channels in South Australia.
Air Draft Pilot Card: Information sheet exchanged on boarding listing the vessel's air draft, beam, length, and draft so the pilot can verify under-keel and overhead clearances.
Alaska Marine Pilots: One of three regional pilot associations licensed by the State of Alaska Board of Marine Pilots, covering Southwestern Alaska waters.
Anchor Pilotage: Pilotage service for vessels arriving at or departing from designated anchorage areas inside compulsory pilotage waters.
Antwerp Pilots: Brabantse Loodsen, the Flemish river pilots subgroup operating the Scheldt from Vlissingen to Antwerp under the Loodswezen umbrella.
APA: American Pilots' Association, national body representing state-licensed pilots in the United States.
Aransas-Corpus Christi Pilots: Texas state-commissioned pilot association serving the Port of Corpus Christi and the Aransas Pass channel.
Aspirante Pilot: Trainee pilot grade used in several Latin American jurisdictions during the apprenticeship period before commissioning.
Assist tug: tug supporting a vessel during berthing or unberthing.
Associated Branch Pilots: Louisiana state-commissioned pilots handling vessels between the Gulf of Mexico sea buoy and Pilottown at the Mississippi River mouth.
Atlantic Pilotage Authority: Canadian federal Crown corporation administering compulsory pilotage in the four Atlantic provinces.
Audible Signal: Whistle, bell, or hailer signal used between pilot boat and ship to coordinate boarding under poor visibility.
Australian Reef Pilots: Common short name for licensed coastal pilots conducting voyages through the Great Barrier Reef inner route and Torres Strait.
AVCS Pilot Chart: Admiralty Vector Chart Service ENC product subset specifically catalogued for pilotage districts and approach channels.

B

Bar pilot: Pilot specializing in crossing a coastal bar or river entrance, for example Columbia River Bar Pilots.
Base Pilotage: Statutory minimum pilotage charge applied irrespective of vessel size to cover the pilot's attendance, separate from tonnage-based dues.
Belize Pilot Station: Reference station off the South West Pass entrance to the Mississippi River used by Associated Branch Pilots for boarding operations.
Berth Box: Defined sea area assigned for a vessel in a DP field operation.
Berthing master: Pilot or boatman directing the final lines-down phase alongside a berth.
Berthing pilot: Pilot whose role begins at the berth approach to oversee mooring with assist tugs.
Bilge Lighting: Pilot ladder requirement under SOLAS V/23 that the means of access be illuminated overside and on deck for hours of darkness boarding.
Block-and-Tackle Rig: Old method of hoisting a pilot ladder, replaced by the requirement for ladders to be secured at deck level.
Boarding Ground: Designated charted position offshore at which a pilot embarks or disembarks a vessel.
Boarding speed: Vessel speed during pilot embarkation, typically 5 to 7 knots to provide a lee while allowing pilot boat control.
Bosphorus Pilots: Turkish Directorate-General of Coastal Safety pilots advising vessels through the Istanbul Strait under TDI authority.
Branch Pilot: Historic English term retained in some US jurisdictions for a fully commissioned senior pilot, distinct from an apprentice or deputy.
Brazos Pilots: Texas state-commissioned pilots covering Freeport and Brazos River entrances.
Bremen Pilots: Weserlotsen, the pilot brotherhood handling vessels on the Weser River between the German Bight pilot station and Bremen.
Brest Pilotage: Station de pilotage de Brest serving the Rade de Brest and the western approaches to the French Atlantic coast.
Bridge resource management: BRM, team-based bridge watchkeeping discipline.
Brisbane Pilots: Smartrans/Brisbane Marine Pilots, the licensed pilot provider for the Port of Brisbane and Moreton Bay approaches.
Buenos Aires Pilots: Practicos del Rio de la Plata serving the Argentine capital and the Parana River up to Rosario.
Bunkering Pilot: Pilot-class endorsement specific to maneuvering vessels alongside bunker barges, used in Singapore and Rotterdam.
Busan Port Pilots: Branch of the Korea Maritime Pilots Association serving the South Korean container hub of Busan New Port and North Port.

C

Callao Pilots: Practicos del Puerto del Callao serving Peru's main commercial port, regulated by the Direccion General de Capitanias y Guardacostas.
Cape Lambert Pilots: Pilbara Pilots service to Rio Tinto's Cape Lambert iron-ore export terminal in northwest Australia.
Caribbean Sea Pilot: Independent deep-sea pilot offering passage advice through the Windward and Mona Passages, although not mandated.
Cartagena Pilots: Practicos de Cartagena de Indias serving Colombia's principal Caribbean container and cruise port.
Channel pilot: pilot guiding a vessel through a restricted channel.
ChannelPilot: PPU software product line from New Zealand-based Navicom Dynamics designed for under-keel-constrained channel transits.
Charleston Pilots: Charleston Branch Pilots' Association serving the Port of Charleston, South Carolina, under state commission.
Chennai Pilots: Pilotage cadre of the Chennai Port Authority handling vessels at Chennai, Kamarajar, and Ennore approaches in southeast India.
CIRM Pilot Plug: Standardized RJ-45 connector specified by the Comite International Radio-Maritime for connecting a PPU to the ship's AIS pilot port.
Climb of Nine: Operational rule that pilots should not climb more than nine meters of pilot ladder, requiring a combination arrangement above that freeboard.
Cochin Pilots: Pilot service of the Cochin Port Authority handling tankers and containerships at Vallarpadam and Puthuvypeen, Kerala.
Columbia River Bar Pilots: US state pilots' organization handling Columbia River bar crossings between Pacific Ocean and Astoria.
Combination arrangement: Pilot ladder rigged in conjunction with an accommodation ladder for boarding when freeboard exceeds 9 m per SOLAS V/23.
Compulsory Pilotage: Issue handled through SOLAS V and IMO resolutions on ships' routeing.
Coos Bay Pilots: Oregon-licensed pilot group serving the Port of Coos Bay on the southern Oregon coast.
Crescent River Port Pilots: Louisiana state pilots' association covering the lower Mississippi River from Pilottown to New Orleans.
Cromarty Firth Pilots: Pilotage service of the Cromarty Firth Port Authority in the Scottish Highlands, serving rig-repair anchorages and Invergordon.
CTP: Compulsory Transit Pilot, used in Australian Reef Pilotage to denote pilots licensed for compulsory areas of the Torres Strait.

D

Dampier Pilots: Pilbara Pilots service to the iron-ore and LNG terminals at Dampier and Port Walcott in Western Australia.
Deep-sea pilot: pilot navigating routes such as the English Channel or Skagerrak.
Departure pilot: Pilot taking the vessel from the berth to the seaward pilot station.
Deputy Pilot: Junior pilot grade qualified to handle smaller vessels under supervision before progressing to full commission.
Despachante: South American expediter who coordinates pilot, tug, and customs clearances on behalf of the ship's agent.
District pilot: Pilot whose license is confined to a specified pilotage district under national legislation.
Double Trapdoor: Combination arrangement using a side door in the ship's hull together with a pilot ladder rigged through the opening.
Dover Strait Pilot: Independent deep-sea pilot offering routing advice in the world's busiest international strait, although pilotage is not compulsory there.
DPC: Deputy Pilot Commissioner, a state-appointed officer overseeing pilotage standards in jurisdictions such as Texas and Louisiana.
Dry Dock Pilot: Specialized pilot licensed for the close-quarters maneuver of placing a vessel inside a graving dock or floating dock.
Dues, Pilotage: Fees charged for pilotage service, normally combining a base charge with tonnage-based, draft-based, and movement-based components.
DUKC: Dynamic under-keel clearance management system.

E

Eivan: PPU software platform marketed by AD Navigation under the Qastor brand for portable pilot use.
Elbe Pilots: Elblotsen brotherhood handling pilotage on the Lower Elbe between Cuxhaven and Hamburg.
Embark, Pilot: Act of the pilot boarding the inbound vessel at the boarding ground, in opposition to disembark on outbound.
EMPA: European Maritime Pilots' Association, regional body of national pilots' organizations across Europe.
EMPA Resolution: Position paper issued by the European pilots' federation on matters such as PPU standards or pilot ladder safety.
Ems-Dollart Pilots: Joint German-Dutch pilot service for the Ems estuary serving Emden, Eemshaven, and Delfzijl.
ENC, Pilot: Electronic Navigational Chart at a usage band suitable for pilotage waters, typically band 5 or 6.
Endorsement, Pilot: Authorization added to a pilot's license permitting handling of specific vessel types or sizes such as LNG carriers.
Equiscope: Trade name for one of the early PPU mountings used to position a GNSS antenna on the bridge wing.
European Pilot Card: Standardized data exchange form recommended by EMPA listing master-pilot exchange information.
Examination, Pilot: Statutory licensing test typically covering local hydrography, regulations, language, and ship-handling.

F

Federal pilot: US pilot licensed by USCG for coastwise voyages of US-flag vessels, required by 46 USC.
First-Class Pilot: License grade in many US states authorizing the holder to pilot vessels of any tonnage in the district.
FleetMon Pilot Tracker: AIS-derived service identifying pilot boats and tracking their patrol patterns at major boarding grounds.
Florida Bar Pilots: Collective term for state-commissioned pilot groups at Tampa Bay, Port of Miami, Jacksonville, Port Everglades, and other Florida ports.
Forth Pilots: Pilotage service of Forth Ports plc covering the Firth of Forth, including Grangemouth, Leith, Rosyth, and Hound Point.
Fortune Pilot: Historical term for a freelance pilot operating without a brotherhood, now largely obsolete.
Freeboard: Distance from waterline to freeboard deck, governed by the Load Lines Convention but referenced in SOLAS.
Fremantle Pilots: Western Australian pilots serving Port of Fremantle.

G

Galveston-Texas City Pilots: Texas state-commissioned pilots serving Galveston, Texas City, and the upper Houston Ship Channel approaches.
Gangway: Movable ramp or bridge for boarding.
Garoupa: Brazilian station boat term used at Santos and other Brazilian pilot stations.
General Pilotage Direction: Statutory instrument under the UK Pilotage Act 1987 by which a competent harbor authority specifies compulsory pilotage areas.
GLPA: Great Lakes Pilotage Authority, the Canadian federal Crown corporation administering compulsory pilotage on the Canadian side of the Great Lakes.
GNSS Antenna, PPU: Magnet-mounted high-precision antenna placed on the bridge wing by a pilot using a PPU.
Grade A Pilot: First class endorsement used in several Commonwealth pilotage districts allowing unrestricted draft and tonnage.
Great Barrier Reef Pilots: Coastal pilots licensed under Australian Marine Order 54 to conduct vessels through the Inner Route and Hydrographers Passage.
Great Lakes Pilotage: Combined Canadian-US compulsory pilotage regime for foreign-flag vessels on the upper and lower Great Lakes.

H

Hamburg Port Pilots: Hafenlotsen handling vessels within the Port of Hamburg downstream of the Koehlbrandbridge boundary.
Hand-over pilot: Pilot relieving another mid-transit at a defined change point.
Harbor Pilot: Compulsory pilot for port entry and departure.
Hard Hat, Pilot: Personal protective head equipment now standard for pilots when climbing combination arrangements.
Hawaii Pilots: Hawaii Pilots Association serving the ports of Honolulu, Hilo, Kahului, Kawaihae, Nawiliwili, and Barbers Point under state of Hawaii license.
Heaving line: Light line thrown to a wharf to haul over a heavier mooring rope.
Helicopter Transfer: Pilot delivery method by rotorcraft used at exposed boarding grounds such as Europoort, the Humber, and offshore Australia.
Hellenic Pilots: Greek pilots' service operating in ports such as Piraeus and Thessaloniki.
High Holding Anchor Pilot: Specialized pilot grade authorized to advise vessels using emergency anchoring in narrow channels.
HM Coastguard Pilot Boat MMSI: AIS-broadcast Maritime Mobile Service Identity used by UK pilot boats to identify themselves to inbound vessels.
Hong Kong Pilots: Members of the Hong Kong Pilots Association serving Victoria Harbour and approaches under compulsory pilotage.
Houston Pilots: Texas state pilots' association serving the 53 nautical mile Houston Ship Channel from Galveston Bar to Houston Turning Basin.
Humber Pilots: Pilots of Associated British Ports licensed for the Humber estuary and the ports of Hull, Immingham, Grimsby, and Goole.
Hydrographers Passage: Compulsory pilotage route through the Great Barrier Reef between Mackay and the Coral Sea.

I

IMO Resolution MSC.488(103): 2021 SOLAS V/23 amendment package on pilot transfer arrangements entering into force on 1 January 2024 with full application by 1 July 2024.
IMPA: International Maritime Pilots Association.
IMPA Pilot Ladder Poster: Annually published IMPA poster summarizing SOLAS V/23 pilot transfer requirements.
IMPA Pilot Mark: Voluntary 1.5 meter painted band on the ship's hull around the pilot embarkation point recommended by IMPA.
Incheon Pilots: KMPA branch serving the Port of Incheon and the western Korean approaches, including the tidal lock at the New Port.
Inland Sea Pilots Japan: Naikai Pilots Association handling foreign vessels through the Akashi, Bisan Seto, Kurushima, and Hayasui straits.
Inner Route: Coastal passage between the Great Barrier Reef and the Queensland coast within which compulsory pilotage is required for laden tankers and large vessels.
Inspection, Pilot Ladder: Pre-rigging examination ensuring SOLAS-compliant condition of side ropes, steps, spreaders, and securing arrangements.
ISO 799-1:2019: International Standard specifying construction, materials, and dimensions of marine pilot ladders, referenced by SOLAS V/23.
ISO 799-2:2021: International Standard covering maintenance and use of the pilot ladder.
ISO 799-3:2021: International Standard on attachments and associated equipment for pilot ladders, including securing strops and magnets.

J

Jacksonville Pilots: Florida state-commissioned pilot association serving the St Johns River and JAXPORT terminals.
Jacobs Ladder: Rope or wire ladder used for boarding pilots and others.
JNPT Pilots: Pilotage staff of Jawaharlal Nehru Port Authority serving Nhava Sheva, India's largest container port.
Jurisdictional Limit: Geographic boundary inside which a pilot's license is valid, established by statute or harbor by-law.

K

Kalmar Pilot Master Plus: Earlier electronic pilot display, now superseded by integrated PPU software.
Kiel Canal Pilots: NOK-Lotsen, the brotherhood of pilots handling vessels through the Nord-Ostsee-Kanal between Brunsbuettel and Kiel-Holtenau.
KMPA: Korea Maritime Pilots' Association, the national federation of South Korean licensed pilots.
Kolkata Pilots: Pilots of the Syama Prasad Mookerjee Port serving the Hooghly River from Sagar Roads to Kolkata Dock System.
Kondor PPU: Russian-market PPU product range used in Black Sea and Baltic pilotage.

L

La Rochelle Pilots: Station de pilotage de La Rochelle serving the deep-water port of La Pallice on the French Atlantic coast.
LA-Long Beach Pilots: Combined reference to the Jacobsen Pilot Service at Long Beach and the Los Angeles Port Pilots licensed by the City of Los Angeles.
Lashing, Ladder: SOLAS-compliant method of fixing the lower spreader and securing the ladder to strong points on deck.
Laurentian Pilotage Authority: Canadian federal Crown corporation administering compulsory pilotage on the St Lawrence River between the Escoumins and Montreal.
Le Havre Pilots: French pilots' service covering Le Havre and Rouen on the Seine estuary.
Liverpool Pilotage: Liverpool Pilot Service Ltd handling vessels for the Mersey Docks and Harbour Company.
Loadline Disc Datum: Reference point not used for the 9 meter freeboard determination, which is taken from the waterline at the time of transfer.
Local knowledge: Detailed pilot familiarity with hydrography, traffic, and aids in a pilotage area.
Loodswezen: Dutch pilots' organization providing pilotage in the Netherlands.
Lower Spreader: Lowermost rigid spreader of the pilot ladder, required by SOLAS V/23 to be a minimum of 1.8 meters long and positioned per the regulations.

M

Magnet, Pilot Ladder: Heavy securing magnet sometimes used at the lower end of a pilot ladder to hold it flush against the ship's hull, complementing spreaders.
Major Hazard Vessel Pilot: Endorsement required in many ports for pilots conducting LNG, LPG, and Class 1 cargo vessels.
Manrope: Steady rope at a gangway or ladder.
MarineSoft Pilot Plug: Reference to the standard CIRM pilot plug interface used by MarineSoft training products and others.
Marseille-Fos Pilots: Syndicat des pilotes maritimes de Marseille-Fos covering the Gulf of Fos and the old port of Marseille.
Maryland Pilots: State pilots covering Chesapeake Bay and the approaches to Baltimore.
Master pilot exchange: MPX, structured pre-arrival briefing.
Mechanical Pilot Hoist: Powered device formerly used to lift the pilot, banned by IMO under Resolution A.275(VIII) and subsequent amendments since 1986.
Melbourne Pilots: Port Phillip Sea Pilots Pty Ltd, the licensed pilot provider for the Port of Melbourne and Port Phillip Heads.
Miami Pilots: Biscayne Bay Pilots Association serving Port Miami and the Government Cut entrance under Florida state commission.
Milford Haven Pilotage: Pilotage service of the Milford Haven Port Authority handling tankers and LNG carriers in the Milford Haven Waterway.
Mississippi River Pilots: Collective term for the various river pilots' associations covering the Mississippi.
Movement Pilot: Pilot licensed only for in-port shifts and turning rather than inbound or outbound passages.
Mumbai Port Pilots: Pilotage cadre of the Mumbai Port Authority handling vessels at Indira Dock, Prince's Dock, and Bombay Floating Dock.

N

Navicom Dynamics: New Zealand PPU manufacturer producing the ChannelPilot, HarbourPilot, and PortablePilot product lines.
NaviPilot: PPU software brand used in several Russian and CIS pilot organizations.
NCP: US National Oil and Hazardous Substances Pollution Contingency Plan codified at 40 CFR 300.
New Jersey Sandy Hook Pilots: New Jersey-licensed component of the Sandy Hook Pilots Association handling vessels for Port Newark and Elizabeth.
New Zealand Pilots: Pilots licensed under the New Zealand Maritime Transport Act 1994 and Maritime Rule Part 90 to serve ports including Auckland, Tauranga, Wellington, Lyttelton, and Otago.
NOBRA: New Orleans-Baton Rouge Steamship Pilots Association.
NOK Pilots: German Nord-Ostsee-Kanal pilots required for all vessels above defined dimensions transiting the Kiel Canal.
Non-Skid Step: Pilot ladder step requirement under ISO 799-1 with grooved or rough upper surface to prevent slips when wet.
North Sea Pilot: Independent deep-sea pilot offering routing through the Dover-Skagerrak corridor and German Bight, although not compulsory.
Notification, Pilot ETA: Statutory advance notice given by the agent or master of expected boarding time, often 24, 12, and 4 hours before arrival.

O

OMC International: Australian provider of the DUKC dynamic under-keel clearance system widely used by pilots in iron-ore ports.
One Step at a Time: Boarding discipline taught to pilots to advance only one step at a climb before bringing the trailing foot up to the same step.
Outbound pilot: Pilot conducting the vessel from berth or anchorage to the seaward pilot station.
Overhead Clearance Pilot: Pilot endorsement specific to vessels passing under fixed bridges with critical air-draft margins.
Overlap, Combination: SOLAS requirement that the lower end of the accommodation ladder and the upper end of the pilot ladder are positioned together within the prescribed geometry.

P

Pacific Pilotage Authority: Canadian federal Crown corporation administering compulsory pilotage in British Columbia coastal waters.
Panama Canal Pilots: ACP pilot cadre with exclusive conn authority on every transit of the Panama Canal regardless of vessel size or flag.
Paradip Pilots: Pilotage cadre of the Paradip Port Authority on India's east coast serving coal, iron-ore, and crude oil terminals.
Patriot State: Reference to the Massachusetts Maritime Academy training ship occasionally used for pilot familiarization, distinct from a working pilot vessel.
PEC: Pilotage Exemption Certificate granted to qualified masters.
Pilbara Pilots: Joint pilot service operating across the iron-ore ports of Port Hedland, Dampier, Cape Lambert, and Port Walcott in northwest Australia.
PILBARA QCPS: Reference to Queensland Coastal Pilot Services among Australian coastal pilots, not connected to the Pilbara ports despite the name overlap.
Pilot boarding ground: Charted area at which pilots board and disembark.
Pilot boat: launch transferring pilots between vessel and shore.
Pilot card: Standard A4 card given to pilot.
Pilot door: Hinged hull door on large vessels through which the pilot boards directly without climbing to deck level.
Pilot flag: Signal flag H meaning "I have a pilot on board".
Pilot hoist: Mechanical pilot lift, prohibited under SOLAS V/23 for primary transfer since 1 July 2012.
Pilot launch: Smaller pilot vessel for short-range pilot transfer.
Pilot Plug: ECDIS data plug used by pilot PPUs.
Pilot station: designated boarding area at sea.
Pilot Vessel Charlie: International Code flag and shape combination historically used to identify a pilot vessel on station.
Pilotage Act 1987: UK statute restructuring British pilotage and creating Competent Harbour Authorities, abolishing Trinity House pilotage districts in 1988.
Pilotage authority: Statutory or harbor body administering pilotage services in a defined area.
Pilotage District: Statutorily defined area of compulsory pilotage.
Pilotage Dues: Charges levied on the vessel for the use of pilotage services, generally calculated on tonnage, draft, and time.
Pilottown: Historical settlement at the mouth of the Mississippi River where Associated Branch Pilots' station operated.
Plimsoll, Pilot: Informal term for the maximum ladder length determined by freeboard, not related to the load line.
Port Hedland Pilots: Pilbara Pilots service to the world's largest bulk export port for iron ore.
Port London Authority Pilots: PLA pilots licensed for the Thames between Sea Reach and the Pool of London.
PortablePilot: PPU product family from Navicom Dynamics offering a portable RTK-GNSS bridge-wing solution.
PPU: Portable Pilot Unit, the pilot's portable electronic navigation system.
Practico: Spanish word for pilot, used across Latin America and Spain to describe a licensed maritime pilot.
Pratique Pilot: Older British term for a pilot accepted by the customs and quarantine authority on free pratique vessels.
Prince Rupert Pilots: BC Coast Pilots Ltd unit operating under the Pacific Pilotage Authority at Prince Rupert and Stewart.
Pure Tug-Pilotage: Maneuver in which the pilot directs assist tugs without the vessel's main engines, used at confined berths.

Q

Qastor: PPU and decision-support software developed by Qastor (now part of OneOcean and AD Navigation distribution channels) used by harbor pilots.
QCPS: Queensland Coastal Pilot Service, one of the licensed providers for Great Barrier Reef and Torres Strait pilotage.
Quarantine Pilot: Historical role designating a pilot also authorized to enforce yellow flag observation on vessels suspected of disease.
Quay pilot: Local pilot working only inside a single basin.

R

R/A Pilot: Rendezvous Anchorage pilot, a designation in some ports for the pilot who boards at an offshore anchorage.
Rate Card, Pilotage: Published tariff schedule of pilotage fees by tonnage band, draft, and movement type.
Reception Facility: Onshore facility for ship-generated wastes under MARPOL.
Recommended Track: Charted route within a pilotage district along which pilots normally conn vessels to maximize under-keel and overhead clearance.
Reef Pilot: Coastal pilot licensed under Australian Marine Order 54 for transits through the Great Barrier Reef.
Regulator, Pilotage: Statutory body overseeing pilotage standards, such as AMSA in Australia, MCA in the UK, or the USCG for Great Lakes registered pilots.
Relief Pilot: Pilot dispatched to replace a colleague when a transit exceeds permissible duty hours.
Retainer, Pilotage: Standby charge applied when a pilot is dispatched but the vessel cancels or delays.
Right of Way, Pilot Boat: Operational convention that approaching vessels yield steerage and speed to pilot boats engaged in transfer operations.
Rio Pilots: Practicos do Rio de Janeiro serving the Guanabara Bay and Sepetiba terminals in Brazil.
Risk Assessment, Transfer: Master and pilot evaluation of sea state, vessel motions, and lighting before commencing pilot transfer.
River Pilot: Pilot for inland waterways such as the Elbe or Mississippi.
Rope Diameter, Pilot Ladder: ISO 799-1 requirement that pilot ladder side ropes have a minimum 18 millimeter diameter of manila or equivalent.

S

Sabine Pilots: Texas state pilots' association handling Sabine Pass to Beaumont and Port Arthur.
SafePilot: Trelleborg's PPU and decision-support software product family widely deployed across European and Asian pilot stations.
Sagar Pilots: Pilots of the Syama Prasad Mookerjee Port serving the Sagar Roads anchorage at the mouth of the Hooghly.
San Francisco Bar Pilots: California state pilots' association for the entrance to San Francisco Bay.
Sandy Hook Pilots: New York and New Jersey state-licensed pilots for the Port of New York and New Jersey via Sandy Hook.
Santos Pilots: Praticos de Santos serving Brazil's largest container and bulk port at Santos.
Sea pilot: pilot guiding vessel from sea pilot station to entrance.
Securing Strop: Strong rope or strap securing the pilot ladder side ropes to a strong point on deck independent of any reels or hooks.
Self-Standing Ladder: Combination accommodation ladder design that can support the pilot ladder load through its own structure without requiring deck reels.
Sentinel, Pilot: Watchkeeping officer assigned to monitor the pilot's transfer from deck, in addition to the responsible officer.
Shanghai Pilots: Shanghai Harbour Pilotage operating under the Shanghai Maritime Safety Administration to handle vessels at Yangshan, Waigaoqiao, and Wusong.
Shenzhen Pilots: Pilots of the Shenzhen Pilotage Station serving Yantian, Shekou, and Chiwan terminals in the Pearl River Delta.
Side Rope: Either of the two ropes forming the structural backbone of a pilot ladder, made of manila or equivalent per ISO 799-1.
Singapore Pilots: PSA Marine pilots licensed by the Maritime and Port Authority of Singapore to handle vessels in the Port of Singapore.
Six Meter Rule: Older ladder length convention now superseded by the 9 meter combination arrangement threshold under SOLAS V/23.
Skagerrak Pilot: Independent deep-sea pilot offering passage advice through the Skaw rounding into and out of the Baltic.
Slip Stop: Wooden cleat under the lower spreader preventing the ladder from twisting against the hull.
SMM Pilot Pavilion: Reference to the SMM Hamburg trade fair area dedicated to pilot equipment manufacturers held biennially.
SOLAS V/23: Regulation on pilot transfer arrangements, revised by MSC.308(88) and in force 1 July 2012.
Sound and Light, Pilot Boat: Optional supplementary lighting fitted on pilot boats to assist visual identification during night transfers.
South African Transnet Pilots: Pilotage cadre of Transnet National Ports Authority serving Durban, Richards Bay, Cape Town, Saldanha, Ngqura, and Port Elizabeth.
Spreader: telescopic frame on STS and yard cranes engaging container corner castings.
St Lawrence Pilots: Joint reference to Laurentian Pilotage Authority and the Great Lakes Pilotage Authority pilots conducting the St Lawrence corridor.
Standby Pilot: Pilot assigned to a vessel under tow or anchored in case its master requires conning advice during heavy weather or shifting.
Step, Pilot Ladder: Hardwood, rubber, or composite rung of the pilot ladder spaced 310 to 350 millimeters apart with a 480 millimeter minimum width.
STX Pilot Ladder: One of several IMO-marked compliant ladders sold by approved manufacturers.