Tug boats, Pilots etc.

[Tom Gauldin]

Here's a question for you ship Masters or old salts.

When we come to a port, the ship is usually met by a pilot boat and a
pilot is escorted to the bridge. We've discussed the role of a pilot
in advising the Captain, but what is the cost to the ship for this
service?

In addition, I've seen cruise ships dock both with and without the
assistance of a tug(s). Occasionally, I've seen ships dock on their
own, with a tug standing by- presumably to jump in if the ship gets
into trouble. Are these tugs REQUIRED by the port authority normally,
what does it cost for a tug to stand by or to assist in a docking?
Are the tugs privately owned or owned by the port?

--
Tom Gauldin, Raleigh NC
ftp://ftp.mindspring.com/pub/users/scoundrl/gauldin.htm
Here's to the land of the Longleaf Pine,
The Summerland, where the sun doth shine.
Where the weak grow strong, and the strong grow great,
Here's to Downhome, the Old North State.

[KeithF4281]

I'll have to check on Tug costs, its been awhile since I last saw figures, but
cost is in the thousands, not hundreds.
Most of the answer to your questions are: it depends - which I know is not very
satisfying. I do not know what marine pilots elsewhere make, but it seems to
jive with what senior airline pilots make. As an example, most of the figures
I've seen for senior pilots in the US (large ports) seem to be in the $150,000
to $220,000 range. On the other hand, captains who are begining or junior
pilots make very little i.e. $20,000+ range (if you have a fax, e-mail the
number to me privately and I will try to fax you a copy of an article on what
New York pilots earn, go through in training, etc). Again, this
kind-of-sort-of tracks with airline pilots. Starting first officers on
commuter planes make little more than poverty level, commuter captains a bit
better - you don't make a salary that reflects your responsibility until you
reach the larger jets with the majors. And a marine pilot in San Francisco
will obviously make more than his equal in a small port. What will the marine
pilot earn in a foreign port - probably on par with the rate an aircraft pilot
is paid in the same country. And given that Doctors and Lawyers earn
substancially less in other countries when compared to the US, the marine pilot
is probably hauling in a comparable amount as other respected professionals in
his/her country. Tugs are frequently required in most ports, out of tradition,
and in order to not get the tug owners and various maritime unions upset. It
might be argued that modern cruise ships, with bow and stern thrusters (or
Azipods, such as on the Elation), don't need tugs, but most of the other ships
coming in do. In the ports where tugs are not required (which frequently means
there are none stationed in that port), you would still need one or two in
conditions of extreme wind or current. Ownership varies, in the US most are
private, elsewhere it varies, with a high number owned by the port district.
Hint - when the port district or government entity owns the tug concession in a
port, there is a 99.9% chance that the use of a tug is required. Final
wrinkle, slightly off topic, but in the US, we now have a new breed of tug
called escort tugs - bascally, they follow tankers up harbors and rivers, ready
to push and pull in case of power, rudder, or other control loss. Reason: to
try to prevent an oil spill. Cruise ships carry a lot of fuel, so I would not
be surprised if many ports used "enviromental concerns" to require use of their
tug to generate more revenue and jobs. Regards, Keith