[QUOTE=lm1883;165498]
The pilot card and any deficiencies (of course there are none) should always discussed first especially since your standing under the VDR. I don’t understand why guys balk at signing the paper work, it’s not legally binding and just creates issues with the ships crew in your initial interaction.
If you in a locality where you might not follow the obvious route there is always time to look at the chart. Have the pilot go over it with you. The 2nd mates voyage plan probably won’t match up with your route and most groups will not (and won’t in the foreseeable future) send you a list of way points, so have your mates interact with the pilot or make notes on course changes on the chart and modify your passage plan. Sometimes these route modifications may mean a speed reduction or something special. Taking a different route may be a “Game Time” decision depending on a number of factors like speed, ETA at the berth, visibility, traffic, tide and current. If you have concerns speak up, and more importantly convey to your officers these concerns because most of the time they could care less about the transit.
As far as evaluating the route goes that should be done when you establish a passage plan. Most approved voyage plans are pretty much the most direct route and don’t utilize things along the route like deepest water, navigational aids, etc…
This is why you take the pilot. He comes with a laptop with waypoints and believe it or not His only interest is getting you into port the most safe and efficient way possible. When you put in the log book “under pilots advice” mean it.[/QUOTE]
Of course, the point that pilots have requirements is well understood, That’s my point. PIlots have things they want from the ship and the ship has to supply them. However for transfers from pilot so ship the pilot controls this as well. Specifically with regards to information; pilots control the timing and format of the transfer of information to the ship about the ship’s route.
I’m reguired to have the route from the pilot staton to the berth entered into the ECDIS and other equipment. However that information is not supplied by the only person who has it, the pilot The information is not given to the ships in timely matter or in the format desired. Of course we take our best guess and enter that.
Many pilots have the waypoint / route informaion in digital format, the same way it’s needed. However while the pilots can request and get the information they want when they want it and in the format they want, the ship can not.
I would like to have the route plan in digital format (gpx file for example) 24 hours or more before arrival. That would give the crew time to enter it into the various equipment and evaluate it before arrival or departure.
Of course captain and pilot will exchange information the old fashion way regardless but this is 2015. Just hand-waving over the chart doesn’t cut it anymore.