Fremantle Marine Pilot - Not Your Average Day Job.

Boarding and disembarking ships by a rope ladder is the most dangerous part of a Marine Pilot’s job.

Every day, and night, often while we sleep, Marine Pilots board ships at sea of Fremantle and safely guide then into Fremantle Harbour.

Fremantle Ports kindly invited Fremantle Shipping News to join a pilot vessel to witness an offshore pilot transfer. Donning a hi-vis vest, life jacket and hard hat, I was ready for the off.

The 19 metre, state-of-the-art, Kwilena pilot boat departed from Corkhill Landing at Victoria Quay. Pilot boats have their own skippers – and the capable Luke Saranah was at the helm and Ben Prestage was crewing. Two V8 engines had us travelling at 23knots over the waves to the open sea.

Kwilena is one of the two new Berkeley Class vessels built for Fremantle Ports in 2024 by Geraldton based Dongara Marine, at a cost of $7.6M. Kwilena is the Noongar word for dolphin, reflecting the cultural significance of our waterways to the Whadjuk people. Insert link to previous article on new pilot boats

We headed towards Cosco Genoa, a 261 metre long container ship that loomed large, 14 kilometres off shore. Pilot Jon Brown communicated with the container ship’s captain by VHF radio, confirming direction, speed and boarding time.

Our skipper approached the container ship from the stern on the leeward side (the non windy side). The Cosco Genoa was now travelling at 10 knots. The pilot boat moved alongside, matching its speed. A deckhand checked the pilot ladder and manropes on the ship’s hull. The pilot’s bag was hoisted aboard. The crew worked in unison to ensure the timing ws just right for the transfer.

When the pilot boat was on a crest of a wave, Jon Brown stepped onto the rope ladder and began the steep ascent up the ships hull. I held my breath as he climbed; he looked very composed. I watched his careful steps until he reached a platform where crew greeted him. The pilot boat peeled away and we headed back to port.

Jon Brown then met the ship’s captain, familiarised himself with the bridge and the ships controls and safely guided the enormous ship safely into the harbour.

Watching the transfer was both exciting and humbling. It highlighted the vital role that our pilots play in ensuring smooth, safe operations for some of the world’s largest vessels.

Since 1844, Marine Pilots have guided vessels in and out of Fremantle. Watch out for the red and white Pilot’s Flag on all ships entering and leaving. That means that one of Fremantle’s wonderful pilots is onboard.

* Words and photographs by Jean Hudson our Shipping Correspondent. Jean is also a regular feature writer and photographer here on the Shipping News. You may also like to follow up her informative Places I Love stories, as well as other feature stories and Freo Today photographs, right here.

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