A BRITISH ship's pilot has died following an accident during pilot transfer on northern England's humber River estuary, reports Ventura California's gCaptain.
The accident took place January 8 while the pilot was transferring from a pilot transfer boat to a large ocean going vessel, the UK Maritime Pilots' Association (UK MPA) confirmed in a statement.
The Marine Accident Investigation Branch is investigating. The UK MPA confirmed the victim as Francesco Galia, a British maritime pilot with two decades of experience.
'As a pilot, Francesco Galia was known for his passion for the maritime industry and his dedication to his job. His loss is all the more devastating as we understand that he was shortly to retire after many years of service in the maritime industry, with the last two decades as a pilot,' the UK MPA said in a statement.
The organisation said the tragedy highlights the risks and challenges maritime pilots face every day.
'They are responsible for safely navigating ships in and out of ports and harbours, often under complex and hazardous conditions, transferring from one vessel to another by nothing more than a rope ladder. This is always a risky procedure.
'The movement of the pilot boat bringing the pilot alongside, the ship's motion, and the potential for equipment failure, requires precise timing and coordination of the ship, the pilot vessel and the exact judgment of the pilot as they step from one moving platform to another moving platform, often in pitch darkness in the dead of night,' the UK MPA said.
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The accident took place January 8 while the pilot was transferring from a pilot transfer boat to a large ocean going vessel, the UK Maritime Pilots' Association (UK MPA) confirmed in a statement.
The Marine Accident Investigation Branch is investigating. The UK MPA confirmed the victim as Francesco Galia, a British maritime pilot with two decades of experience.
'As a pilot, Francesco Galia was known for his passion for the maritime industry and his dedication to his job. His loss is all the more devastating as we understand that he was shortly to retire after many years of service in the maritime industry, with the last two decades as a pilot,' the UK MPA said in a statement.
The organisation said the tragedy highlights the risks and challenges maritime pilots face every day.
'They are responsible for safely navigating ships in and out of ports and harbours, often under complex and hazardous conditions, transferring from one vessel to another by nothing more than a rope ladder. This is always a risky procedure.
'The movement of the pilot boat bringing the pilot alongside, the ship's motion, and the potential for equipment failure, requires precise timing and coordination of the ship, the pilot vessel and the exact judgment of the pilot as they step from one moving platform to another moving platform, often in pitch darkness in the dead of night,' the UK MPA said.
SeaNews Turkey