Pilot

A pilot is a licensed mariner with detailed local knowledge who advises the master or takes conduct of a vessel through restricted, shallow, congested or hazardous waters, such as harbour approaches, rivers, canals and berthing areas. The ship’s master remains responsible for the vessel, but the pilot provides expert guidance on the safest track, speed and manoeuvres.

For boaters, pilotage is the practical application of close-quarters navigation: reading marks, depths, traffic, tide and wind while keeping the vessel clear of danger. Good preparation combines a Chartplotter, awareness of Tidal Current, and traffic information from AIS, especially when entering unfamiliar ports or crossing busy channels.

PredictWind supports pilotage planning by helping you choose favourable arrival windows with local wind, wave and rain forecasts, plus tidal tools where available. On longer approaches, Weather Routing can help time landfall before the detailed harbour pilotage begins.