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International Maritime Pilots Association News

29 Nov 2017

Maritime Pilots Recognized with IMO Bravery Accolade

Two maritime pilots who defied fire to bring a burning ship to safety, averting a major maritime catastrophe, received the 2017 IMO Award for Exceptional Bravery at Sea during the 2017 IMO awards ceremony, held on Monday (27 November). Pilots Captain Michael G. McGee and Captain Michael C. Phillips, from Houston, United States, were recognized for their role in averting a major tragedy in September 2016. The ship they were piloting, the 247 meters-long tanker Aframax River, broke down in the Houston Ship Channel in the middle of the night and burst into flames after colliding with mooring dolphins. Captain McGee and Captain Phillips were surrounded by a towering wall of burning fuel as the raging fire quickly spread across the channel…

01 Aug 2017

2017 IMO Award for Exceptional Bravery at Sea

Two members of the Houston Pilots in the United States are to receive the 2017 International Maritime Organization (IMO)  Award for Exceptional Bravery at Sea. The pair will be recognized for their role in averting a major tragedy when the ship they were piloting broke down and burst into flames after colliding with mooring dolphins. Despite being surrounded by a towering wall of burning fuel for nearly 90 minutes, pilots Captain Michael G. McGee and Captain Michael C. Phillips showed decisiveness, dedication and ship-handling expertise. As a result of their courageous actions, no lives were lost, serious damage to pier structures and petro-chemical facilities were prevented and a major marine pollution incident was avoided.

11 Apr 2017

Shipping Safer with Maritime Pilots

Maritime pilots are a strong and essential link in the structure that underpins the safety of international shipping. This was the message delivered by International Maritime Organization (IMO) Secretary-General Kitack Lim to the 70th meeting of the International Maritime Pilots’ Association (IMPA) in Rome, Italy (11 April). Addressing an audience that included Italian pilots and Members of Government, Lim spoke about pilots as a vital part of the shipping’s human element – who use their local knowledge to help ships navigate safely into and out of ports or through dangerous waters. He also emphasized that just as pilots have a responsibility for the safety of shipping, so shipping has a responsibility for pilots’ safety.

22 Nov 2012

NI Issues ECDIS Recommendations

The ECDIS Group's core message: Shipping companies should establish ECDIS-use guidance within their Safety Management Systems. The ECDIS Training Group is an industry body made up of leading international shipping organisations and co-ordinated by The Nautical Institute (NI). NI CEO Philip Wake MSc FNI described the document as ‘an invaluable point of reference for those keen to establish and follow best practice in relation to ECDIS’. ‘As our industry moves away from depending solely on paper charts, this guidance provides important clarification in terms of the competencies required for what has become a vitally important navigational and decision support tool,’ he explained.

26 Jul 2012

Pilots and Shipowners Join Forces on Pilot Ladder Safety

The International Maritime Pilots’ Association (IMPA) and the International Chamber of Shipping (ICS) have joined forces to update a brochure aimed at shipping companies and seafarers, reminding them of the vital need to ensure that ladders used for pilot transfers are safe and always rigged correctly. The revised brochure – ‘Shipping Industry Guidance on Pilot Transfer Arrangements’ – is supported by a wide range of other international shipping bodies. It takes account of the latest amendments to the Safety of Life at Sea Convention (SOLAS) concerning pilot ladders…

07 May 2010

INTERTANKO, IMPA, APA Enhance Tanker Safety

A Memoranda of agreement (MOA) was signed on May 6 by the Chairman of INTERTANKO, Capt Graham Westgarth, and the President of the International Maritime Pilots' Association (IMPA) and of the American Pilots' Association (APA), Capt Michael Watson. These historic MOAs are aimed at improving cooperation and constructive dialogue between the associations and their members, with the ultimate objective of enhancing navigational safety and protecting the marine environment in pilotage waters. The associations recognize and respect the responsibilities of their respective members and the indispensible roles played by the pilot and ship’s officers in the safe, environmentally sound and efficient seaborne transportation of oil, gas and chemicals.

04 Oct 2004

P&I Club Launches Safety Poster Campaign

North of England P&I club has launched a graphic new series of safety posters as part of its continuing campaign to help reduce personal injuries on ships. Unlike previous safety poster series produced by the club, the new 'If only...' series clearly depicts the distressing results of not doing things properly. Each of the new A2 colour posters shows two different outcomes to a common shipboard activity - one after correct procedures have been followed, the other after getting it all wrong.