Carl Kevin B.

Soller

Maritime Law

MWF 9:30 10:30

Pilotage, towing & pushing in Emden, Germany on board MV BBC Denmark As we approach the pilot boarding area, the chief officer called the bosun on radio and instructed him to prepare for the pilot boarding at 1030 H. The bosun then gave instructions to me and to our AB to rig the pilot ladder starboard side, 1 meter above the water as per chief officers order. As the time the pilot vessel reached our ships side, the pilot is on the ladder and then I reported to the bridge after the pilot has embarked the vessel, pilot onboard sir. I then accompanied the pilot to the bridge and then as the pilot takes over the bridge as adviser, I started steering the wheel and followed all the helm orders of the pilot and shifted duties with another member of the crew for steering duties every 2 hours. The pilot then collected information from our ships particulars for his record and for the Emden pilot. With just 30 minutes before arrival to the lock before we can enter the port, we received a message from the port control to reduce our speed to 6 knots due to the unavailability of the lock because there is still one vessel outbound and inside the lock. After receiving an advice from the port control that the other vessel completed its turn in the lock, we then increased our speed back to 10 knots and passed from port to port with the vessel outbound. As we reached the entrance to the lock, we decreased our speed to 3 knots and after we entered the lock, the pilot ordered to stop the engine and after entering the lock, the lock closed and then water started filling up to achieve the same height of water inside the port in the lock. The pilot bid his farewell to the master and officer-on-watch and disembarked and then another pilot boarded our vessel for docking the vessel in the port inside the lock. After accompanying the pilot to the bridge, I directly went to changing room and wear my overalls and proceeded to the poop deck of our vessel to help our AB prepare the ropes for mooring operations. As we received order from the port control that we our now allowed to pass the lock, the pilot commanded the master to have the engines at slow ahead and then two tug boats approached for towing and pushing. After the tug reached us, the pilot commanded a stop engine. The tug boat assigned in the poop deck after being instructed by the pilot gave their towing line to our port side and we made fast the rope and the tug in the forward was made fast on the headlines fair lead. The pilot then gave orders to the forward tug to tow us towards the quay. As we are about to reach the dock number 14, the pilot ordered the forward tug to stop the tow. Then the aft tug was then ordered by the pilot to push us towards the quay slowly. The master then instructed us to have a 2-1 rope forward and aft, first line to be spring line followed by the two headlines and two stern lines. As per masters order, first line: spring line in the aft, our AB threw the heaving line towards the quay and after the spring line in the forward and after the rope was tight enough, the master ordered to give the two headlines and two stern lines to the line men. The master then ordered us to cast off the towing lines. After casting off the tug lines and then one crew from the tug gave us a one page document to be signed by the master of our vessel for the payment of the tug. We then tightened the mooring ropes and secured the mooring equipment and then we attached all the rat guards in the mooring lines. The pilot bid farewell to the master and crew and disembarked.