You must first meet a number of requirements and hold specific certificates in order to become a harbor pilot. You must have also served as a second mate or higher rank on a ship of a certain tonnage or greater. If you want to be a harbor pilot, you should have extensive knowledge of a specific port or harbor, including all depths, underwater obstacles, and currents for any moon phase or tide condition. Anyone interested in becoming a harbor pilot must also be willing to work as an assistant for a year or more while learning the various operational procedures and controls for a variety of ships. A merchant mariner’s license in a variety of ship categories and classifications is also required of potential harbor pilots.
A harbor pilot is a professional who is extremely knowledgeable about all aspects of a port or harbor. The harbor pilot boards a ship entering the port and assumes the role of captain, maneuvering the ship safely into port while avoiding any hazards. One or more harbor pilots will be stationed in every major port around the world to assist in the docking of ships. In order to be a harbor pilot, you must join the merchant marines and have spent more than 600 days at sea in the previous five years. Obtaining your merchant marine license with all required endorsements is one of the other requirements for becoming a harbor pilot.
To be a harbor pilot, you must also have served as a second mate or higher on a ship of a certain tonnage. If you have deck officer experience, you may be able to get credit for your time as a naval officer. If you’ve served in the navy as a deck officer, you might be considered for a harbor pilot position. Even then, you’ll have to go through a significant amount of training, which can take months, before you’re ready to take on the responsibilities of the job.
Any vessel that does not have a port pilot on board will be denied entry to many ports around the world. The captain of the ship will continue to be in charge of the crew and the ship, but the port pilot will be in charge of getting the ship into and out of the port. A high school diploma or a general equivalency diploma (GED) is usually all that is required in terms of formal education to become a harbor pilot.