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Some Special Interests => Occupation Interests => Topic started by: Princess Poppy on Sunday 03 September 06 11:01 BST (UK)
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I have a relative who is described variously as a Dock Pilot or River Pilot. He lived in Westoe, South Shields. I believe originally he was a Merchant Seaman. Can anyone tell me more about the duties of a Dock Pilot and how would a Merchant Seaman go about changing his career in this way?
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Hi Princess Poppy
You might get some idea from these posts and the links contained within them:
http://www.rootschat.com/forum/index.php/topic,171943.0.html
http://www.rootschat.com/forum/index.php/topic,172003.0.html
Casalguidi :)
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Many thanks for your quick reply and help. :)
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when on a boating holiday years ago the river was swollen so we had to wait for the river pilot to come he took the biggest boat and the smaller ones followed. a dock pilot is someone who drives the tug boats that towed the big ships into dock.
a river pilot knows the water better than anyone else thus leading the people to
safety
Bitz
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Hi Princess Poppy,
A Docking Pilot and a River Pilot are much the same and in the past they would probably have been interchangable.
The River Pilot is the person who boards the vessel at the entrance to the river and gives advice to the vessels Master ( Captain) on navigating the river.
The Docking Pilot is nowadays called the Berthing Master and boards the vessel to give advice on the local conditions around the dock or berth.
They would probably be one and the same on the Tyne.
One of the pre-requisits to be a Pilot is that you are a qualified ships Master and that you sailed in command of a ship. You then learn the ways of the river that you are to Pilot. So you see it is not really a changr in proffession but a normal progression. Usually after you have got married and the wife wants you at home more.
The Tyne may have been like the Humber in the far off days and the Pilots life started on the river then after an apprenticship there he would be sent off to sea to learnto be a ships officer before being allowed back on the river.
This was a guild and kept non locals out of the good jobs.
By the way South Shields was a great place as a young officer apprentice. I did my 2nd Mates ticket there.
Iroko
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Hi Iroko,
Wow! Thank you so much for your detailed answer. That's great. You've clued me up on Dock/River Pilots well! :)
Cheers, PP