Faculty: Applied Sciences

The Maritime Piloting Specialization focuses on the specialized skills and knowledge required to safely guide ships through restricted waters such as ports, rivers, and other challenging maritime environments. Students gain expertise in marine navigation, ship handling, local regulations, environmental factors, and prepare for careers as maritime pilots, port pilots, or river pilots.

Learning Objectives:

Understand the principles of marine navigation and ship handling.
Develop skills in local waterways regulations and environmental factors.
Learn advanced ship maneuvering techniques.
Explore emergency procedures and safety management.
Analyze meteorological and hydrological conditions affecting navigation.
Develop critical thinking, problem-solving, and decision-making skills.
Gain practical experience through simulation and internships.

Main Curriculum:

Introduction to Piloting - Overview of piloting principles, roles, and responsibilities of maritime pilots.
Marine Navigation - Basics of marine navigation, including chart work, positioning, and passage planning.
Ship Handling - Techniques for maneuvering ships in restricted waters, including berthing, unberthing, and anchoring.
Local Waterways Regulations - Understanding local regulations, traffic rules, and navigational aids specific to various waterways.
Environmental Factors in Piloting - Analyze meteorological and hydrological conditions such as tides, currents, and weather patterns.
Advanced Ship Maneuvering - Specialized techniques for maneuvering large ships in tight spaces and adverse conditions.
Emergency Procedures and Safety Management - Preparedness and response to emergencies, including collision avoidance, grounding prevention, and fire fighting.
Bridge Resource Management - Effective communication and teamwork on the bridge, including crew coordination and decision-making.
Simulation and Practical Training - Use simulators and practical exercises to develop and enhance piloting skills.
Practical/Application Training - Real-world experiences in piloting environments, such as port piloting organizations, river piloting associations, or maritime training centers.
Capstone Project - Comprehensive project applying piloting skills, such as developing a navigation plan, conducting a ship handling simulation, or creating an emergency response procedure.

Assessment Methods:

Piloting Principles and Marine Navigation Analytics
Ship Handling and Maneuvering Projects
Local Waterways Regulations and Environmental Factors Projects
Advanced Ship Maneuvering Simulations
Emergency Procedures and Safety Management Projects
Bridge Resource Management Projects
Simulation and Practical Training Exercises
Internship Reports
Capstone Projects and Presentations

Prerequisites:

Basic knowledge of marine studies and navigation, with an interest in maritime piloting.

Duration:

Typically, two to four years to achieve a specialized certificate or degree in maritime piloting, depending on the program and institution.

Certification:

Graduates can obtain specific maritime piloting certificates and licenses, such as:

Maritime pilot licenses from national maritime authorities (e.g., US Coast Guard, UK Maritime and Coastguard Agency)
International Maritime Organization (IMO) certificates
Region-specific or local piloting certificates

Target Audience:

Aspiring maritime pilots, port pilots, river pilots, and professionals seeking careers in maritime piloting, port authorities, river piloting associations, and related fields. This specialization provides students with the specialized skills and knowledge needed to excel in maritime piloting, supporting careers in various roles within maritime piloting, port authorities, river piloting associations, and related fields.

Pilotage