Module 16 - Pilotage
What Is Pilotage?
Pilotage is the art of navigating in confined waters — harbours, estuaries, rivers, and channels — where precise positioning is critical and there is little room for error. Unlike open-water navigation using charts and instruments, pilotage relies heavily on visual references.
A good pilotage plan is prepared in advance and uses transits, leading lines, clearing bearings, depth contours, and buoyage to guide the vessel safely into harbour.
Key points
- Pilotage = navigating in confined/shallow waters
- Relies on visual references, buoyage, and pre-prepared plans
- Always prepare a pilotage plan BEFORE you need it
Continue studying Pilotage
This topic is part of Module 16. Open the full module for lessons, quizzes, flashcards, and revision tools.