ISPO Conference 2016 Abu Dhabi presentation: Ports and Pilotage: Challenges of the past and challenges tomorrow ( Capt. Maktoum Al Houqani, ADPorts )

1. Ports and Pilotage: A general dialogue

2. Ports

3. Investment in ports
• Investment in ports is crucial
• It’s a country gateway to the world
• 85% of world cargoes transported by sea
• Transportation by sea is cheaper than
anything else
• Important for the country trade and its
economy
• Supports logistics
• Supports local society
• Investment in ports is expensive
• Cost of the infrastructure is massive
• Equipment becoming more sophisticated
to meet performance expectations
• Ports need more land to meet increasing
demand
• Ports recruiting less labors to becoming
more efficient
• Continuous development
• More vessels coming to the industry than
ports being developed
• Vessels getting larger
• Vessels and ports getting more complex
• Increasing port capabilities & performance
• Growing requirements for training and
development
• More diversified ports
• Market challenges
• Increasing competition
• Decrease and increase in volumes
• Fluctuation, also in rates
• Maintaining ports capabilities
• Different vessels require different services,
which means investment in range of services
• Optimization
• Cost of compliance

4. Automation of port activities
• A very cost effective way
• Time is money
• Reduction of wage costs
• Help protect the assets
• Efficiency
• Improves operational logistics processes
• Improves utilization
• Increases handling performance
• Increases productivity
• Safe
• Reduces human error
• Reduces human injury
• Reduces number of incidents
• Environmental friendly
• Provides accurate data

5. What does a pilot mean to the port and
clients
• Is a port ambassador
• Everyone onboard is waiting to see the pilot
• The initial physical contact with the vessel
• Communication and exchange of information
becomes important
• Is an operation person
• Safely maneuver a vessel in the port
• Transit the channels
• Communicate with port authorities and assets
• Berth & unberth the ship
• Is an authority
• Has a state empowerment to conduct his duties
• Assures compliance to port rules and international
regulations
• Takes command in emergencies and leads
investigations.
• A facilitator to ensure vessels are accomplishing
what they called the port for

6. What does a pilot mean to the port and
its clients (continue…)
• Is a safety inspector
• Ensures the compliance with HSE rules and
regulations
• Ensures port safety is adhered to
• Look after personnel safety and operation safety
• Protects the environment
• Is a terminal representative/loading master
• Supervise loading and unloading operations
• Cross check cargo quantities
• Observes terminal safety & cargo operation safety
• Is a surveyor
• Can be a cargo surveyor
• Verifies cargo conditions
• Verifies cargo discrepancies
• Is a technical person
• Ensures accuracy of the compass and conduct
compass swings
• Supervise stability

7. Who should become a pilot
• Knowledge
• Nautical knowledge
• Technical knowledge
• Legal awareness
• Local knowledge
• Industry awareness and updates
• Skills
• Teamwork skills
• Communication skills
• Ship-handling skills
• Ability to react in emergencies
• Behavior / attitude
• Respect
• Politeness
• Clarity
• Willingness
• Punctual
• On time
• Meet the KPIs and targets
Pilot tools
• Information
• VTS center
• Ship information
• terminal information
• Local area information
• Regulations
• Communication
• VTS
• Radios
• Tablets/mobile phones
• Forms and other applications
• Aids
• Guiding beams, distance indicators
• Charts
• Radars, ARPA, ECDIS
• Binoculars.. Etc..
• Resources
• Ships power
• Tugs and pilot launch
• Mooring team and terminal operators

8. Challenges of a pilot
• Communication & Culture
• Ability to communicate with the ship
and its crew
• Many ports having multinational
employees
• Pilots deals with different cultures
• Different ships
• Different standards
• Different capabilities
• Different shapes
• Different businesses
• Substandard equipment
• Ships equipment
• Terminal equipment
• Marine support units
• Port layout
• Environment prevailing conditions
• Available Sea space for maneuverability
• Berths allocations
• Availability of resources
• Availability of suitable resources
• Optimization (understanding the
operation requirement)
• Emergences
• Safe guarding the port
• Protecting the environment
• Protecting the assets
• Preventing human injury or loss of life
• Port laws and regulations
• to ensure compliance and
implementation.

9. What should help overcome challenges
• Continuous training
• BTM training and HELM training
• Technical training (manned models and
simulations) and OJT
• Competency checks programs
• Frequent theoretical and practical checks
• Appraisals / assessments
• Establishing Pilots Working Groups
• Discuss HSE related and technical issues
• Discuss emergency plans
• Discuss port regulations and updates in the
industry
• Discuss risks, incidents and mitigations
• Communicate with other WG such as tugmasters,
mooring gangs, terminals, etc..
• Share the outcomes of the WG with Harbour
Masters and Port Management team.
• Investing on equipment and technology
• VTS equipment
• Assisting aids
• PPUs
• Marine application

10. Becoming more efficient in pilotage
• Becoming more professional • Becoming more Productive
• Knowledgeable
• Skilled
• Experienced
• Capable
• Inspired
• Meet objectives
• Safe operations
• Always on time
• More jobs
• Optimum use of
resources
Pilotage is not only a practice it is a profession which involved a formal qualification and
prolong training
• Continuous development
• Keep to date with the industry
• Self learning and motivation

11. THANK YOU