Charleston Harbor pilots play crucial role in safely navigating ships to port

CHARLESTON, S.C. (WCBD) – The Charleston Branch Pilots’ Association provided insight into the important work they do in the wake of a cargo ship disaster in Baltimore, Maryland.

The association is staffed with 20 licensed harbor pilots who climb aboard incoming ships, to safely navigate them to and from local ports.

“Ships go all over the world. And every port in the world has pilots and all pilots and all ports are local and their job is to know their harbors, their rivers, their channels. They’re aware daily of what is happening,” said Crayton Walters, the President of the Charleston Branch Pilots’ Association.

Walters is a longtime pilot himself and explained a pilot boat will meet a ship about 20 miles off the coast. The next step is notoriously known to be the most dangerous part of the job.

“We have to jump from the top of the pilot boat to the Jacob’s ladder hanging off the ship. We do it safely. We wear all of the safety equipment and float coats, but it is a process that you have to be very careful,” said Walters.

From there, the harbor pilot will head to the bridge to get acquainted with the vessel and the crew before taking over and guiding it into port. A responsibility of this magnitude requires years of extensive training.

“It’s a three-year apprenticeship where apprentices might go through close to 2,000 trips up and down the river on every ship size and every weather condition and maybe even some kind of casualty,” Walters shared.

He said after that, its another three years before they’re eligible to handle all types of ships.

Walters said his heart goes out to the pilots in Baltimore aboard the ship that crashed into the Francis Scott Key Bridge, causing it to crumble in seconds. Maryland officials said a mayday call from the vessel is the reason authorities were able to stop traffic on the bridge before impact.

“The pilot in Baltimore did a magnificent job. Although it is tragic, he saved a lot of lives. And he trains like we train. We train exhaustively over and over again for situations just like that,” Walters told News 2.

With only about 1,200 pilots nationwide, it is a tight-knit community of people who play a vital role in keeping people, infrastructure, and the environment safe.

“This accident is just another reason to verify what we do and to keep it up on a regular basis,” the president of the association said.

According to the Charleston Branch Pilots’ Association, they were formed in 1890, however marine pilotage dates back to Ancient Greece and Rome.