Careers in Pilotage
The route to becoming a Liverpool Pilot is a long one that ultimately leads to a very rewarding career. Our members are recruited from the ranks of class1 Master Mariners who will already have served on many different classes of vessel serving all around the globe.
The normal route to becoming a Marine Pilot in Liverpool,
and many other Pilotage districts in the UK, is by initially
training to be, and then becoming a Deck Officer in the Merchant
Navy.
The qualification requirements for entering the Merchant
Navy Deck Officer training programme are a minimum of four GCSE's or
equivalent, with accelerated programmes for additional
qualifications such as A levels. (www.careersatsea.org).
During training, and on completion of Officer of the Watch
qualifications, there are excellent opportunities to travel the
world, get paid for doing it, gain additional academic and
professional qualifications, meet new people and gain experience of
different cultures, all this on many different and varied types of
merchant vessels.
As you progress through your career at sea, additional
qualifications are studied for and obtained, culminating in
obtaining a Class 1 Master Mariner certificate.
After a lengthy selection period and interview by a panel of senior Liverpool pilots the applicant is placed into a list. As pilotage positions become available then the applicant is called and training begins. At this point the applicant must relocate to within an hour of the pilot station.
During a six month period of intensive training the applicant goes out with senior pilots for "Leadsmans" to all the parts of the pilotage area at all times of day and night in all weathers.
In addition to this simulator training is carried out both at our simulator at Woodside and with outside bodies as well as other courses to help hone the skills required.
As the pilot is a lynchpin in a chain with others the applicant must also spend time with Liverpool VTS, the tugs in the river as well as introduce themselves to all the locks and docks in our area.
After all of this then the trainee pilot must sit an exam in front of a senior pilot, the Harbour master, Chief Hydrographer for the port and prove their knowledge. On completion of this and after the approval of the service then the trainee is given a class 4 license and becomes part of a tradition that goes back over 200 years in Liverpool.
The pilot is self employed within the cooperative of Liverpool pilotage services.
To go on to become a senior pilot takes a further seven years with 3 further exams, many more leadsmans & courses. Continuous professional development is taken very seriously in the service.
If you consider that you have the aptitude to become a Liverpool pilot are prepared to relocate if required and have or will have in the future a class 1 certificate and command experience then we would like to hear from you.
Although the primary overwhelming quality we look for is to be a good pilot, we also look for other skills that can help to augment the service. The service undertakes other pilotage related work and recruits are expected to give up their own time to help in this.
If you are a dynamic individual used to decision making under pressure, with varied ship handling experience, and preferably command experience, then we would look forward to hearing from you.
Contact the Pilot Administrator at the address on this site