Page 10: of Maritime Reporter Magazine (February 16, 2026)

Insights

Maritime Pilots

By Clayton L. Diamond

As Ships Get Bigger [and Ports Get

Correspondingly Smaller] Pilots

Keep Maritime Commerce Flowing

Safely and Efficiently

Photo: Houston Pilots ver 95% of large ocean-going vessels moving in U.S. independent of control by the ship’s master. waterways are under the direction and control of a pi- Every time a pilot boards a ship, she or he knows that a mo- lot that is a member of the American Pilots’ Associa- ment’s inattention, complacency, wrong decision, or simple tion (APA). The enormous increase in vessel sizes – as mistake could lead to a catastrophic vessel casualty with

Omuch as