resentation about our local Pilots. More than 8,000 times a year ships are boarded by
Pilots at Port Angeles or here in Puget Sound to guide vessels safely through difficult
passages, tricky currents and congested shipping lanes to dock in Puget Sound and return
to the open sea.
When a pilot boards a ship, he questions the Captain about the condition of the ship,
but regardless of the Captain’s assurances, if the pilot thinks a vessel has a problem that
could compromise safety or the environment, the pilot will take necessary action.
Piloting services have existed as long as sailing ships. In fact there are references to pilots
in the Old and New Testaments of the Bible. Puget Sound Pilots were created in 1935 when
the State of Washington required compulsory Pilotage services for all foreign vessels
traveling on Puget Sound and adjacent waters.
Captain McCurdy has 21 years experience as a Puget Sound Pilot. In Puget Sound,
our pilots typically come from the deep sea ocean industry, tug boats, the ferry system
or the Coast guard. Upon passing a written exam, applicants undergo several years of
additional training to become a fully licensed pilot and have continuous training
throughout their career.
Please join us for this very informative program about another very necessary
element of shipping in our greater Puget Sound.
