Module 16 - Pilotage

Advanced Scenario Check

Decision pressure: Once inside the approach channel, sea room and decision time reduce quickly.

Advanced trap: Relying on the plotter route line without visual confirmation and an abort option.

A strong Yachtmaster answer says what you would do now, what you would monitor next, and what would make you change the plan. It should sound like an instruction a crew could follow, not a paragraph copied from a textbook.

What is your evidence?

The screen says so.

Yachtmaster answer: Cross-check independent sources and name any conflict.

What is your margin?

It should be fine.

Yachtmaster answer: State depth, time, sea room, weather, crew, or traffic margin.

What changes the plan?

I will see later.

Yachtmaster answer: Name a trigger: time, position, visibility, crew state, or equipment failure.

What do you brief?

Everyone knows.

Yachtmaster answer: Give short crew instructions and confirm understanding.

Key points

  • Apply Pilotage plans and harbour entry (including after dark) to a changed real-world situation.
  • Separate fact, estimate, and assumption.
  • Show what you would brief to helm, navigator, lookout, or deck crew.
  • Make the conservative option visible before defending any higher-risk choice.

Continue studying Pilotage

This topic is part of Module 16. Open the full module for lessons, quizzes, flashcards, and revision tools.