Marlboro channel transit

Please note the below incident which occurred during vessel’s Suez Canal Transit (Southbound) on 11 Mar’21. 

Vessel picked up the first Pilot at 0424hrs before Canal entry and entered the Suez Canal (Port Said side) at 0530hrs. 

Before disembarking, the pilot requested for Ciggarettes which was politely declined by master stating the zero corruption policy implemented on board as per charterers. The pilot disembarked thereafter.

First Pilot change (at Canal Entry) was from 0526hrs to 0534hrs. 

The 2nd pilot (Capt. Khaled) who barded the vessel was on board till Ismalia. 

The pilot was seeming a bit anxious during manoeuvring and on a few occasions tried to call out the helmsman for steering courses 0.2 degrees more than required. Master was present at all times and at no point did the helmsman execute a wrong helm order nor was any issue with vessel’s steering noted.

Before disembarking the pilot requested for Ciggarettes which was politely declined by master stating the zero corruption policy implemented on board as per charterers. 

Second Pilot change at Ismalia from 1005hrs to 1013hrs.

The 3rd pilot (Capt. Khalied Mohammed Hussain Hassane – ID No.1721201) after boarding the vessel exchanged a few words with the pilot who was disembarking (in their local language) as is the general practice in Suez. 

He refused to exchange pleasentaries with the Master and immediately after the 2nd pilot disembarked he said -

Quote- “Captain, please take the ship and navigate through the canal. I am only here to assist and advise you as per Suez Canal rules.” -Unquote

When questioned regarding what he meant by the same and if he will be giving helm orders and courses to steer, he said that master was fully responsible for the same and navigating through the canal. The pilots job was only to observe and advise as required.

Please note that while this exchange was happening, the vessel was still underway in the convoy, passing bends and turns in the canal for which the helm orders were being given by Master. 

In the next 15-20 mins whilst manoeuvring through the canal, the pilot was politely, sternly and diplomatically requested to co-operate however he kept saying that the Master is supposed to handle the vessel. Additionally he said that the last pilot has handed over to him regarding issue with vessel’s steering, hence he will only observe. 

He was assured by Master that their was no issue with the vessel’s steering, something he could have observed in the 20 mins he had been on board; however he refused to co-operate. 

At that moment my focus as master was the safety of the vessel and the safe navigation (without any assistance from the pilot), alongwith ensuring the Bridge Team does not get distracted and therefore could not indulge in any detailed argument with the pilot.

After about 20 mins of navigating through the canal (Near Ismalia) in an area where there were continous alterations and no steady course, with the pilot not giving any helm orders, and trying to harass the Master & vessel, the pilot was told that the matter will be reported to Ismalia Port Control. 

As soon as the master picked up the VHF and called Ismalia Port Control on Ch8, the pilot raised his volume high, started shouting, snatched the VHF from the master’s hand (which also resulted in advertently pushing the Master) and threatened that if same was reported “It will not be good for the vessel”. 

At that very moment, in his raised volume he called for fwd and aft stations and for both anchors to be lowered to water level, as he insisted on stopping the vessel and arresting vessel for faulty steering. He said vessel will be held at Bitter lake until sea trials were carried out. 

Fwd station was immediately manned however anchors were not lowered as ship was doing 9 knots speed.

The Master again called Ismalia Port on VHF Ch8 and siad that the pilot was not ready to co-operate. No reply received from Ismalia Port Control.

At that moment the pilot made his last threat to vessel saying that “this wont be good for vessel and now there will be a big pro

blem”

After about 30-40 mins of the master giving helm orders, adjusting speed and navigating through the canal, the pilot took over and slowly started co-operating. 

Thereafter he was giving helm orders for steering the vessel and adjusting speed as required. 

The incident was not brought up with the pilot again, nor reported to the Canal authorities at that time since the priority remained to safely exit the canal without any issues. 

One hour before disembarking, pilot asked for ciggarettes as gift for the pilot. 

Vessel exited the Suez Canal safely at 1500hrs and the pilot disembarked the vessel at 1506hrs. 

It cannot be said for sure if the above inident was caused due to the nature of the pilot or due to no ciggarettes being given. 

In the many times I have transited the Suez Canal, i have noted some pilots express their displeasure with no ciggarettes being given, however the above mentioned incident is my first such experience with the Suez Pilots.

Notwithstanding any of the above, and while being fully aware that the ultimate responsibility lies with the master, there is a reason the pilotage is mandatory and the pilots manoeuver the vessel in the canal. 

Needless to say that the above incident involved extremly high risk potential, which I tried to handle to the best of my abilities and ensuring that vessel transited the Canal safely.

The reason for reporting the above mentioned incident is not to escalate the matter, but to share the information so that other masters and vessels can be better prepared.