Catching the Pilot Boat

 One of the things that I like about shooting from Riverside is that I get to catch either the Westcott or the Huron Maid.

The Huron Maid came out to greet the Barker.  They had to go out again to put a pilot aboard and remove the pilot from an upbound salty.

This is sill pretty neat to see.

A little later, she was returning from the salty.

One more shot.

A Couple of the Huron Maid

 The Westcott has been put up for the winter.  They will still do pilot boat runs and they will use the pilot boat as the mailboat.

The pilot boat was leaving the American Mariner and serving as the mail boat.

It was pretty neat to catch because I don't usually catch it.

Some Shots of the Huron Maid

 Just some shots of the Huron Maid pilot boat.

I think these might be out of order as I was using my drone for this.

I think she was coming back from the Iver Bright.

Another angle.

She passes one of the Diamond boats.

And the Huron Maid

I leave you with some shots of the pilot boat.

This was as she was heading out to the Defiance/Ashtabula but I think she was also heading to the Cape and there was a pilot on board.

With the Renaissance Center in the background.

She is coming back after delivering a pilot the Cape.

She passes by with the Cape in the background.

I love the lighting on this one.

Pictures of the J.W. Westcott and the Huron Maid

These are pictures of the J.W. Westcott and Huron Maid through the morning I was at Riverside.

 The Westcott as she goes out to meet the Manitoulin.

 and she starts to return from the Manitoulin.

 Kicking up a little bit of water.  It seems like she slices through the water pretty well.

 Passing the stern of the Manitoulin.

 Giving me a pretty picture.

 One more.

 A friendly wave from the captain.

 The Huron Maid gets ready to meet two ships.

 She starts to head out to the Amber Bay.

 Hooks up to the side for a pilot change.

 I think they were also delivering something.

 She was getting a crew member from the Callaway.  This looked a little more dangerous than usual as the Callaway doesn't seem to be equipped for it.

 She returns from the Callaway.

 I just liked this angle.

 She comes by.

 The Callaway in the background.

 You can see the people they picked up.

 I kind of like this shot.

One more for the day as she passes another ship.

And the Pilot Boat

These are some pictures as the pilot boat goes to deliver a pilot to the BBC Florida.

 I'm not sure of all of the pilot transfer points on the Great Lakes but I'm aware of quite a few of them.  This is one of them and it is run by the J.W. Westcott Company.  Occasionally I have seen the Westcott used to deliver a pilot but that is rare.  The pilot boat is better equipped for delivering a pilot.

 Another pilot change point is just north of the Blue Water Bridge.  I think that pilot will go from there until Detroit.  Or the pilot that is picked up here will go to Port Huron.  I think they will catch a ship back from Port Huron.

 The pilot boat pulls up alongside the ship.

 The pilot climbs up the ladder.  This isn't as dangerous as it looks.  The pilot boat is moving as fast as the ship, so it is almost like it is standing still.

 The pilot being relieved has to wait for the replacement pilot to get up on the bridge.  And then the pilot being replaced will head to the pilot boat.

 the replaced pilot climbing down the ladder.

 The pilot boat pulls away from the ship and heads back to the dock.

 As far as other pilot points go.  I think there is one at Detour Village.  There is also one on the north side of the Soo Locks.  There is pilot transfer point in Duluth.  I think there might be other transfer points at some of the destination docks.

 For the most part, that makes being a pilot like a regular job.  They aren't out at sea for any great length of time.

 I also think that different parts of the Lakes have different certifications.

 for the most part, the pilot is there is make sure the regulations of the Lakes are followed by foreign crews.

I think US captains are also pilot qualified.

The Huron Maid Passes By

Next up was a vessel I wasn't expecting to see.

 The people who run the J.W. Westcott II also run a pilot service.  They will transfer pilots to the passing salties.

 I think they will also deliver pilots to ships that are docked along the river.  I'm not sure where they picked this pilot up from but it was down river a bit.  I suspect it was the ship that was docked at the grain elevator in Windsor.

Anyway, she's a nice looking boat.

 And one more shot.