Maritime Questions › Shiphandling Arrival Departure Whatif

Vessel Traffic Service (VTS) issues an instruction that appears to conflict with the pilot's intended manoeuvre. How should this be resolved on the bridge?

A. The pilot's plan should always override VTS regardless of the specific instruction or jurisdiction
B. VTS instructions should always be silently followed without question, overriding the pilot's plan automatically
C. Conflicts between VTS and the pilot's plan are normal and require no clarification or resolution
D. The discrepancy should be raised and clarified immediately between the pilot/Master and VTS — VTS provides traffic information and, in some jurisdictions, binding instructions, but the actual conning decision and responsibility for the vessel's safe navigation remains with those on the bridge, so an unresolved conflict must not simply be left ambiguous
Sign in or create a free account to see the answer and explanation.
The pilot boards and proposes a berthing approach that differs significantly from the Master/pilot exchange (MPX) plan discussed beforehand, without clearly explaining why. What should the Master do?
A. Query the change directly and ask the pilot to explain the reasoning before accepting it — the pilot brings essential local knowledge, but the Master retains overall responsibility for the vessel and must understand and be satisfied with the plan being followed, not simply defer without comprehension
B. Insist on the original MPX plan being followed exactly regardless of the pilot's reasoning
C. Accept the new plan without question since the pilot has local knowledge and authority over all manoeuvring decisions
D. Say nothing and monitor passively, since pilots are never required to explain their plan to the Master
Sign in or create a free account to see the answer and explanation.
During pilotage, the OOW monitoring the vessel's track on the ECDIS notices the vessel is being conned toward a charted shallow patch the pilot may not have accounted for. What should the OOW do?
A. Wait for the Master to notice independently before raising any concern
B. Speak up immediately and clearly, stating the specific observed hazard — the presence of a pilot does not remove the bridge team's obligation to maintain independent monitoring and to challenge anything that appears unsafe, regardless of the pilot's experience or authority on the bridge
C. Say nothing, since the pilot is in charge of conning the vessel and has ultimate authority over the navigation
D. Only raise the concern after the vessel has already entered the shallow water, to avoid questioning the pilot prematurely
Sign in or create a free account to see the answer and explanation.
+6 more Shiphandling Arrival Departure Whatif questions available

Create a free account to practise all 9 questions, track your accuracy, and build your Reputation Score.

Create Free Account