Pilot boarding at sea
When pilots from Peel Ports Group head out into the Irish Sea to board incoming vessels, timing is everything. The sea state can shift quickly, and rough waves can make pilot transfers not just difficult, but dangerous.
A Cefas buoy already stationed near a Peel Ports boarding point was collecting valuable wave data — but that information wasn’t easily accessible to the Peel Ports team in real time. Without it, they were relying on experience and best judgement to make critical go/no-go decisions.
That’s where OceanWise came in. Working closely with both Peel Ports and Cefas, we were able to develop a connection to the CEFAS API enabling live wave data from the Cefas buoy to flow directly into Port-Log, the online data platform that Peel Ports use to view, disseminate and track crucial environmental data.
“Having real-time wave data available (in Port-Log) has transformed the way we assess pilot boarding conditions. We can now make faster, better-informed decisions that keep our pilots safe and our operations running smoothly.”
Russell Bird, Deputy Group Harbour Master, Peel Ports Group
Now, the Port and VTS teams can view near real-time wave conditions at a glance, from any smart device, giving them a clearer picture of what’s happening offshore. The result? Safer, smarter decision-making, reduced risk for pilots, and fewer unnecessary trips into challenging seas.
By connecting existing environmental data sources and making them accessible through Port-Log, Peel Ports have improved both safety and operational efficiency — and gained a deeper understanding of the conditions shaping their coastal operations.
Sensor integration can be simple and cost-effective, if you have existing sensors that you’d like to integrate into your system / Port-Log subscription, please contact us.
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