Port of Stockton: River Pilots

The San Francisco Bar Pilots are one of the important cogs in our supply chain wheel. They are tasked with boarding the vessels eleven miles west of the Golden Gate Bridge via a rope ladder often in rough seas and taking control of the vessels en route to the Port of Stockton. Once on the bridge of the ship, the Pilot oversees navigation and ensures the safe passage of ships into the Bay and through the Delta until it is secured alongside its berth at the Port. Without these Pilots the Port could not perform its mission to provide jobs and economic stability for the region. Within the larger San Francisco Bar Pilots Association there is a smaller subdivision that is approved to take vessels all the way to the Port of Stockton. They are called the River Pilots and this is their story…

[@forlawyers2809]

I learned a lot about being a pilot from this video. Thank you for posting!!!

[@californiaflatlander]

Professional presentation of a little known skill. Thanks for sharing!

[@exceptionalusername]

Wow. What an enjoyable video. Well made.

[@cynthiathomas404]

You guys are Great Big Respect these men

[@michaeljones8079]

I will never forget Wally Slough. The best in his time.

[@TheTech660]

Brings a Tear to my Eye! Great Job to the Pilots navigating towards the Port of Stockton!

[@swampjammer3058]

Great video!

[@yolandamorales3130]

Estuve en ése hermoso río y el puerto cuando trabajé en un barco y fue toda una hermosa experiencia guardo gran cariño por San Francisco y Stokton muchas gracias bendiciones

[@rajeshjoshi1486]

Please send more interesting video of san San Francisco bay and more reviews of barr pilots

[@Trendyflute]

Love this insight into my region, the delta is a fascinating place in general, as are so many parts of California! Would love to see a timelapse of the full transit of the San Joaquin channel.

[@Peggyt-jp6mt]

The pilots in the seaway, the Welland Canal and the Great Lakes have a pretty challenging job as well. No tides but some major currents and of course they also contend with "winter".

[@rajeshjoshi1486]

Really very good way to navigate the shallow channel's great job
I like ur saying sir both of u
One of them is about rope ladder
Use and boarding large ships as technology has developed lot for piolts still same
And another the captain shakes hands to pilot and says good job

[@slit4659]

The San Joaquin River are my old Boating Grounds......I knew Every Bar up and Down that River....And I'm not talking about the Bar outside the Golden Gate... AKA the Potato Patch..... I'm From Concord Calif and Moved to Pittsburg Calif...I lived up on the Hill by Bailey Rd and I could see the Sacramento River and the San Joaquin...Right where the two Rivers Split......I bought a 83 Sea Swirl and I had 997 hours on it mostly Boating the Delta...From the Benicia Bridge to Sacramento to the Stockton Harbour..... Skiing and Fishing and BAR HOPING and the Bar Hoping was right before the Sheriff Started busting you For DRUNK BOATING......LOST ISLE is a Bar just a few miles before you get to The Stockton Harbour.... Saturday Afternoon their would be 60' Yachts on oneside and 12' Dinghyies on the other other Side....Mai Tai's on Tap....People DRUNK as FUCK... You'd have to Sit on your Boat and Kick the other Boats off so they Didn't Crash into your Boat....The good ol Days....And NO they never got me for DRUNK BOAT...And they could of every Weekend....

[@slit4659]

I went out the Gate in a 15' Zodiac with a 50 HP Merc......The Zodiac just Bounces right over the Waves...No Problem.....

[@The442nd]

Can recreational sail boats travel through this same passage?

[@suecyde64]

Tom Miller piloted a ship on his wedding day. A real life American Hero!