Full Ahead : the podcast about ships and shipping20 Kesä 2025

Meet the maritime pilot guiding ships into port

Imagine being sent several miles out to sea, climbing aboard a ship you've never seen before, and then taking responsibility for guiding it safely into port.

That's the job of a maritime pilot — and in this episode of Full Ahead, we meet one of the people who does it.

Andy Bradbury is part of the team of maritime pilots working around the UK. He explains what first attracted him to this demanding career, the enormous responsibility pilots take on and what it's like to board a moving ship at sea and work with a captain and crew he may never have met before.

Andy takes us inside some of his experiences guiding ships into Heysham and Glasson Dock in Lancashire, two ports that present very different challenges for pilots and crews.

It's a fascinating insight into a profession that most people never see yet plays a vital role in keeping Britain's ports and shipping moving.

Alistair and Nigel also look at some of the latest stories from the maritime world and discuss cruising, which could become the subject of a future Full Ahead episode.

And a quick update: since we recorded this conversation, Andy has progressed to become a trainee pilot serving Liverpool. We wish him every success in his new role.

Full Ahead brings you the people, places and stories behind the maritime world — including the unsung heroes who help keep ships moving safely.

If you're enjoying the podcast, follow Full Ahead, leave a comment and share the episode with someone who might be fascinated by life at sea.

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