– It’s great to have entered. It has been a goal ever since I started as a navigator. My father is also a pilot, so I have grown up with it and seen all sides of the profession. Coxswain Sindre Holberg (28) from Smøla is equipped with VR glasses and controls. He is currently practicing various scenarios he may encounter as a pilot. – You get to try your hand in a controlled environment, while at the same time you can pull the elastic a little longer than you could have done in real life. Need extensive knowledge A pilot gives advice to the captain when a ship is going in and out of Norwegian waters. They have great local expertise in a specific area. – It is about security along the coast. It is particularly important for foreign ships that do not know the waters and how brutal it can be along the Norwegian coast, says Holberg. The 28-year-old is the youngest of a total of 22 who have come through the tight needle guild to become pilot aspirants. In recent weeks, they have been through extensive training in Ålesund, where both new technology and old arts are used in the training. The next step is to learn and dock using the ship’s anchor, an old sailor’s technique. – In strong winds, you can use the anchor to hold back so that you don’t go too fast to the quay. Especially if you get wind from the side, you can arrive safely at the quay. It is also important to know what to do when the technology fails, says Alf Tore Johnsen (34). He has experience as a ship commander in the navy, but has now started on the road to becoming stateless. – I wanted to develop myself more after completing my career in the defense and learn how to use the coast in the best possible way. A pilot must know the sea area they are responsible for very well. Alf Tore Johnsen says that the challenge it presents is part of what attracts him to the job. Photo: Remi Sagen / news Popular job Today there are around 300 pilots working to make sailing along the coast safer. There are a total of 25 unloading stations in Norway. Kurt Haukeberg in the Coastal Agency says that the target audience for becoming a pilot aspirant is crowded. Photo: Remi Sagen / news Kurt Haukeberg in the lostestena in Ålesund says that the job is in demand. The Norwegian Coastal Agency only advertises vacancies as a pilot pilot if necessary. There have been stable high search numbers in recent years. Last year, there were 194 who submitted an application in the hope of becoming stateless. – It is not an easy job to get. Most people stay in their jobs until they retire. But it is not a job for everyone. It requires a lot of experience and you have to handle both demanding situations and work well with those on board the ship. In order to be selected as an aspirant, those selected have already been through an extensive application process with tests, interviews and practical tasks. The challenge beckons It is not an easy job that the aspirants face. Although all of them already have many years of experience in shipping, as state pilots they must know their area of responsibility better than their own pockets. Haukeberg believes that the challenging nature of the job is one of the things that attracts many to it. – First of all, they get to use the best of their navigator training and help ships to and from the quay. In addition, the conditions are good and there are many who are ready for a job on land after many years at sea. For aspirants Holberg and Johansen, it is not a deterrent that the job is challenging. They are now looking forward to being stationed at their respective loading stations to continue their training. – No two days are the same. There are new ships and crews. It may be the same ports, but different conditions. This mix makes it appealing to a navigator who likes a challenge, says Holberg with a smile. – The Norwegian coast is probably the longest in the world and challenging to sail in. It’s a demanding job and a lot to learn, but it’s cool to be the person who gets the ship safely into port, says Johansen. Historic cruise call at Smøla
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