The pilot

Pilots or Sailing Directions are published by British Admiraltyfor the whole world and amount more than seventy volumes

Every volume is reprinted in10-12 years. It includes in itself all the material collected from the date of the previous edition on the given area which may bepublished as a supplement to the Pilot during the above-mentioned period. The foreword of the volume points out the last numberof the Notices to Mariners according to which it had been corrected and passed for printing.

Description of the definite sea may be published in one or several books or vice versa several seas may be described in one book.

Selection of pilots is realised on the basis of Directory of Admiralty charts and other hydrographic publications on the last list № 5600 «The world Index of Admiralty Sailing Directions».

The Pilot consists of introduction, Bibliography, Contents, List of Views, Glossary, System of Orthography, Information relating to Admiralty charts and Publications, General Navigation and General Meteorology.

Navigational description is divided into Chapters reproducing in geographical sequence separate areas of the sea.

As a rule chapter one contains general remarks: Trade; Production and Industry; Currency, Weights and measures, Ports, Harbours, Communications, canals, Shipping, government etc.

Coast, depths, anchorage, dangers, lights, currents, tides, buoyage system are given in chapter two.

General regulations represent all extracts as to entry ports, Quarantine rules, By laws, in a word all additional information for movement of ships.

These regulations are adopted by the International Convention. Local regulations are issued by port authorities. These local regulations prescribe the ship certain actions while entering, leaving and staying in the port. They are also aimed at the safety of ships in a given port.

Without doubt pilot is one of the most important nautical publications which - gives us detailed narration, remarks instructions and cautions relating to Practical Navigation.

II.NOTES:

Sailing Directions – лоция

Geographical sequence – в географической последовательности

Previous edition – предыдущее издание

Volume – том

By-laws – постановление местных властей

III. ANSWER THE FOLLOWING QUESTIONS:

1. What do we need the Pilot for?

2. Why do we read description of the definite sea?

3. What does the Pilot contain?

4. Who published Sailing Directions?

5. Did you read any Pilot?