Dedicated to Safety and the Environment
The Charleston Branch Harbor Pilots’ Association is dedicated to maintaining safety and preserving the environment.Safety
Pilots must navigate vessels in a myriad of conditions: strong winds, precipitation, thunderstorms, fog, shoaling and more. The majority of vessel movements are under the cover of darkness. Pilots must combine their extensive navigational training and vast experience in the local waterways to safely steer these ships into the harbor every day.
Because of this, our Association strives to be the safest we can be. We employ a two-person boat crew to support the pilot on every boarding, and operate vessels outfitted with the most current safety features. Pilots are outfitted with floatation coats and emergency beacons on their person, and heat-seeking cameras on the pilot vessels add another layer of safety in the case that a pilot falls into the water. With two 75-foot launches and a new 65-foot launch, our fleet has the largest pilot vessels on the East Coast.
The Environment
The beauty of Charleston Harbor and the surrounding Lowcountry is undeniable. The waterways are also critical to the allowing the port to prosper and many local businesses to thrive.
The Charleston Branch Pilots protect this fragile resource by ensuring the safe and efficient movement of goods through our waterways. Pilots serve as guardians of the environment in the Lowcountry.
Contact the Dispatcher
HAIL CHARLESTON PILOTS ON VHF CHANNEL 16
Other VHF channels monitored: Channels 14 and 13
LATITUDE 32°37.1’N | LONGITUDE 079°35.5’W
To contact 24-Hour Dispatcher Service:
Phone: (843) 577-6695
Fax: (843) 577-0632