Pilot boat

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A pilot boat is used to transport pilots between land and the inbound or outbound ships that they are piloting. Pilot boats can be from 20 feet to over 75 feet in length. They are normally painted a highly visible color such as orange, red or yellow. A pilot boat can be identified by the red and white signal flag or (H)otel signal flag during daytime and showing a white light over a red light at night. Pilot boats also normally have the word "PILOT" written in large black letters on both sides of the cabin.

Built to withstand heavy seas and bumping against 100,000 ton tanker ships, they are very quick and durable, purpose built boats. Some harbors that require offshore boarding will find pilot boats on station for many hours in the worst of conditions.

Boston Pilot Schooner Roseway	Columbia River Bar Pilot Boat CHINOOK	Pilot boat in Halifax, Nova Scotia flanked by tugboats	Pilot boat in Victoria, BC, at Ogden Point.
Pilot boat near the Strait of Messina, Italy.	Pilot boat in Barbados flag colors; Bridgetown, Barbados	Pilot boat moored at Spurn Point, on the Humber Estuary