Sea change ahead for harbour pilot
During an intense storminmay 1981, the 10,000-tonne Pacific Charger ran aground at Wellington Harbour’s Baring Head.
It was the ship’s maiden voyage, and captain Charles Smith was relieving a colleague at the end of a night shift. There were 115kmh southeasterly winds and Smith’s phone was ringing off the hook.
The search for crewmembers who may have abandoned the vessel went well into the day. They were all ultimately accounted for. ‘‘It’s not a funny story, [that was] one of the more concerning moments inmy career,’’ Smith says.
Now 74, the marine manager and chief pilot retires from Centreport at the end of this month, after 481⁄ years of service.
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Smith has held his current two positions since 1996, and has piloted more than 7000 ships in and out of the port.
In 1961, starting out on $26 a month, Smith voyaged around the seas of the world as a cadet, then a junior and senior officer with Union Company, Shell Tankers UK and Blue Star Line. That was for a decade, with his wife, Susan, accompanying him at sea for three of the years.
After leaving United Kingdom and Panamanian waters, Smith came to Wellington. A pilot at the time suggested he approach the local harbourmaster, Captain Bill Galloway, for an appointment with the Wellington Harbour
Board. He’d go on to become launchmaster of pilot launches Tiakina and Arahina. He questioned his decision, as he had come there from a well-paid, senior position with a reputable international oil company.
In 1971, he was promoted to tugmaster of the Toia, training for just two weeks to operate the vessel.
He resigned in 1974 as there was no roster, the duty hours were seven days a week and ‘‘far too long’’. After he left, the tug’s crews went on strike to get a roster.
He spent a period working with
NZ Rail Ferries then, but found the routine unsatisfying: ‘‘Ten months crossing Cook Strait on railway tracks was too much.’’
In 1975, he went back to the harbourmaster, who welcomed him back as a junior pilot in training.
Smith worked his way up the
ranks, and in 1996 was offered his current title – marine manager – a new role which included developing the marine team into a high-performing unit, and developing the cruise business. This would later morph into his current job, which also includes his
chief pilot duties.
He’s seen a lot of change through the years. In 1996, there were about 10 cruise ships per year, he says. Now, there are more than 100 in a single season.
He’s written security and emergency manuals and a history of the port’s tugs and pilotage; spent time at a cruise convention in Miami and persevered to get a series of inshore bollards installed at Aotea Quay to improve mooring safety. ‘‘I shall be thanked for that one day,’’ Smith joked.
Centreport chief executive Derek Nind said Smith had created a team that wasmeticulous in the maintenance and care of marine assets. ‘‘We appreciate the nearly half a century of service he has provided our customers and the community.’’
Smith says he will miss the sea, but he’s looking forward to a view of the harbour when coming into the city from his retirement home in Greytown.