VIDEO OF THE DAY: Canaveral Harbor Pilots Have the Toughest ‘Commute’ on the Space Coast

And you thought you have a difficult commute

WATCH: What’s the toughest “commute” on the Space Coast – I-95, US 1, A1A? Nope, watch as Capt. Ben Borgie, co-chairman of the Canaveral Pilots Association, fights the elements to make his way home after another day “at the office.” (Port Canaveral video)

BREVARD COUNTY, FLORIDA – What’s the toughest Commute on the Space Coast – I-95, US 1, A1A? Nope, check out Capt. Ben Borgie, co-chairman of the Canaveral Pilots Association, in the above video as he fights the elements to make his way home after another day “at the office.”

To illustrate the point, Borgie, a licensed Harbor Pilot, boarded the 989-foot long Royal Caribbean International Enchantment of the Seas recently and safely navigated the ship out of Port Canaveral, after which, he needed to return to the pilot boat so they can sail off, and he can go home.

This is where extensive training pays off as the Harbor Pilots services all larger vessels coming and going from the Port.

The Canaveral Pilots Association serves Port Canaveral, Florida as State and Federally licensed Harbor Pilots. All pilots are experienced Merchant Marine Master Mariners who, after serving for years on ships at sea, have completed an intense state testing and training program as Deputy Pilots to become fully licensed State Pilots.

“The Canaveral Pilots are the local navigational experts for Port Canaveral and our pilots board all inbound and outbound foreign-flagged ocean-going ships, as well as U.S. flagged vessels on foreign and domestic voyages,” said Canaveral Pilots Association officials on its website.

“While onboard the ships, the Canaveral Pilots ‘take the conn’ and direct the movement of the vessels when navigating the channels and basins of Port Canaveral. As state pilots, we provide compulsory Pilotage as provided by state law and regulated by the State Board of Pilot Commissioners.”

Our mandate, under state law, is the protection to the fullest extent possible of state waters, harbors and port resources, the environment, life and property, with safety as the primary objective.

As federally licensed pilots, they offer a level of experience and training that can not be matched to all vessels requiring pilotage under federal law and to all government and military vessels.

The Canaveral Pilots Association maintains close cooperation and coordination with the Canaveral Port Authority, the U.S. Coast Guard, the U.S. Navy and federal and local law enforcement agencies to provide for the safe, secure and efficient management of ship traffic in Port Canaveral.

As the first to board foreign vessels arriving at U.S. Ports, harbor pilots are an integral part of security and threat assessment. Just another day at work.

And you thought you had a difficult job?

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