OceanWise and Peel Ports Enhance Pilot Safety with Real-Time Wave Data Integration

When pilots from Peel Ports Group head out into the Irish Sea to board incoming vessels, timing is everything. The sea state can shift quickly, and rough waves can make pilot transfers not just difficult, but dangerous. 

Peel Ports Group has taken a major step forward in maritime safety by integrating real-time wave data from a nearby buoy into its operations, dramatically improving decision-making for pilot transfers in the Irish Sea.

Until recently, Peel Ports pilots relied on experience and judgment to determine whether conditions were safe for boarding incoming vessels. With sea states changing rapidly, these decisions carried significant risk. Now, thanks to a collaboration between Peel Ports, Cefas, and marine data specialists OceanWise, that risk has been greatly reduced.

By connecting the Cefas buoy stationed near a key boarding point to the OceanWise Data platform Port-Log, live wave information is instantly accessible from any smart device. This innovation means port and VTS teams can assess offshore conditions at a glance, enabling faster, better-informed decisions that keep pilots safe and operations running smoothly.

Russell Bird of Peel Ports Group said: 

"Having real-time wave data available in Port-Log has transformed the way we assess pilot boarding conditions. We can now make faster, better-informed decisions that keep our pilots safe and our opperations running smoothly."

The integration not only enhances safety but also reduces unnecessary trips into challenging seas, improving operational efficiency and sustainability. If you would like to discuss wave data integration or learn how OceanWise are able to support your marine environmental monitoring requirements, please contact www.oceanwise-global.com / info(at)oceanwise-global.com