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PORT PHILLIP SEA PILOT SERVICE

The entrance to Port Phillip is extremely treacherous to shipping, as described on the Lighthouses page.  Before the lighthouses were established a pilot service commenced to guide shipping through the Heads and the shipping channels to and from the ports at Melbourne and in Corio Bay.  The Port Phillip Sea Pilots (PPSP) service has been in place for over 170 years and today serves the ports of Melbourne, Geelong and Western Port 24 hours a day every day of the year.

All large shipping must engage a pilot in order to traverse a port entrance and the shipping channels.  Pilot launches operate from the Sea Pilot shore bases to transfer the pilots to and from ships, meeting the ships in a designated area in Bass Strait.  Pilot transfer by launch also operates between the wharf and a ship at anchorage in port, and a pilot must be taken on board before a ship leaves its berth for the journey back into Bass Strait.

History of the Pilot Service

One of oldest organisations in Victoria, the Port Phillip Sea Pilots service was established in 1939, twelve years before the State.  George Tobin was granted the first licence by Governor Gipps on June 17 1839, followed by Thomas Sutton on November 21 1839.

Small vessels are used to transfer the pilots between shore and ship.  The first was the brigantine Boomerang in 1853, followed in 1854 by the cutter Corsair, and schooners Anonyma and Proserpine.  Other early vessels include schooners Mavis and Hawk.

As the colony of Victoria grew and shipping increased the needs of the pilot service changed, requiring frequent updating of the pilot vessels.  Steam inevitably replaced sail and in 1901 the steamship Victoria was purchased, then two years later the steam yacht Alvina arrived, replacing Hawk.

From 1925 to 1953 the Akuna served, to be replaced in 1953 by the diesel-electric Wyuna. She was the last cruising pilot cutter.

Today high speed motor launches meet the ships.  They are traditionally named after earlier vessels.  The latest addition is Akuna V.  Our photo shows Alvina II and Wyuna II.

At the left of this page are photographs of the first Wyuna and a Pilotage exemption certificate issued in 1890.

The full Port Phillip Sea Pilots Service story is at www.ppsp.com.au

Pilot Service Display

The history and operation of the pilot service is a feature of the Museum including a work boat from the Wyuna, a scale model of the steam yacht Alvina, historic artefacts, charts and maps.   A DVD tells the story of the Port Phillip Sea Pilot Service.

WYUNA MODEL

On display in the Museum shop is a magnificent model of the diesel-electric pilot vessel Wyuna made by Malcolm Gibson of Geelon

This model is on loan to the museum from Tim Phillips of the Wooden Boat Shop.

Page last updated /em> 28/03/2012  
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