In case you’re thinking about changing careers, or if you’re simply interested in all things nautical, take a look at this great video about the life of Houston Harbor Pilots and how they manage to navigate enormous vessels through one of the busiest, and narrowest, shipping channels in the U.S. This definitely is not a job for the faint of heart.
Each year, the Houston Pilots move 20,000 ships and 125,000 inland tows through the channel, working 24/7, 365 days a year, in all kinds of weather and traffic conditions. They say the job is part art, part science, and it’s becoming more difficult as commercial ships become bigger and bigger, the harbor becomes more congested, and they worry more and more about acts of terror. The good news is that no two days are the same. “No maneuver is routine, no trip is routine,” says one. Watch the video:
