The Association of Maryland Pilots
- Gavin Little
- Dec 1, 2025
- 3 min read
Updated: Feb 24
By Sarah Bisson
Edited by Corey Cherenfant
History
Founded in 1852, the Association of Maryland Pilots is the oldest pilot organization officially recognized by a state in the entire country. The current president, Captain Eric A. Nielsen, graduated as valedictorian from the U.S. Merchant Marine Academy in 1981 and served ten years in the Navy Reserves. He joined the Association in 1989 and became president in 2000. Today, the group has 65 active pilots who guide ships through Maryland’s waterways.
Functions of Pilots
Pilots in the Chesapeake Bay and the Port of Baltimore have deep knowledge of the area’s channels, tides, and underwater hazards. Ship captains depend on these Bay pilots to safely navigate the narrow 50-foot-deep channels, where huge ships with drafts up to 48 feet pass through. Pilots board moving ships using a Jacob’s ladder—a rope or chain ladder that can swing dangerously while both vessels move, sometimes in bad weather or total darkness. Once aboard, pilots direct the ship from the ocean near Virginia Beach through the 150-mile route to Baltimore, one of the longest and most challenging pilot runs in the country. They also guide ships into other Maryland ports like St. Mary’s City, Cambridge, Annapolis, and Havre de Grace.
Impact of Pilots
Because the ships coming into the port are so large, pilots carry a large amount of responsibility. Without their guidance, accidents become much more likely. A clear example is the 1989 EXXON VALDEZ disaster, in which an oil tanker was operating without a licensed state pilot at the time of the incident. A licensed pilot had guided the vessel through Valdez Narrows, but had disembarked before grounding. The crash caused more than $5 billion in environmental damage that could have been avoided. In Maryland, pilots help protect the environment and keep commerce moving safely, especially when ships are carrying hazardous cargo.
Qualifications
Applicants to become a Pilot-in-Training with the Maryland State Board of Pilots must meet several baseline qualifications. They need to be at least 21 years old and agree to participate in a U.S. Coast Guard-approved random drug testing program. They must provide proof of having recently passed the physical examination required for a U.S. Coast Guard first-class pilot license, with the medical report submitted directly to the Board by the examining physician or facility; this covers vision, hearing, cardiovascular health, and other pilot-specific standards, and the Board may request additional exams if needed. In terms of maritime credentials and experience, applicants are required to hold one or more qualifying credentials or equivalent combinations acceptable to the Board, such as a degree from a four-year accredited maritime academy or institution plus a current license as third mate or higher on steam or motor vessels of any gross tons upon oceans, or extensive experience including a minimum of five years in the deck department on licensed vessels or tugs with at least two of those years served as master of a ship-assist harbor tug, along with other possible combinations involving licenses and experience on tugboats, inspected vessels, or related maritime roles. Finally, applicants must pass any additional mental and physical fitness evaluations that the Board requires beyond the U.S. Coast Guard physical examination.
Purpose of Pilots to the Port
Maryland pilots play a key role in global trade. State law requires every non-US-flagged ship entering Maryland waters involved in international trade to have a licensed pilot on board. Usually, a pilot joins the ship at the mouth of the Chesapeake Bay and guides it through the full 150-mile channel to the Port of Baltimore. Their knowledge of local depths, tides, winds, and hazards keeps port operations safe and efficient. Without them, many ships simply wouldn’t be able to reach the port at all, making pilots vital to Maryland’s maritime success.
