In this edition of The Last Dinosaur Vault, we revisit my conversation with Capt. Matthew Glass of the Houston Pilots.
Ships are getting larger. Decarbonization rules are changing how engines operate. Digital tools are becoming part of everyday pilotage. Yet when a vessel enters port, someone still has to safely get it from sea to berth.
Matt and I discuss how those changes are affecting pilots on the Houston Ship Channel, including engine power limitations, digitalization, vessel traffic, port infrastructure and the increasingly important role of data in safe navigation.
We also get into the human side of maritime: social media, sea blindness, workforce development and why the industry needs to do a better job showing the next generation what maritime careers actually look like.
In this episode:
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Decarbonization and the unintended consequences of engine power limitations
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Why pilots need power for control, not simply speed
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Bigger ships and the Houston Ship Channel expansion
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How digital tools and data are changing pilotage
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Why practical technology sometimes matters more than disruption
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Social media, maritime visibility and attracting the next generation
One comment from Matt still stands out:
“It’s practical, it’s applicable. We can do it now and make a difference.”
That idea feels every bit as relevant today as it did when we recorded the conversation.
