Until the use of helicopters was introduced harbour pilot boats and launches were the only and often hazardous way of getting a maritime pilot on board a ship entering or leaving harbour.

Pilots were used to spending up to three-quarters of their duty time being ferried around in launches, which clearly was an expensive way of doing things.

Helicopters have for a number of years been increasingly employed to do the job, both by day and by night, in the interests of safety, speed, cost- effectiveness and efficiency.