Peel Ports Enhances Pilot Safety with Real-Time Wave Data Integration

When pilots from Peel Ports Group head out into the Irish Sea to board incoming
vessels, timing is everything. The sea state can shift quickly, and rough waves can make
pilot transfers not just difficult, but dangerous.

Peel Ports Group has taken a major step forward in maritime safety by integrating real-
time wave data from a nearby buoy into its operations, dramatically improving decision-
making for pilot transfers in the Irish Sea.

Until recently, Peel Ports pilots relied on experience and judgment to determine
whether conditions were safe for boarding incoming vessels. With sea states changing
rapidly, these decisions carried significant risk. Now, thanks to a collaboration between
Peel Ports, Cefas, and marine data specialists OceanWise, that risk has been greatly
reduced.

By connecting the Cefas buoy stationed near a key boarding point to the OceanWise
Data platform Port-Log, live wave information is instantly accessible from any smart
device. This innovation means port and VTS teams can assess offshore conditions at a
glance, enabling faster, better-informed decisions that keep pilots safe and operations
running smoothly.

“Having real-time wave data available in Port-Log has transformed the way we assess
pilot boarding conditions,” said Russell Bird of Peel Ports Group. “We can now make
faster, better-informed decisions that keep our pilots safe and our operations running
smoothly.”

The integration not only enhances safety but also reduces unnecessary trips into
challenging seas, improving operational efficiency and sustainability.

If you would like to discuss wave data integration or learn how OceanWise are able to support your
marine environmental monitoring requirements, please contact OceanWise media contact: Katie.eades@oceanwise-global.com / +44 (0) 1420 768262