Bridge Resource Management for Pilots

Bridge resource management (BRM) for pilots – strengthen information exchange, teamwork, and communication between the pilot, master and bridge team

This course strengthens bridge resource management in pilotage operations, with particular focus on the exchange of information, teamwork, communication and decision-making between the pilot, master and bridge team.

This advanced course introduces a distinctive approach that goes beyond standardised BRM training and minimum compliance requirements. It is tailored to the client’s specific operational context and firmly grounded in contemporary Human Factors concepts, such as building adaptive capacity within the bridge team, What Good Looks Like, the relationship between Work as Imagined and Work as Done, and Incremental Safety.

Through a combination of theory, case studies and full-mission simulator training, pilots acquire practical tools that help strengthen the resilience of the bridge team, enabling it to maintain safe and effective performance, particularly when confronted with unexpected or undesired events that are not fully covered by formal procedures or guidelines.

The course is designed for maritime pilots and maritime professionals involved in pilotage and bridge operations, where effective coordination between the pilot, master, officer in charge of the navigational watch and tug masters is critical.

Outcome

What should you expect?

Who is the course relevant for

The course is designed for maritime pilots working in pilotage waters, confined waters, ports, approaches, rivers or other areas where specialised local knowledge, ship-handling awareness, effective communication and clear role understanding are essential.

Typical participants include:

Maritime pilots, other than deep-sea pilots
Trainee pilots preparing for certification or licensing
Certified or licensed pilots requiring updating or refresher training
Pilotage authorities, port personnel and shore-based stakeholders involved in safe pilotage operations

What you will gain from the course

The course strengthens your ability to apply dedicated bridge resource management principles in pilotage operations, with particular emphasis on the exchange of information that is essential to a safe transit.

You learn how human factors, communication, leadership and decision-making interact and influence safety and performance on the bridge.

After the course, you will be able to:

Conduct an effective master-pilot information exchange before and during pilotage
Clarify roles, responsibilities and limitations within the bridge team
Maintain an effective working relationship between the pilot, master and bridge personnel both in routine and emergency situations
Develop a deeper understanding of effective collaboration within the bridge team
Recognise and address language, cultural, psychological and physiological barriers to ensure effective communication
Foster psychological safety within the bridge team through leadership practices that encourage individuals to speak up and raise concerns in a timely manner
Manage emergency situations such as loss of steering, loss of propulsion, radar or automation failure, tug blackout, parted lines and other critical system failures in critical passages
Communicate effectively with external sources such as local authorities, VTS, tugs and other vessels in the pilotage area
Reflect on your own behaviour, actions and decision-making as part of continuous professional development

What your organisation gains

The course strengthens your organisation’s ability to manage operational risk by improving the resilience, coordination and performance of pilots and bridge teams.

It supports a higher level of operational safety by reducing the likelihood of undesired events and improving teams’ ability to regain control effectively in demanding and complex situations.

It enhances teamwork and communication on the bridge, supporting clearer coordination and more robust shared situational awareness among team members.

It helps create a bridge organisation that is better equipped to manage critical and emergency situations, enabling effective adaptation when faced with unexpected challenges.

It develops resilient bridge teams that can respond effectively to changing operational conditions and prevent situations from escalating beyond control.

It promotes a stronger and more consistent application of Bridge Resource Management (BRM) principles in daily operations, helping to translate learning into sustained behavioural change and operational practice.

“I did not want the course to end. It offered a perfect balance of lectures, simulator exercises, case studies and role play. Together, these elements gave me a much clearer understanding of the pilot’s role on the bridge and of how the master-pilot information exchange contributes to the safety of operations.”

Course participant

Content and process

Course content and structure

The course combines theoretical lectures, simulator-based exercises and case studies with a strong focus on real-life pilotage operations, bridge team coordination and the practical requirements described in IMO Resolution A.960(23).

Key topics include:

Bridge resource management for maritime pilots
Master-pilot information exchange before and during pilotage
Roles and responsibilities of the pilot, master, officer of the watch and bridge personnel
Communication on the bridge and with VTS, tugs, local authorities and other vessels
Recognition and management of language, cultural, psychological and physiological communication barriers
Decision-making, situational awareness and shared mental models during pilotage
Task sharing, cross-checking, monitoring and challenge-and-response techniques
Teamwork, leadership and psychological safety in pilotage operations
Emergency and contingency management, including loss of steering, loss of propulsion, radar failure and tug failure in narrow channels or fairways
Fatigue, stress, workload and their impact on human performance

The training includes realistic simulator sessions where participants practise routine pilotage passages and critical operational scenarios. The simulations reinforce theory and provide hands-on experience in maintaining coordination, communication and monitoring in rapidly changing operational environments.

Case studies and participants’ own experiences are also integrated to maximise relevance and learning value.

References: IMO Resolution A.960(23), Annex 1, section 5.3 on BRM training for pilots; Annex 1, section 5.4 on master-pilot information exchange; Annex 1, section 5.5 on updating and refresher training; and Annex 2 on operational procedures, communication and coordination between the pilot, master and bridge personnel. STCW Convention, including the 2010 Manila Amendments, 2017 edition, Tables A-II/1 and A-II/2, Section B-VIII/1.

Prerequisites and level

You are expected to have a seafarer, pilotage or bridge-operations background and be familiar with navigation, bridge procedures, shipboard communication and the operational context of pilotage.

The course is suitable both for pilots requiring BRM refresher training and for maritime professionals who work closely with pilots.

"This was a very practical, highly interactive and valuable course. It provided me with tools to strengthen my risk awareness and develop the adaptive capacity needed to regain control in a dynamic operational environment. I now feel much better prepared to contribute effectively to a safe and well-coordinated bridge team."

Other course participant

Meet your instructor

Guillermo G. Garay

Guillermo Garay is a Captain and Senior Instructor with more than 25 years of international experience across the shipping and offshore oil industries. He has worked with companies in Europe, the United States, Brazil, and Canada, building strong practical knowledge of maritime operations, organizational culture, and safety performance.

As an instructor, Guillermo combines solid seagoing experience with a strong ability to facilitate learning, engage participants, and translate operational challenges into practical training outcomes. His background includes leadership training, onboard assessments on ships and oil platforms, and support for the review and improvement of Safety Management Systems and company procedures.

Guillermo is not only a knowledgeable mariner, but also a skilled facilitator of human performance. His training approach helps shape attitudes, improve teamwork, and strengthen safety culture on the bridge and across maritime operations.

Exam and certification

Participants receive a Certificate of Proficiency upon successful completion of the course. The certificate may include reference to IMO Resolution A.960(23) requirements for BRM training for pilots, master-pilot information exchange and refresher training, where relevant to the agreed course scope.
Force Technology is an established maritime training provider approved by DNV.

Tailor the course to your organisation

This course can be adapted so participants work with your systems, data and real-world challenges from your organisation. Plan a tailored course for your team

Related courses

All courses

Reach out to Clara Giarrusso for more information.

Bridge resource management (BRM) for pilots – strengthen information exchange, teamwork, and communication between the pilot, master and bridge team

What should you expect?

Who is the course relevant for

What you will gain from the course

What your organisation gains

Course content and structure

Prerequisites and level

Meet your instructor

Guillermo G. Garay

Exam and certification

Certificate

Tailor the course to your organisation

Related courses

What should you expect?

Who is the course relevant for

What you will gain from the course

What your organisation gains

Course content and structure

Prerequisites and level

Exam and certification

Certificate

Tailor the course to your organisation

Related courses