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Posted by David Sexton
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29 June, 2026
MARINE pilotage business Poseidon says it plans to increase pilot numbers at its Brisbane operation.
This follows passengers on board the cruise ship Carnival Splendor being denied a trip to Moreton Island/Tangalooma last week due to the lack of an available pilot.
In a statement to passengers, ship’s master Captain Eduardo Ferrone said a marine pilot was required to enter and exit Moreton Bay.
“Unfortunately, our pilotage provider has advised us that they will not be able to provide us with a pilot in time tomorrow, due to unexpected circumstances,” Captain Ferrone wrote.
“As a result, I am sorry to say that we will not be able to visit Moreton Island tomorrow, Monday 22 June.”
Carnival offered passengers $100 credit in compensation.
A Maritime Safety Queensland spokesperson told DCN they were “aware a cruise vessel was recently delayed in Brisbane due to the temporary unavailability of a marine pilot”.
“The vessel operator subsequently made a commercial decision to cancel its scheduled call at Tangalooma Anchorage.
“Maritime Safety Queensland is actively working with the Brisbane pilotage provider to strengthen the reliability of pilotage services in the port," the spokesperson said.
Poseidon general manager John Eccleston acknowledged challenges, due to large work volumes and fatigue management.
He said the number of monthly vessel movements in the 2026 financial year had averaged at 485 (well above the 10-year average of 434) with some months recording more than 550.
“So that is an average increase of 11% and up to 28% increase in some months,” Mr Eccleston said.
He said they were in the process of increasing pilot numbers to 37 by November and 39 for early next year, pending recruitment.
“We only have a fixed resource and the pilots are absolutely going flat out to service the volume and we need to respond to the volume,” Mr Eccleston said.
“We are growing our numbers and training our people as safely and as quickly as we can.”
