The Pilotage Returns Project presents a structured database and an interactive map based on the transcription of historical pilotage returns from Dublin Port.

The database has been developed from archival records documenting vessel movements to and from the port. Each entry includes information such as date, vessel name, pilot, port of origin and destination, and tonnage. This material, originally recorded in handwritten form, has been transcribed and organised to enable searching, filtering, and analysis.

The accompanying interactive map visualises this data as a network of routes. Each line represents a recorded journey, linking Dublin with other ports. The map includes a timeline animation, set to a daily interval, which allows users to follow movements chronologically and observe the sequence of arrivals and departures over time. The interval can be adjusted within the timeline controls to change the speed and scale of the animation.

Users can engage with the material in two ways:

• by consulting the database to review individual entries for each trip recorded
• by using the map to trace routes, explore connections, and identify patterns of movement

At present, the database includes returns for 1934 only. This initial phase focuses on material relating to William Robertson Ltd and Zillah Shipping, providing a pilot dataset for the project.. The database will continue to expand as more pilotage returns are identified and processed within the Dublin Port Archive, supporting a progressively more detailed understanding of the port’s historical activity.

The database will continue to expand as more pilotage returns are identified and processed within the Dublin Port Archive, supporting a progressively more detailed understanding of the port’s historical activity.