Case Study: Florida Harbor Pilots Association achieves real-time vessel reporting and protects Florida’s waterways with AppSheet

How Mobile Apps are Helping Protect Florida's Waterways

Port Everglades Pilots Association guides nearly 4,000 ship movements a year through Florida’s waterways, a critical role for a port that supports $28 billion in annual economic activity. Historically the team relied on paper logbooks and shore-kept notebooks that prevented real-time recording of vessel equipment, maneuvering characteristics and deficiencies, creating inefficiencies and risking costly mistakes that could damage ships, cargo, the port or surrounding ecosystem.

To fix this, pilot Carl Mahler built a mobile operations app using Google Sheets and AppSheet so pilots can capture standardized vessel data and photos in real time from their devices. Mandatory fields and on-the-spot ship record creation reduce human error, make ship capabilities immediately accessible before boarding, and have improved operational efficiency and safety—helping protect the port and its environment.

Florida Harbor Pilots Association

Stuart Lilly

President