A Florida harbor pilot tragically died after an accident while getting off a ship in Panama City on January 12, 2026.

Captain Brady, 46, fell from a pilot ladder as he was leaving the outbound M/V Lowlands Luck, a bulk carrier registered in Singapore. Despite immediate efforts by the pilot boat crew, Captain Brady could not survive his injuries.

Captain Brady, who graduated from the United States Merchant Marine Academy in 2001, had been serving as a harbor pilot in Panama City for six years. His death has shocked the pilot community in St. Andrew's Bay and beyond.

According to the St. Andrew's Bay Pilots, “Captain Brady was a respected and dedicated professional mariner, and his loss is deeply felt throughout the maritime community.” He is survived by his fiancée and two young children.

The incident took place while Captain Zach Condon, Brady's fellow pilot, and Captain Matt Meilstrup, a pilot from Pensacola who was training in Panama City, were present.

The details surrounding the accident are still under investigation as authorities seek to understand what caused the fall. Pilot ladder accidents have been a longstanding safety issue in the maritime industry, particularly during the transfer between vessels and pilot boats, which is one of the most dangerous tasks for harbor pilots.

The St. Andrew's Bay Pilots have asked for patience during the investigation and encouraged the local community to support Captain Brady’s family.

“We ask the public to keep Captain Brady’s family and loved ones in their thoughts and prayers during this incredibly difficult time,” the organization said.