This plaque bearing the initials 'TR' is an ornamental wooden stern board from the pilot boat, Tom Rosser, which operated at Swansea docks between 1840 and 1860. The Tom Rosser won the Harbour Trustees' 1st Prize at the 1851 Swansea Regatta.

A pilot boat is used to transport harbour pilots to and from large ships as they negotiate the often treacherous coastal waters moving into and out of harbour. A pilot is a master mariner, with many years' experience in the harbour, and a sound knowledge of local geographical, meteorological and tidal conditions. Most harbours require ships over a certain size to take on a pilot when entering or leaving the harbour. Although the ship's master retains legal command of the ship, the pilot will take control as the ship manouvres in and out of port.

A pilot boat will display the red and white 'Hotel' signal flag at day, and a white light over a red light at night, to indicate that there is a pilot on board.