What is Pilotage?

Marine transportation faces serious navigational challenges every day: dangerous weather, treacherous tides and currents, underwater hazards, congested waterways, and narrow channels.

Stacked against this list of hazards is the accumulated experience and knowledge of the marine pilot. Pilots are seasoned mariners who use their knowledge of local waters to safely guide vessels to their destination.

When pilotage services are required, marine pilots are dispatched to meet and board vessels as they enter designated compulsory pilotage areas. According to the Pilotage Act, no person shall have the conduct of a vessel within a compulsory pilotage area unless that person is a licensed pilot or holds a pilotage certificate allowing him to operate in that area.

Pilots board the vessel by means of ladder, often climbing the side of the vessel for 30 feet, an embarkation procedure which is always risky, and even more so under inclement conditions. Once the pilot is aboard, he goes to the vessel's bridge area where he will stay, guiding the vessel until it has transited the area.

To acquire the knowledge and expertise required to qualify as a pilot, candidates start with an average of 15 years of maritime experience, many of them as a ship's captain or senior officer. Candidates then undergo a long apprenticeship, studying every aspect of the waterway for which they will be responsible. That knowledge is tested by rigorous written and oral exams in which prospective pilots must display the highest standards of seamanship. Proficiency in handling a wide array of specialized marine equipment must also be demonstrated. Once a pilot is qualified, his specialized training continues throughout his career, ensuring that he remains current with changing navigational equipment and techniques.