The European Maritime Pilots Association yesterday criticised shipowners for attempting to block Brussels proposals that would grant pilots new powers to report vessel deficiencies.

Pilots were in the main in favour of the European Commission plan to extend deficiency reporting requirements to deepsea pilots, said Empa secretary general Chris Lefevere. Arguments used by shipowners were “largely irrelevant”, said Mr Lefevere.

While admitting that “a few” deepsea pilots had expressed misgivings over the plans, contained in the draft port state control directive, almost all of Empa’s 5,000-strong membership was behind the commission’s “well balanced” proposals, he added.

“Let's come back to the real world,” said Mr Lefevere. “It really surprised us to hear of the reluctance of shipowners regarding the well balanced proposals for this directive using mostly irrelevant arguments.

“Let's be honest, if we are serious about improving the image of shipping, neither deepsea pilots, nor masters, nor shipowners nor cargo interests can turn a blind eye to deficiencies.”

Shipowners have been lobbying against the proposal, arguing that European Union institutions should pay “careful consideration” to “potential financial liability” issues for pilots. “In addition, the proposed new role of pilots should not have the consequence of giving them a public service status; they must remain a commercial service,” added the European Ship Owners Association in its position paper.

Dominique Vlasto, a key Euro MP in the parliament’s transport committee, last week backed the shipowners’ view — claiming the proposal should be amended because pilots could not be expected to act as inspectors.

But Mr Lefevere said pilots already have a public service status. He said Ms Vlasto, who is French, had been listening to “a few French deepsea pilots” who were not representative of the 200 deepsea pilot members of Empa.

“Yes, indeed, pilots are not qualified surveyors and never pretended to be,” the secretary general wrote in a statement.  “There is no hidden agenda for pilots in this directive but clearly this is an opportunity to help the industry to get rid of competition by shipowners using substandard vessels. 

He continued: “In 2005, the Paris MOU on Port State Control agreed to adopt a new risk-based inspection regime targeting high-risk ships that are a real threat, and rewarding the quality ships with less frequent controls.  And it is here that pilots can be instrumental, thereby eliminating unnecessary inspections that cause delays and are an unwelcome extra burden for the ships crews in port.”

He dismissed claims that the proposal would interfere in the relationship between the deepsea pilot — who often works on an optional basis — and shipmaster.

“It is true that deepsea pilotage is mostly not compulsory,” said Mr Lefevere. “But this does not change the essence of the proposal which has the benefit of introducing a first elementary control on board ships transiting European waters. EMPA sees no benefit in further amendments to the current proposal.”

He added: “The last time I was myself instrumental in the reporting of deficiencies to [port state control authorities] this resulted in the detention of a 20,000-tonne bulk carrier.

“I remember that the master was only too ‘relieved’ that he finally got support to rectify some dangerous deficiencies before the ship left port for a trip from Western Europe to Brazil in winter.”