EMPA recognizes that navigational safety plays an important part in reducing the risk of incidents at sea likely to cause loss of life, personal injury, marine pollution or damage to property and that in appropriate circumstances competent Deep-Sea Pilots can make an effective contribution to the safety of navigation in confined and busy waters such as the North Sea, the English Channel and the Skagerrak,
Having considered the Rules and Regulations for the Good Government of Deep-Sea Pilotage in the North Sea, English Channel and Skagerrak drawn up by the North Sea Pilotage Commission, and the Directive adopted by the Council of the European Communities on 21 December 1978 concerning pilotage of ships by deep-sea pilots in the North Sea and English Channel together with the recommendations made by the Maritime Safety Committee at its forty-second session,
EMPA recommends that Member Governments to take all necessary and appropriate measures to encourage ships entitled to fly the flag of their State and requiring the assistance of deep-sea pilots in the North Sea, English Channel and Skagerrak, to make use only of the services of deep-sea pilots in possession of a deep-sea pilot’s card in accordance with the Rules and Regulations for the Good Government of Deep-Sea Pilotage in the North Sea, English Channel and Skagerrak in the form shown in Annex 1 to the present recommendation, issued to adequately qualified deep-sea pilots by a competent authority of a country having a coast bordering on the North Sea, the English Channel or the Skagerrak, and listed in Annex 2 to the present recommendation; and invites the Governments of the coastal States of the North Sea, the English Channel and the Skagerrak to provide information to IMO on how to secure the services of adequately qualified deep-sea pilots.
AGM - Rotterdam, May 13th/14th, 1982