The European Maritime Pilots,

Hereby adopt this Charter on Pilotage to take up the dual challenge of the pilotage service regarding the safety and the competitiveness of maritime traffic.
1. Safety requirements
Both the quality and the reliability of the pilotage service are essential for the safety of maritime traffic. Pilots are aware that the pilotage service has to adapt to the traffic conditions and should be improved as follows:
1.1. Emphasis on regulation of compulsory pilotage
- Extension of the pilotage area and implementation of deep-sea pilotage, where necessary to enhance the safety and efficiency of maritime traffic,
- Enforcement of compulsory pilotage and recommendation of deep-sea pilotage for vessels carrying oil cargo (Ref. MARPOL 73) or other pollutant or dangerous cargoes,
- Acknowledging that not all member countries allow Pilot Exemption Certificates(PEC’s), the granting of PEC’s should be in line with the EMPA recommendation on Pilot Exemption Certificates.
1.2. Use of efficient means for the pilot's transfer on board vessels
- Use of helicopters or fast launches is recommended, - Modern transport means enable the pilot's transfer in most weather conditions, - Pilotage can be exercised earlier, - Flow of traffic can be more safely regulated and managed, - Quality and reliability of the pilotage service are improved.
1.3. Pilots' participation in Port State Control
- This participation regarding Port State Control measures should improve the safety of navigation and the protection of environment and port installations, in accordance with Art.23 of Directive 2009/16/EC,
- As the first and only person to board the vessel in the approaches of the port, and according to his experience and what he finds on board, the pilot should report to the competent authority apparent anomalies which may prejudice the safe navigation of the ship, or which may pose a threat or harm to the marine environment,
- This report, based on observation and not on technical inspection, should help the competent authority to detect sub-standard ships,
- The pilots' reporting procedures have to be established in every Member State.
1.4. Pilots' participation in the local VTS
- The participation should be organized in the interests of the safety and the efficiency of maritime traffic.
- At the interface vessel-VTS, pilotage services play a main tactical role in the planning of the traffic and in the co-ordination of other relevant services regarding the navigation of vessels.
- The efficiency of a VTS depends on communication and on co-operation established by the pilot on board with the VTS centre.
- Deep-sea pilots will contribute valuable assistance in bringing their knowledge and ability to communicate, being a link between the master and the VTS, and the district pilot prior to embarkation.
- The harmonization of the pilotage service with the local VTS organization should involve:
• Procedures of co-operation and communication Pilotage-VTS, • Navigational assistance service, • Traffic organization service, • Operational co-ordination between pilotage, mooring and towing services.
1.5 Deep-sea pilotage - In order to avoid the risk of accidents in European waters, it is appropriate to
encourage the use of deep-sea pilotage services.
- Deep-sea pilots engaged in conducting vessels in the North sea, the English Channel and the Baltic Sea are subject to the requirements of IMO Resolutions A.480 and A.486.
-Deep-sea pilots must be recruited, examined and certified in accordance with the rules of the national competent authorities.
1.6. Provision of Shore-Based Pilotage
The service called "Shored Based Pilotage" (SBP), in use in some pilots districts in accordance with national legislation, is an extension of the pilot's task to improve the safety and efficiency of maritime traffic but its limitations should be understood. It cannot be a substitute for pilotage performed by a pilot on board.
SBP consists of advice which is intended to directly influence the course to be steered and the speed or engine manoeuvres to be executed.
The EMPA definition of SBP is: "Shore Based Pilotage is an act of pilotage carried out in a designated area by a pilot licensed for that area from a position other than on board the vessel concerned to conduct the safe navigation of that vessel".
The provision of Shore Based Pilotage requires that:
• it is in accordance with National Legislation; • limits and limitations are established by local pilotage regulations; • direct co-operation is established with VTS centres regarding traffic
monitoring and organization; • a good and reliable communication between the vessel and the pilot can be
maintained at all times.
1.7. Pilot's skill and training requirements
The training and certification of pilots should be in accordance with IMO Res. A.960 Annex 1. and the Guidelines of the EMPA Education, Training and Certification Standard (ETCS).
1.8. Relationship between master and pilot
The operational procedures of maritime pilots including the effectiveness of the master-pilot information exchange and the duties of the master, bridge officers and pilot are described in IMO Res. A.960 Annex 2.
Bridge Resource Management training should focus on the efficient co-operation between pilot and Bridge-team.
1.9. Pilots supporting Maritime Security:
1.10.
- When a pilot is on board he/she can help to enhance the maritime security on the waterside including monitoring and reporting activities of small craft and non- SOLAS vessels.
- Pilots should be familiar with all the local procedures and arrangements resulting from ISPS implementation. The Master/Bridge team needs extended specific support by pilot and VTS/competent authority to conduct safe passage during pilotage under the various ISPS security levels.
Pilots participating in inspection teams for the provision of a place of refuge to a ship in need of assistance
- Some European States include pilots in these kinds of teams. The pilot can be embarked in a relative short period by helicopter or fast tender, depending on the position of the vessel. The role of the pilot is advisory to the Master/Bridge team if still on board or advisor to the authorities of the coastal States if the Master is no longer on board.
- In this case, the pilot should be aware and familiar with all the available resources, arrangements and procedures and will advise, assists and support the Master/Bridge team in the widest possible sense in reducing the consequences of the incident/accident to a minimum.
- A consequence of these operations can be to conduct the safe navigation of the ship into a place of refuge under the Masters’ final responsibility if on board or under the command of the authorities of the Coastal States if the Master is no more on board. In these conditions, pilotage must be considered as part of Maritime Assistance Service.
2. Efficiency requirements
The Pilotage service plays an important role in the economy of maritime transport. It is a crucial link in the logistics chain. An efficient pilotage service is essential to the safety, efficiency, commercial competitiveness and image of a port. The need for efficient pilotage services implies that pilots should be fully involved in the management of the service.
Pilots are aware that the efficiency of the pilotage service should be improved as follows:
2.1. Autonomy of management
- Autonomy in the management of the pilotage service by pilots should lead to efficient pilotage at reasonable costs.
- Autonomy in management should also improve staff and pilots' productivity.
- The National Competent Authority should control the pilots' certification, minimum obligations for the pilotage service and pilotage tariffs.
2.2. Pilotage tariffs
- Pilotage tariffs should be transparent and non-discriminatory;
- Pilotage tariffs should be reviewed at regular intervals in consultation with the port community.
2.3. Harmonized bases of compulsory pilotage
- Harmonization of the compulsory pilotage bases should reduce the competition distortion between ports.
- This harmonization should involve the vessel criteria which are applied regarding the requirement for compulsory pilotage and to the conditions of issuing a Pilot Exemption Certificate.
- Any decision related to compulsory pilotage and to Pilot Exemption Certificates should be taken by the Competent Authority after a thorough risk assessment.
2.4. Quality Management System
By implementing a Quality Management System, the pilots’ organisations assert their will to reinforce the corporate image of the pilotage in a continuous quality improvement of their services, to the satisfaction of both users and interested parties.
3. Sustainable development concerns:
The development of ports has to be compliant with environmental protection. Pilotage is a key element to protect the environment, the coastal waters, rivers and ports in Europe
Every pilot station should adopt all necessary measures for reducing the environmental impact related to Pilotage activities.
4. Research and Development
Pilots are aware that the pilotage service has to be proactively involved in R&D projects.
Amsterdam, May 2011 45th EMPA General Meeting