Status of Pilots: France 2006
Pilotage in France is a public service managed by self-employed pilots.
The service of pilotage is organised under the March 28th, 1928 Law and the May 19th, 1969 Decree revised in 2000.
The management of the Pilot Stations is done by the pilots under close supervision of the Ministry of Transport. After the 1982 Law of decentralisation, the authority of the Minister of Transport over the pilot stations has been handed over to the Regional Prefect, who supervises pilotage matters through the control of the Regional Director of Maritime Affairs.
The originality of the French pilotage organization lies in the fact that the State lays down the obligations and the working rules of the public service of pilotage and compels pilots to hold the necessary fixed assets for the pilotage service by way of a collective ownership and also to organize themselves into a professional syndicate in order to manage the human resources and the boarding equipment.
The French Federation of Maritime Pilots gathers 31 Pilot Stations, 23 in France, 6 in the French overseas departments, 2 in the overseas territories and 1 deep-sea pilotage cooperative, totalling 344 pilots, 277 seagoing personnel, 12 flying personnel and 127 administrative personnel (01/01/06).
The Pilot Station
The creation of a Pilot Station is decided on by the Minister of Transport. The Regional Prefect has to set up the local regulations which contain all the rules concerning the organization of the public service of pilotage and all the management conditions imposed on the pilots.
The Regional Prefect has the authority for all matters concerning the organization of the Pilot Station in accordance with the general pilotage regulations. He decides on the pilots’ recruitment, gives authorisations for investments, sets the tariffs and has disciplinary power over the pilots.
The pilots’ collective body
The pilots’ collective body holds the assets of the Pilot Station. Pilots are equal co-owners. The collective body finances all the investments and has its own rules for assessing the equipment and for this matter the General Assembly of pilots has full power to determine the value of this equipment. The value of each individual part of the equipment depends on the Pilot Station.
The pilots’ professional syndicate
All pilots must belong to the professional syndicate of pilots linked to the Pilot Station. In accordance with the Syndicate rules, pilots elect their Executive Board and the President. There are no subordination links between pilots and the Syndicate. As manager of the Pilot Station, the Syndicate follows the rules fixed by public services. The Syndicate is the employer of all the Pilot Station’ staff and with regard to pilots, fulfils all the employers' obligations for social contributions, taxes, etc.
The Pilotage service organization
The pilotage service organization is supervised by a Chief Pilot who is a pilot appointed by the Regional Prefect. Usually, the President of the Professional Syndicate is in charge of this function. The Chief Pilot has no disciplinary power but represents the Director of Maritime Affairs within his station. He takes all decisions regarding the pilotage service, centralizes, validates and dispatches all reports concerning accidents, technical problems, changes in buoyage, traffic-flow regulation and navigation safety.
The Pilot Station management
Tariffs are annually fixed by the Regional Prefect. Tariffs come into force on January 1st, after a Commercial Assembly’s advice which is composed of 2 ship-owners, 2 port users, 2 port representatives and 2 pilots. The budget of the Pilot Station includes all the running costs for the period concerned and the pilots' earnings.
According to traffic intensity, pilotage tariffs are revised to balance the budget. The pilots’ syndicate has full autonomy to manage the running costs of the Pilot Station. The net results represent the pilots’ remuneration. This system guarantees a service quality at the best price through the synergy of a private enterprise and of the public service mission assigned to pilots.
French pilots
1. Number of pilots - All self-employed: 340 pilots + 4 deep sea pilots (01/01/06).
2. Recruitment
Merchant Marine officers holding a first class French captain certificate (Master Ticket) and having a 6 years’ experience at sea as an officer, 4 years of which as officer on the bridge. Examination by a board of 5 members: One Navy Officer as Chairman, two captains, two pilots of the station. The candidate should be less than 35 years of age.
Training after examination: 4 months as accompanying pilot, then piloting himself progressively larger ships for five years to become a fully licensed pilot for all ships.
3. Retirement
Pilots may retire with a full pension when reaching the age of 55. They can go on piloting as long as their health enables them to (health examination once a year). In 2005, the average age of retirement was: 59.
4. Working hours
Each station has its own schedule.
The annual service period can be assessed between 183 and 240 days per year.
The duty is performed according to a turn-system depending on how important ship traffic is. After having performed his duty, the name of the pilot is written down at the end of the list.
The time-lapse between two jobs varies a lot.
In 2005, the annual average number of jobs was 320 per pilot including river and harbour pilotage.
5 Medical check-ups
there is an annual medical examination compulsory for pilots. This examination consists in a general health check-up regarding especially sensorial standards (sight, hearing, heart control and the integrity of all limbs and organs).
6 PEC’s
A Pilotage Exemption Certificate can be given to the Master (exclusively) of a specific vessel for a specific harbour (or part of a harbour), nevertheless a Chief Officer can take the PEC examination, but he will not be able to use the certification until he has become a captain.
The Master or Chief Officer must fulfil the following conditions:
- to hold a valid Master’s certificate
- to be able to pass a physical examination
- to have carried out the required number of calls within a given period (15-30 calls/year)
- to be able to understand and express himself correctly in the French language. Nevertheless, some dispensations can be accepted with the use of the English language for very limited movements inside a same basin and also for barges which perform ship bunkering.
- to pass an examination, the content of which is laid down by the state authorities
- to carry out a practical test showing that he is able to sail without a pilot.
The validity of the certificate varies from one to two years depending on the district but it can normally be renewed without examination if the original necessary conditions are still fulfilled.
Note that the certificates are not an exemption from compulsory pilotage but a dispensation from embarking a pilot. The certificates cannot be given to masters sailing on tanker ships which carry dangerous goods.
Ships commanded by a certificate holder pay a reduced tariff (between 10 and 30 % of the normal pilotage dues).
F.F.P.M.
All the Pilot Stations are members of the French Maritime Pilots Federation.
The President and the F.F.P.M. Board are elected by the universal suffrage of pilots.
F.F.P.M. has been a member of EMPA since 1963.
Capt. Antoine MARCANTETTI, Marseilles was the founder President.
Website: www.pilotes-maritimes.fr
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