Status of Pilots: Lithuania 2005

The Lithuanian pilotage service is provided by government employed pilots. Only in the Klaipeda district pilots are administered by the Port Authority.
Parallel with the privatization and reorganization process in Lithuania pilots decided to provide their services by means of a private company. Not unexpected the pilots brotherhood met a number of bureaucratic barriers from the government side to realize this reforms.
In October 2000 the Lithuanian parliament plans to adapt and resolve on new laws for the maritime affairs including pilotage.

Number of Pilots
20 district pilots and 5 probationers

Minimum Qualifications
Watch officer license for vessels of more than 500 gross tonnage. 6 months training in district ending with an examination on general matters and local knowledge.

Medical Checks
Pilots are prescriped to have an annual medical examination.

Retirement
Maximum age for an active pilot is 65.

Working Hours
Day shift:    0800 – 2000 on, then 24 hours of duty
Night shift:  2000 – 0800 on, then 48 hours of duty

Annual Leave
35 days

Tariffs
Tariffs are approved and charged by the Ministry of Transport. Pilots get a salary.

PEC´s
Conditions for obtaing pilot exemption certificates:
-         Liner vessel license
-         12 calls at the port within 12 months
-         1 of the nautical officers must be familiar to Lithuanian language.