Status of Pilots: The Netherlands 2003

Pilotage in The Netherlands  is performed by self-employed pilots. The ,Nederlandse Loodsencorporatie' (Dutch Pilots' Corporation) is the national body. Its president is elected by all pilots. Apart from this there are four regional pilots' corporations, viz. ,,Noord", ,,Amsterdam - IJmond", ,,Rotterdam-Rijnmond" and ,,Scheldemonden". The pilots of each region elect their own regional president. The four regional presidents, the president and the director „Nederlands Loodwezen bv“ (the supporting company) together form the Executive of the Dutch Pilotage Organization.

Pilotage in the Netherlands is regulated in the ,,Loodsenwet" (Pilots Act) and the ,,Scheepvaartverkeerswet" (Maritime Traffic Act). In Annex A to the Maritime Traffic Act lists the fairways and territorial waters where pilotage is compulsory. It is possible for shipmasters to obtain a PEC.

Furthermore, there are various types of Pilotage Decrees regulating management, profession, recruitments etc.

All further information can be obtained on the website of the Dutch Pilotage Organisation
http://www.loodswezen.nl .

At the moment the Dutch Pilots' Corporation is reorganizing pilotage tariffs. As the Government has the intention to initiate considerable changes in the environment of the polot organisation further changes are foreseen in the near future. A frequency reduction scheme is in place. Over the past years tariffs have generally not been increased or increased with only a percentage of the consumer index.

Number of Pilots
On 1st of January 2003 there were 420 pilots :
- 13 pilots Region North (Delfzijl, Terschelling/Harlingen)
- 65 pilots Region Amsterdam-IJmond (Amsterdam, Den HeIder)
- 190 pilots Region Rotterdam-Rijnmond (Rotterdam, Dordrecht, Moerdijk)
- 152 pilots Region Scheldemonden (Flushing, Terneuzen, River Schelde)

On 1st of January 2003 33 apprentice pilots were in training.

Minimum requirements for apprentices
The Dutch equivalent of a master mariner certificate as well as a radio-telephone certificate (,,MARCOM-A").

Training for apprentices consists of two months general training followed by a government examination and 8 to 10months training in the region where they will become pilot, again followed by exams. Once they have passed their (government) examination they become eligible to be registered as pilots.

Retirement
Retirement age for pilots is 55 years.

Tariffs/Income
The Dutch pilots are members of the Nederlandse Loodsencorporatie (Dutch Pilots' Corporation) and shareholders of Nederlands Loodswezen b.v. their supporting company.

Pilotage charges are determined by the the Minister of Transport.. The Nederlandse Loodsencorporatie makes an annual proposal for the “Committee on Pilotage Dues” (LOT) in which shipowners, agents, ports etc. are represented. Their discussion is sent to the Minister along with the final proposal. The Minister of Transport approves a raise that is within the consumer index range.

Pilotage charges constitute the main source of income of the organisation. A reduction takes place for amongst others the cost of facilitating company .(personnel and material) investments, (permanent) training and education, FLO/FLP (pension scheme) etc. The net (positive/negative) result is shared by  each (regional) Pilots'  Association.

Pilot Stations
There are 6 pilot stations along the coast of the Netherlands. All pilot vessels operated by Nederlands Loodswezen b. v..

Three different types of vessels are in operation :
- Large pilot cutters with a length of 59 m and a crew of 14 persons, speed 10 knots.
- Traditional pilot tenders with a length of 23 m (polyester build), speed 13 knots.
- High speed tenders with a length of 21 m (aluminium build), speed 28 knots.

Pilot vessels in operational use per january 1st 2003 :
- Delfzijl - one traditional pilot tender.
- Terschelling - one traditional pilot tender.
- Den Helder - one traditional pilot tender.
- IJmuiden/Amsterdam - two high speed pilot tenders.
- Hook of Holland/Rotterdam - one large pilot cutter, three high speed pilot tenders.
- Schelde estuaries - one large pilot cutter and three high speed pilot tenders.

Since 1st of January 1997 a pilot helicopter is in service on a 24 hours basis from Maasvlakte Heliport (Europoort), serving vessels in the Schelde estuaries, Hook of Holland approach and IJmuiden approach.

Working Hours
On average pilots are on duty for 260 days (days for training etc. included) per year. The annual leave is 30 days, and days off duty are approximately 75 days.

Pilots work systems differ a 5/5/4 system is in place (in one district pilots have a 7/7 system) .with a daily working cycle of about 10,5 hours working followed by 8 hours rest (if traffic permits) or alternatively 2 x 5 hours rest per 24 hours.

Compulsory Pilotage
General compulsory pilotage exists on all the major fairways in The Neterhlandsregion. On these fairways pilotage is compulsory for vessels with a length over 60 metres (for Europoort over 70 m) excluding fishing vessels, dredgers working under contract in the specific area and naval ships. For ships with a length under 60 m  pilotage is compulsory if the ship is carrying dangerous or polluting goods. The following takes the port of Rotterdam as an example. In the Port of Rotterdam Area the following categories of vessels are obligated to use the services of a pilot:

a. sea-going vessels, longer than 60 metres. This length is according to the London 1969 measuring system. There is a penal sanction on the non-usage of a pilot with a maximum penalty of NLG.Dfl.10,000.- or two month detention for the following vessels:

b. Vessels built for a adjusted to and used for transport of oil, gas or chemicals in bulk and fully or partially loaded. Even when empty but not degassed or dangerous residue not yet removed, they are subjected to compulsory pilotage irregardless of their length;

c. Vessels carrying quantities of dangerous cargo as established by the Minister of Transport and Public Works;

d. Vessels required to have compulsory pilotage by the (government) harbour-master even when navigating on a non-pilotage-compulsory fairway;

e. Vessel required to have compulsory pilotage by the (government) harbour-master despite the fact that a person on board is partially qualified (in possession of a statement);

f. Vessel with a length of more than 60 metres (measuring system London 1969) navigating on all pilotage compulsory fairways in the Rijnmond region except Europoort;

g. Vessels with a length of more than 70 metres (measuring system London 1969) navigating between the sea and a berth in Europoort, vice versa;

h. Vessels with a length of more than 60 metres (measuring System London 1969) shifting in the Europoort region.

Since august 2003 requirements may differ per region (The Netherlands has four regions) please check our site www.loodswezen.nl for details.

VTS
At Traffic Centre Hook of Holland a pilot, acting as VTS pilot, is manning VTS section Maas on a permanent basis.

Legislation states that vessel information can be given by a VTS operator. Advice to a ships' master (as e.g. during SBP) must be given by a pilot.

Shore Based Pilotage (SBP)
As a rule a pilot will embark on a vessel in order to perform his task. In some cases however, mainly due to bad weather, this is not possible. Other cases could be the design of a vessel not permitting the embarkation or other extraordinary circumstances.
Shore-based pilotage is considered to be second best only, compared to pilotage where a pilot is actually on board of the vessel concerned. During suspended pilotage an additional VTS pilot is manning the VTS centre for SBP. In general SBP can be given to vessels up to a length of 150 m (specific limitations due to ships draft and/or hydrographical/meteorological conditions apply). Requirements differ per region and port. Please check our site www.loodswezen.nl for details.

Two different kinds of shore-based pilotage can be distinguished:

1. Shore-based pilotage on a 24 hours basis yearround in the PILOT MAAS region. This shorebased pilotage is performed by a licensed pilot on VHF channel 2 using radar equipment. The pilot provides the extra information and advice necessary for all vessels enabling them to proceed safely to the pilot-cutter where a pilot can embark.

2. Shore-based pilotage whenever pilotage is suspended for certain categories of vessels or even for all vessels, due to bad weather in the PILOT MAAS as well as in the MAASENTRANCE region by a licensed pilot. This shore-based pilotage takes place on the VHF-channels nr. 2 and 3.

A master of a vessel using shore-based pilotage provided by a licensed pilot is complying with the compulsory pilotage rules. Said master is then obliged to allow a pilot to embark once the vessel is within range.
Only a licensed pilot is allowed to provide a master with advice from a shore-based radar station.
At the same time this pilot is allowed to provide the master with information.

Pilot Exemption Certificate (PEC)
PECs can be otained by masters and officers of vessels with a regular trade to a specific harbour basin, not being an oil harbour, with more than 18 calls per year.

The regional pilots' corporation together with the Port Authority have set up a training program followed by a government examination (auditors appointed by the Port Authority).

For inland berthing with a PEC, passive knowledge of Dutch language is required.

Medical Checks
Medical checks are compulsory every year, while eyesight and hearing is tested every second year. Once every 6 years eyesight and hearing must be checked by a specialist.

Vereniging van Overzeeloodsen (Association of Deep-Sea Pilots)
The „Vereniging van Overzeeloodsen“ (V.O.L.) was founded in 1982. At the same time the association applied for EMPA membership.
All deep-sea pilots are government-certified according to „Staatsblad 507“. By law known as  „certificaat-loodsen“. They are employed by „Dirkzwager Deepsea & Coastal Pilotage“.

Number of pilots
There were 21 pilots active on 1st  September 2000. The youngest pilot is 55, the eldest 64 years old.

Retirement
Retirement age is at 65 years.

Qualifications
As stipulated by law (Staatsblad 507). This means that applicants are holders of  a masters licence for foreign going vessels with at least 6 years of experience, and must also have their „Marcom-A“ as well as „Radar Navigator“.

Medical examination
Every year a general medical examination. Every other year checks of eye-sight and hearing, plus every 6 years by specialists.
Minimum requirements to validate licence:
Each deep-sea pilot has to make at least 9000 (nine thousand) naut. miles in active duty per year.

VTS
As regulated by By-Law all V.O.L. deep-sea pilots are certified VTS-operators for the working area under the conditions and responsibility of the Netherlands Coast Guard.

Special courses
Our pilots involved in offshore VTS work have to pass special Offshore Medical Examinations as well as safety courses, firefighting, heloicopter safety etc. Regulated by Offshore Companies