Introduction to the Status of Pilots:

European maritime pilots operate under a variety of different employment regimes; as civil servants, employed or self-employed. The training, recruitment and qualification methods for European pilots vary from country to country, but it is accepted that high standards are set and achieved throughout Europe. The skill, knowledge and commitment required to maintain those high quality pilotage standards is considerable. EMPA has undertaken a responsibility to assist its members in continuing to maintain those objectives. As part of this process, in order to provide information to pilots and others regarding existing best practices, EMPA regularly publishes a survey of pilotage services in Member countries, the EMPA Status of Pilots.

As a further step in that responsibility, and as a part of the European Union policy of fostering Quality Shipping, which includes shipping services, the General Assembly of EMPA has adopted the following Charter on Pilotage and Code of Best Practice for European Maritime Pilots.

              Captain Udo Hintze
EMPA Sr. Vice-President
Paris, May 2001