FAQ

Who are Liverpool Pilots?

It is an Industrial and Provident Society founded in 1766 and re-established in 1997 owned by the individual pilot member shareholders, working as a co-operative to provide Pilotage Services within the compulsory Pilotage district of the Port of Liverpool under a contract for services with the port owners Peel, who are also the Competent Harbour Authority.

How can I become a Pilot?

Please visit our website page entitled “A career in Liverpool Pilots”.

What is the legal definition of a Pilot?

By definition through English Case Law “He is a person who does not belong to the ship’s crew but has the conduct of the ships navigation”

What Statutory Law governs Pilotage?

The Pilotage Act 1987

In the River Mersey is Pilotage compulsory for all vessels?

Please read the extract from the Port of Liverpool Pilotage directions Section 3 below

(a) Pilotage shall be compulsory for all vessels 82m and above in length, including a

vessel under tow where the length of tug and tow exceeds 82m, navigating within

the Port with the exception of those owned or operated by the Corporation of Trinity

House of Deptford Strond

(b) Pilotage shall be compulsory for any vessel less than 82m in length navigating

within the Port when:

(i) carrying Dangerous Goods and/or Harmful Substances, or

(ii) the navigation of which is in the opinion of the Company affected by a defect in

or damage to the vessel or her equipment or incompetence or inadequacy of

the Master or crew, or

(iii) navigating within the Port limits solely to adjust her compass.

(iv) carrying more than 12 fare-paying passengers

(v) in respect of a vessel of more than 50 gross tonnes, the Master or First Mate

has not previously navigated that vessel or a vessel of a similar class to that

vessel within the Port within the previous 12 months.

Why are Pilots engaged?

This simple question has several answers. The order of priority of which depends on the circumstances. They may be summarized as pure Pilotage, liaison, ship handling and bridge support.

For their ability to anticipate the effects of current and tide.
For their expertise in navigating close to land and in narrow channels.
For their understanding of local traffic.
For their ability to work effectively with VTS.
For their language ability when dealing with shore services.
For their proficiency in ship handling.
For their expertise in handling tugs and linesmen.

What is the relationship between the Captain and Pilot of a ship?

The pilot is a person who holds himself out as being an expert in the handling of ships and local knowledge of his port. The Law expects a high standard of skill and knowledge from the pilot. By doing this it is able to give support to its claim that the pilot is the most suitable, indeed the only reasonable person to navigate a ship within the Pilotage area. The law can therefore make Pilotage compulsory.

The captain commits to the pilot the con of the ship while in the Pilotage district. He does not relinquish command; there is no reason to do so, as the ship owner only employs the pilot’s local knowledge and experience with respect to the movement of the vessel.

The law considers that the pilot is best placed to con the ship and that the master would be unjustified in taking the con from him. The master has a duty to support, and see that his crew supports the pilot in the con.

Pilots may occasionally fail in knowledge or skill, and this may endanger the safety of the vessel for which the master is responsible. In these extraordinary circumstances the captain has the duty to resume the con of the ship. The point at which this duty arises is very difficult to determine, therefore the captain must be able to make early and appropriate suggestions to the pilot regarding the con and navigation of the vessel. Where a pilot acts upon those suggestions the law considers the action to be that of the pilot alone. In order that the captain may be in a position to make appropriate suggestions and eventually to take such action as is possible to avoid danger he must have a thorough knowledge of ship handling and have prepared and agreed with the pilot an adequate passage plan for the waters in which he is navigating.

I am the agent, captain or ship owner of a vessel visiting the Port of Liverpool; I need to talk to a Pilot to establish for example my maximum draught or towage requirements. How do I do this?

Contact the Port Operations Control – Liverpool on the following telephone numbers:

Duty Officers 0151 949 6132 / 6134 / 6135
Booking of Pilots 0151 949 6131 / 6133 / 6137
Fax 0151 949 609
Email address: vts.pilotage@merseydocks.co.uk

The duty officer or Pilotage clerk will then arrange for a pilot to contact you as soon as possible to discuss your requirements either by telephone or if required in person.

My vessel is bound for Liverpool where can I find out the following:

Arrival Information
Pilotage Directions
General Directions
Navigation Guidelines
Notices to Mariners
Towage information & Guidelines