The International Maritime Pilots’ Association (IMPA) is collaborating with the Canadian National Centre of Expertise on Maritime Pilotage (NCEMP) and the Canadian Coast Guard to assess the feasibility, readiness, and impact of remote pilotage. This initiative aims to provide comprehensive insights into the current and future use of remote pilotage, particularly for conventional ships and those potentially navigated by autonomous systems. Recognizing the crucial role of qualified maritime pilots, the International Maritime Organization emphasizes their importance in ensuring safe navigation in challenging conditions, such as ports.
What is it?
Remote pilotage enables pilots to guide a vessel from land or a pilot boat. Experienced Vessel Traffic Service (VTS) personnel can also provide instructions to the master from their control center. During remote pilotage, pilots do not access the ship’s navigational equipment directly but depend on their own tracking devices or information relayed by the vessel’s bridge team via VHF or other communication methods. The project includes trials of remote pilotage technology and protocols, focusing primarily on Canadian maritime contexts.
Captain Simon Pelletier, President of IMPA, said, “The number and variety of people talking about remote navigation and pilotage makes it necessary for IMPA to conduct a rigorous, objective analysis to help pilots’ organisations, competent authorities, and industry make informed decisions”, adding that,” providing authoritative, evidence-based guidance to support objective decision-making in maritime pilotage is key to ensuring the continued safety of marine navigation. It is part of the reason IMPA exists.”
According to Captain Alain Arseneault, Executive Director of the NCEMP, remote navigation trials have different motivations, reflect different realities, and use various operational solutions. He said, ” A lot is being said about remote pilotage, but ensuring that aspirations and technological solutions do not get ahead of navigation safety is in everyone’s interests. We need clear, evidence-based and authoritative guidance, not just in Canada but in other jurisdictions as well.”
