Increase of Pilot use into Baltic Sea

On the September 6, the members of the Joint Pilotage User Group (JPUG) INTERTANKO, INTERCARGO, ICS, OCIMF, BIMCO, Danish Maritime Authority and Danish Royal Administration of Navigation and Hydrography expressed their satisfaction with the increase in ships that are using pilots to navigate through the entrance to the Baltic Sea, route-T. Current statistics indicate a continuing increase in the number of ships that take a pilot in this area and also an increase in the use of a Pilot over longer distances. This indicates that the measures implemented during these last few years and the recent work of the JPUG to encourage ships to follow the IMO recommendations are having a positive effect. The measures consist of a 5-step-procedure

Denmark anticipates that the number and size of vessels passing through the straits will grow, therefore, the JPUG’s continuing and focused effort to enhance the safety of navigation is an important step in encouraging the use of pilots.

The chairman Director General Svend Eskildsen stressed that the members of the group are more than welcome to put forward any others ideas to improve the pilotage service. The dialogue between the members of the JPUG is crucial in maintaining the overall aim of ensuring optimal pilotage service in general and encouraging the use of pilots for ships in transit through the entrances to the Baltic Sea specifically.