LOS PARTIDOS POLÍTICOS EN EL MUNDO

Pilotage means activities related to the navigation of vessels in which the pilot acts as an advisor to the master of the vessel and as an expert on local waters and their navigation. The Pilotage Act states that the purpose of pilotage is to enhance the safety of vessel traffic and prevent environmental damage by vessel traffic. Pilotage is provided in compulsory pilotage areas in Finnish waters and in the part of the Saimaa Canal leased by Finland. More than one thousand such areas has been specified. Pilotage services in Finland are provided by a state-owned company called Finnpilot Pilotage Ltd.

Vessel traffic is marshalled to ensure the safe and smooth navigation of vessels. The aim of this is to prevent traffic congestion as well as hazardous situations arising from vessels meeting or overtaking each other. Vessels of 24 metres in length or more are obliged to participate in vessel traffic services. In Finland, vessel traffic services (VTS services) are operated by the Finnish Transport Agency. In 2012, VTS centres reported a total of 166 breaches of or deviations from traffic separation schemes; 26 navigational errors where a VTS had to contact a vessel in order to steer it out of harm’s way and prevent an accident; 29 breaches of the vessel’s reporting obligation, and 6 irregularities involving a pilot boarding or leaving a vessel.

Pilotage

assignments, qty 2010 2011 2012 Estimate

for 2013

Kotka 6,198 6,293 5,156 4,711

Helsinki 5,799 5,867 5,597 5,156

Sea of Archipelago 4,466 4,706 3,838 3,571

Bothnian Sea 4,206 4,347 3,666 3,551

Bothnian Bay 5,094 4,867 4,820 4,744

Lake Saimaa 3,582 3,921 4,014 4,166

Total 29,345 30,001 27,091 25,899

Finnpilot Pilotage Ltd began to measure the effectiveness of pilotage on 1 November 2012. Measurement of pilotage effectiveness involves making observations of deviations that oc-cur during a pilotage assignment. Such deviations may relate to the vessel under pilotage or factors external to the vessel. Based on such measurements, it can be concluded that approximately every third pilotage assignment involves a deviation.

In addition to observations on deviations, the measurer records any measures taken by the pilot to eliminate devia-tions or their effects. Coupled with the measures taken to deal with them, such deviations reveal the degree to which pilotage has contributed to navigation safety.

Measured in euros, the value of additional safety can be determined on the basis of the average cost of accidents. The value of added safety can then be compared with pilotage fees, providing a basis for determining the amount of safety provided by each euro invested in pilotage. In late 2012 and early 2013, one euro invested in pilotage translated into safety worth approximately 5 to 10 euros.

From late 2012 until the spring of 2013, a total of 9,710 pilotage assignments were completed, with 2,540 deviations detected during these operations. In the same period, 41 serious accidents (cost in excess of 1 million euros), 58 minor accidents, 141 near misses and 696 unsafe acts were prevented.

During the last winter, the most common observations on vessel-related deviations were:

1. inadequate skills in manoeuvring the vessel in winter conditions, qty 244

2. defects in the functioning of steering propellers, qty 140 3. inadequate skills in manoeuvring the vessel, qty 136 4. inadequate harbour icebreaking, qty 119

5. inadequate skills in berthing/unberthing the vessel, qty 69 Deterioration of crew skills in dealing with winter conditions Pilotage assignments in 2010–2012

Source: Finnpilot Pilotage Ltd 2013

is a trend. While no numerical evidence on this exists, the recently begun measurement of the effectiveness of pilotage has provided support for similar, long-held views among pilots.

The year 2013 will see continued efforts towards developing improved reporting practices on effectiveness. Agreements have been drafted on the handover of material to the authorities and research institutes. During 2013, the Centre for Maritime Studies in Turku (MKK) will also carry out a research project on the effectiveness of pilotage. This research will be based on material obtained from various sources, including Finnpilot.

Use of ship simulators in pilotage

The Pilotage Act was amended in 2010. A key amendment was the inclusion of the Pilotage Exemption Certificate examination in English, effective from July 2011. While the introduction of English significantly increased the number of exemptions from the obligation to use pilotage services, it also created safety risks. In order to minimise such risks, stricter training requirements were stipulated for masters and mates applying for exemptions. Examinations performed using a ship-handling simulator were also made mandatory for pilots and deck officers applying for exemptions.

Such examinations are arranged by maritime polytechnics in Finland: Satakunta University of Applied Sciences, Aboa Mare and Högskolan på Åland. In 2012, a total of approximately 200 examinations were conducted.

Given the information now available, it is difficult to assess whether the introduction of the Pilotage Exemption Certificate examination in English has increased the risk of accidents in Finnish coastal waters, or whether sufficient measures have been taken to reduce such risks. However, statistics indicate that maritime accidents have not increased as a result of the examination’s being in English.

The European Union is exploring the possibility of making exemptions from the obligation to use pilotage easier to obtain in all member countries. Many member states have shown interest in Finland’s experiences of using ship handling simulators in examinations related to pilotage. After any deficiencies detected in trials have been corrected, our practices could be adopted on a larger scale in the Union, if deemed necessary. They could also be developed in a more risk-sensitive direction, using risk analyses obtained from deviation reports produced by Finnpilot Pilotage Oy.

Photo: Vastavalo, Sassa Stenroos

Photo: Vastavalo, Sami Kiuru