International Chamber of Shipping (ICS) Pilotage, Towage and Mooring Survey 2016

The International Chamber of Shipping has recently announced a comprehensive worldwide survey of pilotage, towage and mooring services. The objective of this survey is to evaluate the extent to which best practice is being implemented and it should therefore also help to identify locations where there could be scope for improvement in these services. The survey questionnaire, including the full scope of the survey, can be found at the following link:

http://www.smartsurvey.co.uk/s/ICSPilotageTowingMooringSurvey2016/

It is possible that Members might already have received information about this survey from their respective national association.

North regularly deals with incidents such as contacts with fixed objects, collisions, groundings and other navigational casualties that occur when vessels are under pilotage. It is frequently the case that even if such incidents might be caused or contributed to by the actions of the pilot, the ship owner or operator remains vicariously responsible for the consequences. There are also instances of personal injury suffered by pilots during the process of either embarkation or disembarkation which can also generate substantial liabilities.

The International Group’s Pilotage Sub-Committee is interested to identify areas where the recommendations in the IMO’s Resolution A.960(23) on training, certification and  operational procedures for maritime pilots may be less than fully effective. In view of the alignment of interest that exists with the objectives of the ICS survey, it will be of great assistance if Members could circulate details of the survey to their vessels and encourage responses from their Masters and navigating officers in relation to locations where either good or sub-optimal practice has been evident. Whilst the ICS press release indicates that the online survey will be open until 16 October 2016, this date might be extended if the volume of response should justify that.