Unit 1 - Planning an act of pilotage

A pilot will be expected to take on board the vessel a previously prepared Port Pilotage Plan (PPP). Each port may have its own basic PPP, to which must be added other relevant data. The pilot will therefore need to acquire up-to-date and relevant information before joining the vessel. On boarding the vessel, he may be made aware of additional factors, such as the vessel’s handling characteristics. These may require the PPP to be amended.

The Master should have already prepared his own passage plan for the vessel. This plan will be augmented and amended by the PPP as necessary, so that a comprehensive passage plan is readily understood and agreed by all parties.

As the act of pilotage progresses, the passage plan may need to be reviewed and adjusted by the bridge team, which includes the pilot.

As much information as possible on the vessel to be piloted should be ascertained, including any comments by pilots who have previously piloted the vessel, reports from other ports, or the MCA.