Pilots’ association to study remote pilotage on conventional ships

IMPA will work with the Canadian National Centre of Expertise on Maritime Pilotage (NCEMP) and the Canadian Coast Guard to explore the current and future use of remote pilotage on conventional ships, drawing on the expertise of IMPA’s members from over 50 countries.

The project aims to rigorously explore remote pilotage, discovering the truth about its feasibility, readiness, and impacts on safe navigation practices and systems. 

The scope of the study extends to vessels that might be navigated remotely or by software with autonomy in the future, with the partners analysing the impact of any new protocols on risk, cost-effectiveness, and social acceptance.

The project will consider the findings of previous shore-based pilotage projects and seek to validate the insights delivered by the project with trials of technology and protocols on conventionally navigated ships, principally in Canada.

IMPA said its project is unique due to the experience and knowledge of its membership of pilots who carry out over 2m acts of pilotage annually. 

Captain Simon Pelletier, President of IMPA says, “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. 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.”

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Commissioner of the Canadian Coast Guard, Mario Pelletier, says, “The collaboration with IMPA and the NCEMP will help us understand what role new technologies regarding remote navigation and autonomy might play in the future and how the Coast Guards around the globe must adapt to meet the evolving needs of mariners.”

According to Captain Alain Arseneault, Executive Director of the NCEMP, remote navigation trials have different motivations, reflect different realities, and use various operational solutions. “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.”

IMPA added that maritime pilots play a vital role in ensuring that shipping does not negatively impact coastal communities and the economic, social and environmental interests of nations relying on maritime trade. The association considers it critically important that any concept that could impact compulsory pilotage practices and systems, including remote pilotage, be carefully examined and assessed, it said.