Pilotage Exemption Certificates

Pilotage Exemption Certificates (PECs) are granted for specific fairways and specific vessels. Provisions on the prerequisites for granting PECS are set out in section 14 of the Pilotage Act (940/2003) and further provisions in sections 7 and 8 of the Government Decree on Pilotage (246/2011) and Trafi's Regulation on training, examination and  practical pilotage assessment required for issue of Pilot Licences, Pilot Exemption Certificates and Exemptions (TRAFI/604/03.04.01.00/2011). Provisions on renewing PECs are set out in section 10 of the Decree and in Trafi's Regulation.

Qualification requirements

Both the master of the vessel and the officers of the navigational watch may apply for a PEC. However, if a vessel is to be exempted from the requirement to use a pilot, the master must have a PEC. The qualification requirements are based on the position the applicant holds according to the Minimum Safe Manning Certificate.

Training requirements comprise 10 voyages in the fairway in both directions if a cargo vessel PEC is applied for and 30 voayges in both directions if a passenger vessel PEC is applied for. The voyages shall be undertaken on board the vessel and in the fairway concerned.

If the applicant has a valid PEC for another vessel in the same fairway, this will be taken into consideration when determining the number of training voyages required for a passenger vessel PEC.

Part of the training voyages may be substituted by simulator training.

Exams

The PEC exam comprises a blank chart exam, a written exam and a simulator exam. Th exam can be taken in Finnish or Swedish. It may also be done in English if the compulsory pilotage area concerned is located in the sea area between Kristiinankaupunki and Hamina. Exams are arranged by universities of applied sciences or maritime colleges authorized by Trafi. At present exams are arranged by

• Aboa Mare; Micael Vuorio, phone +358 44 762 3413, e-mail micael.vuorio (at) novia.fi
• Satakunta University of Applied Sciences;
  Jarmo Teränen, phone +358 44 710 3679,
  e-mail jarmo.teranen (at) samk.fi.

A further prerequisite is that the applicant has passed a practical pilotage assessment. The test is assessed by the  Trafi officers listed below. The applications for PECs should also be sent to them:

• Northern Supervision Group; Tuula Forsblom,
  phone +358 400 36 3167,
  e-mail tuula.forsblom (at) trafi.fi
• Western Supervision Group; Carl-Henrik Laurén,
  phone +358 400 59 4054,
  e-mail carl-henrik.lauren (at) trafi.fi
• Southern Supervision Group; Sami Sällsten,
  phone +358 40 8299 828, e-mail sami.sallsten (at) trafi.fi
• Eastern Supervision Group; Hannu Pirinen,
  phone +358 400 43 2825, e-mail   hannu.pirinen (at) trafi.fi