Regulations On Compulsory Pilotage and The Use of Pilot Exemption Certificates (Compulsory Pilotage Regulations)
Regulations On Compulsory Pilotage and The Use of Pilot Exemption Certificates (Compulsory Pilotage Regulations)
Regulations On Compulsory Pilotage and The Use of Pilot Exemption Certificates (Compulsory Pilotage Regulations)
§ 1 Scope
(1) The regulations apply to the territorial waters and the internal waters, as well as the Skien
River up to Klosterfossen and the sluices in Skien, the Glomma up to Sarpsborg (Melløs) and the
Vester River up to Åsgårdsøra.
(2) The regulations do not apply to military vessels and other vessels under military command.
§ 2 Definitions
For the purposes of these regulations, the following definitions shall apply:
a) Pilot exemption certificate assessor: deck officer with a qualification certificate as an
assessor for the evaluation of candidates for a class 3 pilot exemption certificate, issued
by the Norwegian Coastal Administration pursuant to § 14
b) Vessel length: the vessel’s longest length, which shall include objects protruding beyond the
hull (LOA)
c) Approved ECDIS: type-approved electronic chart display and information system with backup
that satisfies the requirements established by the International Maritime Organisation (IMO)
in resolution A.817(19)
d) Baselines: the boundary between the internal waters and the territorial waters surrounding
Mainland Norway and Svalbard, as defined in the Regulations of 14 June 2002 on the
baselines for territorial waters around Mainland Norway and the Regulations no. 556 of 1
June 2001 on the baselines around Svalbard
e) IBC Code: the International Code for the Construction and Equipment of Ships Carrying
Dangerous Chemicals in Bulk, and subsequent amendments
f) IGC Code: the International Code for the Construction and Equipment of Ships Carrying
Liquefied Gases in Bulk, and subsequent amendments
g) IMDG Code: the International Maritime Dangerous Goods Code, and subsequent
amendments
h) INF Code: the International Code for the Safe Carriage of Packaged Irradiated Nuclear Fuel,
Plutonium and High-Level Radioactive Wastes on Board Ships, and subsequent amendments
i) Pilot boarding area: an area for the boarding or disembarkation of pilots marked on a
nautical chart with the symbol for pilot boarding
j) MARPOL: the 1973 International Convention for the Prevention of Pollution from Ships, as
amended by the supplementary protocol of 1978 and subsequent amendments
k) Night navigation: navigation in nautical twilight or darker, i.e. the centre of the sun is lower
than 6o below the horizon
l) Passenger vessel: vessel that can carry more than 12 passengers
§ 5 Pilot boarding
(1) The embarkation and disembarkation of pilots shall take place at the pilot boarding areas
stated in Annex 2. The individual pilot and the vessel in question shall determine in consultation
where the pilot shall embark or disembark based on the specified pilot boarding area.
(2) The Norwegian Coastal Administration may determine alternative pilot boarding areas inside
waters subject to compulsory pilotage when the weather conditions indicate that embarkation or
disembarkation for reasons of safety cannot be performed at the pilot boarding areas specified in
Annex 2. When navigating to and from an alternative pilot boarding area, the vessel shall follow the
guidance given by the pilot.
(3) The Norwegian Coastal Administration may issue regulations amending Annex 2, including
the establishment of new pilot boarding areas.
§ 8. Dispensations
Upon application from the master of the vessel, the Norwegian Coastal Administration may
grant dispensation from compulsory pilotage for an individual voyage. Dispensation may be granted
if there is or will be a shortage of pilots and safety considerations indicate that dispensation may be
granted, or in other cases where it is unreasonable to order a vessel to use a pilot and granting
dispensation is clearly justifiable on grounds of safety. Applications shall be submitted in SafeSeaNet
Norway.
§ 16 General and local restrictions for the use of pilot exemption certificates
(1) Unless otherwise stated in the pilot exemption certificate, the pilot exemption certificate
applies only to the fairways that have been established pursuant to Regulations no. 1477 of 30
November 2009 relating to fairways. This restriction does not apply to vessels if it would entail
unreasonable re-routing, or to vessels that cannot follow the fairways due to their assigned tasks or
activities, such as towing vessels, working vessels in the fish farming industry, well boats, feed boats
and fishing vessels.
(2) The pilot exemption certificate does not apply if the vessel
a) push or tow one or more objects, and the object or objects have a total length of 100
metres or more, or a width of 32 metres or more, a height of 10 meters or more or a
draught of 8 metres or more, or
b) push or tow one or more objects in one of the fairways with local restrictions according to
Annex 3, and the object or objects have a total length of 75 metres or more, or a width of
30 metres or more, a height of 10 meters or more or a draught of 8 metres or more.
(3) Notwithstanding the limitations of paragraph (2), vessels with a trading certificate as a
certified towing vessel or holding a towing permit can use a pilot exemption certificate when they are
towing
a) floating pipes when the total length of the tow does not exceed 505 metres and the width
of the tow does not exceed 12 metres and the maximum draught of the tow does not
exceed 0.5 m, or
b) fish cages, when the total length of the fish cage or cages does not exceed 300 m and the
maximum draught does not exceed 0.7 m.
(4) The pilot exemption certificate does not apply when an escort vessel is used.
(5) Unless otherwise stated in the pilot exemption certificate, the restrictions for the local
fairways that are specified in Annex 3 to the regulations apply.
(6) The Norwegian Coastal Administration may issue regulations amending Annex 3, including
the establishment of new restrictions for local fairways.
§ 17 Restrictions for the use of pilot exemption certificates when carrying hazardous or pollutive
cargo
(1) A pilot exemption certificate cannot be used when carrying substances regulated by the INF
Code or when transporting the following liquid cargoes in bulk:
a) Condensed gases, cf. IGC Code, Chapter 19, except vessels up to 110 meters that
i. are IGC type 3G, 2PG or 2G ships,
ii. are equipped with an approved ECDIS, and
iii. has redundant propulsion
b) Substances in pollution category X that are regulated in MARPOL Annex II, cf. IBC Code,
Chapter 17
c) Substances in pollution category Y that are regulated in MARPOL Annex II, cf. IBC Code,
Chapter 17, all substances that are regulated in MARPOL Annex I and substances with a
flash point lower than 60° C, when the vessel has a single hull and a length of 70 metres or
more
d) Substances in pollution category Y that are regulated in MARPOL Annex II, cf. IBC Code,
Chapter 17, all substances that are regulated in MARPOL Annex I and substances with a
flash point lower than 60° C, when the vessel has a double hull and a length of 90 metres or
more, except vessels up to 110 meters that
i. are equipped with an approved ECDIS,
ii. have double hull protection of the bunker tanks if the vessel uses heavy fuel
oil for propulsion (does not apply to vessels carrying vegetable oil and fish
oil), and
iii. has redundant propulsion (does not apply to vessels carrying vegetable oil
and fish oil)
(2) The limitations of paragraph (1) do not apply to offshore support vessels transporting limited
amounts of hazardous and noxious liquid substances in bulk, as defined in Regulations of 1 July 2014
no 944 relating to dangerous cargo on board Norwegian ships, § 6.
(3) Vessels that carry substances or cargo as mentioned in paragraph (1) are considered to carry
the substance or cargo until the tanks have been cleaned and are free of the substance or cargo.
(4) In special cases, the Norwegian Coastal Administration may determine, upon an application,
that a pilot exemption certificate may nevertheless be used when carrying the substances mentioned
in paragraph (1).
§ 25 Appeals
Individual decisions made by the Norwegian Coastal Administration under these regulations may
be appealed pursuant to the provisions of the Public Administration Act.
§ 26 Penalties
Breach of §§ 3, 4, 5, 6, 10, 14, 15, 16, 17 and 21 of these regulations or individual decisions
pursuant to §§ 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12, 19 or 20 of these regulations shall be punishable in accordance with
§ 51 of Act no. 70 of 21 June 2019 relating to Harbours and Fairways.
§ 28 Transitional provisions
Holders of pilot exemption certificates that are entitled as of 31 December 2014 to navigate in a
fairway for which local restrictions are introduced, or local restrictions are changed as of 1 January
2015, will retain their rights until the next time the pilot exemption certificate must be renewed. The
requirements in § 19 will apply for renewal.
Annex 1.
Waters within the baselines that are exempt from compulsory pilotage for voyages to and
from the pilot boarding area.
The areas mentioned in § 4 paragraph (2) of the regulations shall be determined by drawing straight
lines between the geographical coordinates specified below:
(the coordinates have not been reproduced in this English translation. Pls confer the original
Norwegian version for geographical coordinates at: https://lovdata.no/dokument/SF/forskrift/2014-
12-17-1808/KAPITTEL_5#KAPITTEL_5)
(the areas are also set out in the Norwegian Coastal Administration map solution, Kystinfo,
https://kart.kystverket.no/. Select: temalag/los og farledsbevis/innseilingskorridorer –losplikt)
Annex 2.
Nordland
Andenes 69o 19,5’ 016o 13,5’ Andøy
Myre* 69o 00,0’ 014o 58,0’ Øksnes Only by prior aggreement1
Melbu * 68o 28,0’ 014o 48,0’ Hadsel Only by prior aggreement1
Lødingen 68o 22,9’ 016o 01,7’ Lødingen
Tranøy inner 68o 18,5’ 015o 55,7’ Tysfjord Only by prior aggreement1
Tranøy outer 68o 12,7’ 015o 35,7’ Hamarøy
Svolvær* 68o 11,0’ 014o 33,0’ Vågan Max LOA 1103, Only by prior aggreement1
Molldøra* 68o 13,0’ 014o 53,5’ Vågan Max LOA 1103, Only by prior aggreement1
Svinøy* 68o 02,0’ 013o 35,0’ Vesvågøy Only by prior aggreement1
Landegode 67o 30,0’ 014o 22,5’ Bodø
Store Svartoksen 67 o13,9’ 014o 07,2’ Bodø Max LOA 1103
Fleinvær 67o 13,5’ 013o 46,2’ Gildeskål
Åsvær outer 66o 17,0’ 012o 12,5’ Dønna
Åsvær inner 66o 15,3’ 012o 36,’7 Dønna Max LOA 1103
Western Norway
Only by prior aggreement1, only by
Kvannhovden Vest (1) 61° 43,0′ 004° 23,5′ Flora helicopterboarding
Kvannhovden (2) 61o 42,2’ 004o 45,5’ Flora
Hellefjord (3) 61° 39,1’ 004° 51,2’ Flora Only by prior aggreement1
Frøysjøen (4) 61° 45,0’ 004° 56,6’ Flora Only by prior aggreement1
Holmengrå West (1) 60o 51,0’ 004o 25,9’ Gulen >30.000BT and by helicopterboarding2
Holmengrå (2) 60o 51,4’ 004o 39,0’ Fedje
Holmengrå inner (3) 60o 51,4’ 004o 45,2’ Fedje Only by prior aggreement1
Fedje West (1) 60o 46,0’ 004o 27,9’ Fedje >30.000BT and by helicopterboarding2
Fedjeosen (2) 60o 44,1’ 004o 44,0’ Fedje
Fedjeosen inner (3) 60o 45,7’ 004o 46,1’ Fedje Only by prior aggreement1
Korsfjord 60o 08,6’ 005o 00,9’ Austevoll
Rogaland
Smørstakk 59o 13,1’ 005o 21,0’ Bokn
Skudenesfjord 59o 06,7’ 005o 26,2’ Kvitsøy
Skudenesfjord West 59o 02,0’ 005o 10,0’ Karmøy >30.000BT and by helicopterboarding2
Feistein 58o 51,0’ 005o 30,0’ Sola
Skagerrak
Egersund North 58o 26,9’ 005o 50,9’ Eigersund
Egersund South 58o 22,9’ 005o 59,9’ Eigersund
Sokndal 58o 17,9’ 006o 13,9’ Sokndal
Listafjord 58o 10,9’ 006o 32,9’ Flekkefjord
Farsund 58o 01,5’ 006o 50,0’ Farsund
Songvår* 58° 00,7′ 007° 51,3′ Søgne Only by prior agreement1
Oksøy 58o 03,3’ 008o 05,6’ Kristiansand
Torungen 58o 23,5’ 008o 48,6’ Arendal
Langesundsbukta 58o 56,5’ 009o 47,6’ Larvik
Oslofjord
Færder Syd* 59° 00,0′ 010° 25,0′ Tjøme Only by prior agreement1
Færder 59° 04,5′ 010° 34,4′ Tjøme
Struten 59° 07,6′ 010° 43,2′ Fredrikstad Only by prior agreement1
Hvaler 59° 03,1′ 010° 47,0′ Hvaler Only by prior agreement1
Ytre Vidgrunnen 59° 01,7′ 010° 51,1′ Hvaler
Vidgrunnen 59° 01,0′ 010° 55,9′ Hvaler
Pilot boarding areas Position Municipality Comment or restriction
North East
Sekken 58° 58,6′ 011° 02,7′ Hvaler
*Pilot boarding area is not a part of the ordinary transport service and the costs must be covered by the
individual vessels.
1
Pilot boarding area may only be used by prior agreement with the pilot master or pilot dispatch centre.
2
Shall be used by vessels carrying hazardous or pollutive cargo that is greater than the specified tonnage and
for helicopter boarding.
3
Only vessels with a max LOA of 110 metres, which do not fall under § 3 paragraph (1), letters c to g or h, where
the responsible duty officer on the bridge has navigated the fairway at least once before.
4
Shall be used on inbound voyages by passenger vessels that are larger than the stated tonnage and by vessels
that are to perform STS operations
Annex 3. Local restrictions for the use of pilot exemption certificates
The restrictions in column 1 apply to class 2 and 3 pilot exemption certificates and to cadet pilot exemption
certificates. If no special restrictions are stated for night navigation, the same restrictions as for daytime
navigation apply.
The restrictions in column 2 apply to class 1 pilot exemption certificates and coincide with local pilot service
restrictions as to when a pilotage assignment is to be regarded as extraordinary. If no restrictions are specified
in column 2, then no differentiated limits have been established and the restrictions in column 1 apply.
The definition of night in this context corresponds to night navigation as defined in § 2 of the regulations.
Oslo Fjord
Sponvikskansen to Halden (1001) Max LOA 105m Max LOA 130m Max LOA 125m
Skagerrak
Jomfrulandsrevet – Kragerø (1025), Max LOA 90m No PEC navigation Max LOA 125 No PEC navigation
through Rødskjærgapet (2064)
Max draught 9,0m Max draught 9,0m
Lyngør – Arendal, fairway Bonden Max LOA 125m Max LOA 150m
– Eydehavn (1030)
Høllen (2096) Max LOA 105m Max LOA 90m Max LOA 125m Max LOA 95m
Stolsfjorden – Flekkefjord (1040) Max LOA 105m Max LOA 100m Max LOA 125m Max LOA 100m
Sirevåg (2112) Max LOA 90 m Max LOA 110m Max LOA 100m
Rogaland
Vestlandet
Storebø (2228, 2231 and 2025 Max LOA 105m Max LOA 125m Max LOA 110m
from Grøningen/Drøna to
Hundvåkoksen)
Eide (2234) Max LOA 90m Max LOA 125m Max LOA 100m
Førdefjorden (2323) Max LOA 105m Max LOA 90m Max LOA 125m Max LOA 110m
Linesleia (2551) and Stokksundet Max LOA 105m Max LOA 125m
(Leikula 2544)
Nordland
Værøy (2682) (restriction on arrival Max LOA 105m Max LOA 90m Max LOA 120m Max LOA 105m
to port)
Osan (Svolvær western harbour) Max LOA 125m Max LOA 150m
Melbu (2779) (restriction on arrival Max LOA 100m Max LOA 100m
to port)
Steinesjøen inner harbour (2790) Max LOA 75m Max LOA 75m
Place/fairway Column 1 Column 2
Restrictions for class 2 and 3 pilot exemption Class 1 pilot exemption certificate
certificates and cadet pilot exemption certificates restrictions
* If the vessel tows or pushes one or more objects, and the object or objects has a total length/width/draught equal to or
more than the number given.
**Special restrictions Tana Fjord to/from Leirpollen:
1. A pilot exemption certificate examination must be taken going in and out of Leirpollen for both class 1 and class 2
PEC.
2. For navigating in and out of Leirpollen, the anchors shall be unsecured and manned so that they can be dropped
immediately if necessary.
3. Pilot exemption certificates do not apply to navigating in and out of Leirpollen if the wind speed is in excess of 20
metres/second.
4. For a draught greater than 5.5 metres, navigation into Leirpollen shall only take place from 1 hour prior to high
tide until 1 hour after high tide.
5. For a draught greater than 5.5 metres, navigation out of Leirpollen shall only take place from 2 hours prior to high
tide until high tide.
*** If the vessel is equipped with a bowthruster
Annex 4. Places with separate deadlines for final confirmation of the starting time of pilotage.
For the following locations the Norwegian Coastal Administration may specify separate deadlines for
final confirmation of the starting time of pilotage:
Place Locode Pilot station
Båtsfjord NOBJF Honningsvåg
Båtsfjord Losbordingspunkt NOZBT Honningsvåg
Hamnbukt – Porsanger NOHBT Honningsvåg
Skarsvåg NOSKZ Honningsvåg
Alta NOALF Hammerfest
Havøysund NOHAV Hammerfest
Finnsnes NOFNE Tromsø
Senjahopen NOSJH Tromsø
Gryllefjord NOGRY Tromsø
Torsken NOTOR Tromsø
Sørreisa NOSRA Tromsø
Stjernøya NOSTY Tromsø
Andenes NOADN Lødingen
Andenes Losbordingspunkt NOZAN Lødingen
Ballstad NOBSD Lødingen
Finnfjordbotn NOFFB Lødingen
Gravdal NOGRD Lødingen
Leknes NOLKN Lødingen
Myrflesan Ankring NOZNY Lødingen
Reine NOREI Lødingen
Risøyhamn NORSH Lødingen
Stamsund NOSUZ Lødingen
Svinøy Losbordingspunkt NOXSI Lødingen
Å i Lofoten NOAAA Lødingen
Værøy NOVEY Bodø
Glomfjord NOGLO Sandnessjøen
Halsa Meløy NOHSA Sandnessjøen
Flesa Losbordingspunkt NOXRE Trondheim
Grinna Losbordingspunkt NOZGI Trondheim
Hestvika NOHES Trondheim
Krigsborgan NOZKB Trondheim
Kråkvågfjorden Losbordingspunkt NOZKR Trondheim
Kvithylla NOKIA Trondheim
Lysøysund NOLSU Trondheim
Nordfosen NONFO Trondheim
Nordskaget – Frøya NONSF Trondheim
Raudøya NOZRU Trondheim
Rekkøyråsa Losbordingspunkt NOXRK Trondheim
Place Locode Pilot station
Rørvik NORVK Trondheim
Sandstad NOHIT Trondheim
Sandviksberget NOSAI Trondheim
Trondheim Reden NOZTR Trondheim
Uthaug NOUTH Trondheim
Utvorda NOUTV Trondheim
Valsneset NOVAE Trondheim
Halsa NOHLS Kristiansund
Nyhamna NONYH Kristiansund
Smøla NOSMO Kristiansund
Tjeldbergodden NOTBO Kristiansund
Vikan – Smøla NOVSM Kristiansund
Aukra NOAUK Ålesund
Elnesvågen NOELN Ålesund
Fiskåbygd – Vanylven NOFSK Ålesund
Flem NOFLM Ålesund
Fosnavåg NOFOS Ålesund
Gursken NOGUR Ålesund
Hareid NOHRI Ålesund
Hjørungavåg NOHJO Ålesund
Liavåg NOLIA Ålesund
Midsund NOMID Ålesund
Mjølstadneset NOMSD Ålesund
Molde NOMOL Ålesund
Moldtustranda NOMLT Ålesund
Rovde NOROV Ålesund
Steinshamn NOSTH Ålesund
Ulsteinvik NOULS Ålesund
Vanylvsgapet Losbordingspunkt NOZVG Ålesund
Vartdal NOVTL Ålesund
Ørsta NOORS Ålesund
Åheim NOAHM Ålesund
Dale NODSF Florø
Høyanger NOHYR Florø
Leirvik i Hyllestad NOLEA Florø
Måløy NOMAY Florø
Nordfjordeid NONFD Florø
Selje NOSJE Florø
Sogndal NOSOG Florø
Vågsvåg NOVVG Florø
Vik – Sogn NOVIS Fedje
Eidfjord NOEDF Bergen
Place Locode Pilot station
Flåm NOFLA Bergen
Gudvangen NOGUD Bergen
Granvin NOGRV Bergen
Lærdal NOLRD Bergen
Jondal NOJON Bergen
Odda NOODD Bergen
Omastranda NOOMA Bergen
Tyssedal NOTSX Bergen
Ulvik NOUVK Bergen
Årdalstangen NOARD Bergen
Fitjar NOFIT Viksøy
Fusa NOFUS Viksøy
Halsnøy NOHAZ Viksøy
Husnes NOHUS Viksøy
Høylandsbygda NOHLB Viksøy
Rosendal NORSE Viksøy
Fiskå – Strand NOFIS Tananger
Hjelmeland NOHJL Tananger
Tau NOTAU Tananger
Steinvig NOSTI Tananger
Årdal – Hjelmeland NOARH Tananger