The pilot’s job
Transport Code: “Art. L. 5341-1 Pilotage consists in the assistance given to captains, by personnel commissioned by the State, for the conduct of ships entering and leaving ports, in harbors and in the maritime waters of estuaries, rivers and canals mentioned in article L. 5000-1.”
Marine pilots
There are 340 French marine pilots, working out of 32 stations. They are state-commissioned personnel, grouped together in a professional syndicate. Each station has its own Local Regulations detailing its organization.
Every day of the year, 7/7 and 24/24, the pilot’s role is to assist the captain by providing local expertise and timely advice during the ship’s passage.
An indispensable interface for commanders from diverse backgrounds, unaware of the particularities of the local environment, the pilot plans and coordinates all the nautical resources required for the maneuver.
Specialized, local knowledge of maneuvering ships as they approach ports is required.
Introduction to the pilot profession
Recruitment and concours
Marine pilots are recruited by local competition decided by each station according to its staffing requirements. Candidates, holders of the brevet de commandement de la marine marchande, have sailed at least 12 years as an officer on merchant ships.
Preparation for this competitive examination is voluntary – there are no marine pilotage schools. The main test is devoted to detailed knowledge of the pilotage area and ship maneuvers within it.
Graduates then embark on a training program during which they acquire the expertise needed to operate ever larger vessels in confined waters.
Marine pilot: a profession for women
Catherine CORNU, the first woman marine pilot in France, joined the Seine Pilotage Station in 2000, after more than ten years of long-distance sailing.
During her career, she has proved that self-control and the ability to command the confidence of even the most experienced ship captains is not just a male prerogative. In a predominantly male world, she has established herself as a marine pilot in her own right, and even led them, as Catherine was elected to the position of Station President from 2016 to 2019.
