About the Pilot Exemption Certificate (P.E.C.)
Published: 8/24/2011, Updated: 10/12/2011
The Pilot Exemption Certificate is a document that shows that the holder on board is qualified to sail in specified fairways or areas with the specified vessel without a pilot. The pilot exemption certificate can be issued to the shipmaster or other navigators.
The Pilot Exemption Certificate is valid for one or more specific vessels, and for one or more specific fairways or areas. The pilot exemption certificate is valid on the vessel or vessels specified on the pilot exemption certificate.
The ship is obligated to check whether there are any local regulations that can nevertheless entail that the ship cannot use the pilot exemption certificate. For example, there may be conditions that entail that the pilot exemption certificate cannot be used in certain fairways.
A pilot exemption certificate fee is charged upon completion of an examination; or the issuance, expansion, renewal of the certificate; or if the vessel specified in the pilot exemption certificate is changed. See fee rates for 2011.
Importance is attached to the following conditions when a pilot exemption certificate is issued:
1. Applicant's competence and knowledge of the waters.
2. Risk associated with the vessel.
3. Risk associated with the waters.
4. Consideration of life, health and the environment, including the number of persons on board.
From 1 January 2011 the old Pilot Exemption Certificate Regulations were repealed and the provisions relating to the pilot exemption certificate were included in the Compulsory Pilotage Regulations.
Vessels subject to compulsory pilotage
The following vessels are subject to compulsory pilotage when operating in waters that are defined as subject to compulsory pilotage in Section 5:
- Vessels with a length of 70 metres or more or a width of 20 metres or more.
- Vessels that push or tow one or more objects, and the object or objects have a total length of 50 metres or more.
- Vessels with a double hull with a length of 50 metres or more that are carrying hazardous or pollutive cargo in bulk as mentioned in MARPOL Annex I, or cargo in pollution categories X, Y or Z, which is regulated in MARPOL Annex II, cf. IBC Code, Chapters 17 and 18.
- Vessels with a single hull with a length of 35 metres or more that are carrying hazardous or pollutive cargo in bulk as mentioned in MARPOL Annex I, or cargo in pollution categories X, Y or Z, which is regulated in MARPOL Annex II, cf. IBC Code, Chapters 17 and 18.
- Vessels with a length of 50 metres or more that carry gas condensate in bulk, cf. IGC Code, Chapter 19.
- Vessels with a length of 50 metres or more that are carrying 10 metric tonnes or more of hazardous or pollutive cargo in packaged form under hazard class 1, as regulated in MARPOL Annex III, cf. IMDG Code.
- Vessels that are carrying substances regulated by the INF Code.
- Passenger vessels with a length of 24 metres or more.
- Nuclear-powered vessels.
Instances where a pilot exemption certificate cannot be issued
- Vessels with a length of 150 metres or more.
- Nuclear-powered vessels.
Instances where a pilot exemption certificate cannot be used
A pilot exemption certificate cannot be used for the transport of substances regulated by the INF Code or when transporting the following liquid cargoes in bulk:
- Gas condensate, cf. IGC Code, Chapter 19.
- Substances in pollution category X regulated by MARPOL Annex II, cf. IBC Code, Chapter 17.
- Substances in pollution category Y regulated by MARPOL Annex II, cf. IBC Code, Chapter 17, all substances regulated by MARPOL Annex I and substances that have a flash point lower than 23 degrees (Celsius), when the vessel has a single hull and a length of 70 metres or more.
- Substances in pollution category Y regulated by MARPOL Annex II, cf. IBC Code, Chapter 17, all substances regulated by MARPOL Annex I and substances that have a flash point lower than 23 degrees (Celsius), when the vessel has a double hull and a length of 90 metres or more.
Vessels that have carried the substances mentioned in the first paragraph are classified the same as vessels carrying the substances until the tanks have been cleaned and are free of such substances.
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 the first paragraph.
In this case the vessel must be able to determine whether it can use its pilot exemption certificate for the cargo on board.