PEC requirements and conditions

See the requirements and conditions that apply to voyages subject to compulsory pilotage, where a Pilotage Exemption Certificate (PEC) is held.

Requirements for experience when using a PEC

All relevant experience is included in the assessment when you apply for a new, extended or renewed PEC. If applying for extension or a new PEC this will decide how many exams the navigator will receive in a test offer. But the navigator will only be able to apply for fairways where he have experience from within the last five years.

Requirements

What experience is assessed?

All relevant experience is included in the assessment when you apply for a new, extended or renewed PEC. If applying for extension or a new PEC this will decide how many exams the navigator will receive in a test offer. But the navigator will only be able to apply for fairways where he have experience from within the last five years.

The experience requirements in Sections 10, 11, 12 and 19 of the Compulsory Pilotage Regulations are applicable when applying for a PEC.
Does simulator-based sailing count as experience?

Yes, changes to the Compulsory Pilotage Regulations on 1 July 2020 mean that the Norwegian Coastal Administration allows the use of a simulator to meet the requirements for experience. See changes in the Compulsory Pilotage Regulations and use of a PEC.
What experience is required to renew a PEC?

When you want to renew a Class 2 or Class 3 PEC, we use your sailing history from the last validity period of five years (last validity period of two years for Class 1), and renew the areas (pilot master areas) where you have completed at least one voyage (two for Class 1).
I am applying for a new PEC or to extend my PEC

The same rules apply when applying for a PEC for the first time as when applying for an extension of a PEC. You can only be granted certification in areas that you have visited in the last five years. If you have less than one year’s effective sailing time on the Norwegian coast, you must have five voyages, including two night sailings, for each route in the relevant fairways during the last 12 months.
Should I attach documentation of experience from more than five years ago?

Yes, the overall picture of your experience will enable the Norwegian Coastal Administration to make a professional assessment and, if possible, reduce the number of exams you need to sit in order to receive certification for the areas you are applying for.
Documentation of new experience

Voyages that you undertake must be documented. Sailings registered in SafeSeaNet can be used as documentation. You can also attach a separate overview that has been verified by the captain/shipping company, a Record of Service or a Norwegian Sea Service Book/employment contract, or an overview of on-board periods that has been verified by the shipping company.

Conditions

Who does the PEC apply to?

The ship’s master must have a PEC for the area in question in order for other navigators on the vessel to be able to use their PEC.
Where does the PEC apply?

The PEC is only applicable in the fairways determined in Regulation no. 1477 of 30 November 2009 relating to fairways. The Norwegian Coastal Administration’s digital map service Kystinfo, which is mentioned in the regulations, shows which fairways are the main fairways and which are secondary fairways.

However, this does not apply to tugs, working vessels in the aquaculture industry, well boats for transporting live fish, feeding boats and trawlers when this leads to unreasonable rerouting in order to follow the established route, or if the vessel cannot follow the routes due to the nature of its work or activity.
Local restrictions

Local restrictions in some fairways differentiated for Classes 2, 3 and 1 can be found in the Norwegian Coastal Administration’s digital map service Kystinfo, or in Appendix 3 of the Compulsory Pilotage Regulations.

If you have problems accessing the map below, you can go to kystinfo.no and select ‘Layer Manager’, then ‘Pilotage and pilotage exemption certificate’, followed by ‘Farledsbevis, lokale begrensninger’.
Corridors leading to pilot pick up points

Approach corridors (formerly referred to as channels with a pilotage requirement) can be used by navigators without a PEC. See the document about use here.
Rest periods

The holder of a PEC must have at least 10 hours off duty in any 24-hour period. The rest period can be divided into two separate periods, of which one must be at least six hours.
Inspection of the PEC

Upon request, the PEC must be presented to the Norwegian Coastal Administration, the Norwegian Maritime Authority, the local port administration, the police, the Armed Forces or Norwegian Customs.
Registering voyages in advance

Voyages sailing under a PEC must be registered in SafeSeaNet Norway.
Tugs

The PEC does not apply to tugs with a total length of more than 100 metres/width 32 metres/height 10 metres/draught 8 metres, with the exception of tugs pulling floating pipes that do not exceed 505 metres or fish pens up to 300 metres.
Escort vessels

According to the Maritime Traffic Regulations, the PEC does not apply to the use of escort vessels.
Main fairways and secondary fairways

The PEC only applies to the fairways stipulated in Regulation no. 1477 of 30 November 2009 relating to fairways. The Norwegian Coastal Administration’s digital map service Kystinfo, which is mentioned in the regulations, shows which fairways are the main fairways and which are secondary fairways.
Fairways excluded from the PEC scheme

This is particularly applicable to Skagerrak. Click here for a map view (marked with a red shaded area).

See Section 16 of the Compulsory Pilotage Regulations, General and local restrictions on using PECs.

For a more detailed description of the terms of use, see the provisions of the Compulsory Pilotage Regulations and the amendments that came into force on 1 July 2020.