The pilotage fees consist of the pilotage readiness fee, pilotage service fee and Pilotage Exemption Certificate (PEC) fee.

Vessels sailing in Norwegian waters within the baseline must pay a pilotage readiness fee, and vessels using the pilotage service also have to pay a pilotage service fee. The fees are adjusted annually.

The pilotage fees are authorised in the Regulations relating to the pilotage readiness fee, pilotage service fee and PEC fee (pilotage fees) - in Norwegian only.

The pilotage service is regulated by the Act relating to harbours and fairways (the Harbour Act)- in Norwegian only.

Vessels and voyages that are subject to pilotage are described in the Regulations on compulsory pilotage and the use of Pilotage Exemption Certificates (Compulsory Pilotage Regulations) - in Norwegian only.

The requirement to pay pilotage fees is authorised in the Regulations relating to the pilotage readiness fee, pilotage service fee and Pilotage Exemption Certificate fee (pilotage fees) - in Norwegian only.

See unofficial NCA English translations of regulations here

• Vessels subject to compulsory pilotage are primarily (the list is not exhaustive):
• Vessels with a length of 70 metres or more, or a width of 20 metres or more.
• Vessels with a length of 35/50 metres or more carrying hazardous or noxious cargo as stated in the Compulsory Pilotage Regulations.
• Passenger ships with a length of 50 metres or more, but exempt from compulsory pilotage if they are licensed for scheduled passenger transport pursuant to Act no. 45 of 21 June 2002 relating to professional transport with a motor vehicle or vessel (Professional Transport Act) and service the route.
• The Compulsory Pilotage Regulations contain several provisions on areas subject to a compulsory pilotage requirement, vessels subject to a compulsory pilotage requirement and exemptions.

Vessels subject to a compulsory pilotage requirement in waters that are subject to a compulsory pilotage requirement are required to pay the following fees:

The pilotage readiness fee applies from when the vessel crosses the boundary to waters that are subject to the fee requirement on approach or departure.

The pilotage service fee is applicable from when the state pilot is taken on board and includes all operation with a state pilot on board.

The PEC fee is applicable on completion of a PEC exam, as well as when a PEC is issued, renewed or amended.

A Cadet PEC fee is applicable when a Cadet PEC is issued.

Vessels subject to a compulsory fee that primarily operate within the boundaries of waters that are subject to a compulsory fee or between Norwegian ports must pay the pilotage readiness fee in the form of an annual fee.

Vessels subject to a compulsory pilotage requirement that operate with a PEC or are exempt from the requirement to have a pilot on board must pay a pilotage readiness fee, while vessels that have a pilot on board also have to pay the pilotage service fee.

A pilotage fee must be paid when vessels use state pilotage, and comes in addition to the pilotage contingency fee. This fee is not paid when the vessel has a navigator with a Pilot Exemption Certificate or when the vessel is granted a dispensation (permission to sail without a pilot on board).

The pilotage fee is paid in the form of hourly rates, a minimum of three hours. The hourly rate is differentiated according to the size of the vessel in the following way:

Booking fee

A booking fee can be added to the pilotage fee if the pilot booking has not been made electronically via the electronic internet service of the Norwegian Coastal Administration at least 24 hours before the start time for the pilotage assignment (Svalbard 72 hours). A booking fee can also be added to pilot bookings where the start time is confirmed less than two hours before the pilot assignment is to start.

Change of pilot booking

Changes in pilot bookings where the departure time is confirmed by the customer may result in a rebooking fee for each change. Several fees can be added to the same pilot assignment. The booking fee and rebooking fee is NOK 1,500.

In the event of cancellation of pilot assignments on Svalbard less than 48 hours before the start time, the vessel will be charged a cancellation fee of NOK 10,000.

A pilotage readiness fee must be paid by all vessels subject to compulsory pilotage, regardless of whether state pilotage is used or not.

The payment obligation applies from when the vessel crosses the boundaries for waters that are subject to fees on approach or departure, or when the vessel takes a state pilot on board outside waters subject to fees.

Vessels that have a state pilot on board shall pay a pilotage service fee in addition to the pilotage readiness fee.

Yearly fee

Those liable to pay can pay a pilotage fee in the form of an annual fee instead of paying for each individual passage. The annual fee applies for the entire year and is paid in advance with 1/4 per quarter. Chargeable vessels that mainly sail in waters subjected to dues or between Norwegian ports shall pay pilotage fees in the form of an annual fee.

Details of Pilot Exemption Certificates (PEC) must be reported

Vessels which fulfil the compulsory pilotage by using a Pilot Exemption Certificate (PEC) have to give information on which PEC the vessel will use on the voyage. The information must be made electronically in SafeSeaNet Norway.  Inadequate reporting of which PEC has been used will result in an administration fee of NOK 1 500,-

Rates

Rates for pilotage readiness fee from and including 1 February 2024:

For arrival and departure, NOK 1.20 is paid per BT for the first 3,000 BT and NOK 1.00 per BT for the excess tonnage.

Yearly fee

• For vessels up to and including 8,000 BT is exempt
• For vessels f.o.m. 8 001 BT up to 10,000 BT NOK 76.64
• For vessels over 10,000 GT NOK 93.24

Example of pilotage readiness fee for vessels of 9,000 GT:

• Arrival (in and out): ((3,000 BT x NOK 1.20) + (6,000 BT x NOK 1.00)) x 2 = NOK 19,200.
• Annual fee for unlimited number of calls: 9,000 BT x NOK 76.64 = NOK 689 760.

For vessels of 9,000 GT, the annual fee corresponds to the fee for 36 calls (72 arrivals and departures). For vessels larger than 10,000 GT, the annual fee corresponds to 47 calls.

Environmental discount - ESI

Vessels registered with 50 points or more on the Environmental Ship Index (ESI) receive a discount in pilotage readiness fees. The discount is 100 per cent for vessels up to 20,000 GT and 50 per cent for vessels larger than 20,000 GT. This applies to both the fee for individual calls and the annual fee.

Registration of ships in the Environmental Ship Index (ESI) is done at www.environmentalshipindex.org

The Pilotage Exemption Certificate (PEC) fee is levied on applicants who take the practical and theoretical exam needed to obtain a PEC, and when renewing, changing or extending an existing PEC.

The practical and theoretical exam required to obtain or extend a PEC incurs a fee of NOK 5,518 per exam.

If an applicant fails the exam, the fee must be paid again to retake the exam. If the navigator applies for a PEC for a large area that requires more than one exam, NOK 5,518 is payable per exam.

A fee of NOK 1,377 is payable when issuing, renewing or amending a PEC. The total PEC fee for an exam and for a new/extended certificate to be issued is NOK 6,895.