Pilotage 

A pilot assists the captain with the navigation and with his knowledge of the Danish waters he helps to ensure safe navigation.

Who uses pilotage?
The Danish Maritime Safety Administration makes the pilots from the state pilotage (DanPilot) available around the clock, and around 95% of all ships with a draft of over 11 metres choose to accept this offer. It may surprise you that the figure is so high, when Denmark has some of the safest waters in the world in terms of good buoying and excellent information about current and other factors. However, it is because the Danish waters are not very deep and the complicated routes necessitate that the navigator constantly has to correct the course.

Many of the big ships have to follow certain routes to avoid going to ground, and they must not deviate significantly from the route. One place may be 30 metres deep, and then close by it is maybe only 7 metres deep. At the same time, the ship can also be influenced by factors such as currents and waves that can bring it off its course.

Education and experience
Statistics show that ships with pilots on board very rarely go to ground, partly due to the fact that the pilots are highly qualified navigators, who, in addition to their many years of experience have also undergone an intensive course when they are recruited as pilots. Obviously the pilots must know the waters well, but they must also be quick to familiarise themselves with the many navigation assistance aids that are on the ship, and which may vary enormously from ship to ship. Once the pilot comes up on the bridge, he usually takes over the responsibility for navigation. But the captain always has the final decision.

Pilots are often involved in work groups for major projects such Femern Bridge, Øresund Bridge or Storebælts Bridge, as their experience with the Danish waters is invaluable in such contexts.