Shore based pilotage

Adverse weather conditions
When transferring pilots to and from ships using yawls and tenders is made impossible due to adverse weather conditions, the helicopter can be called in for the larger vessels. Smaller ships can be piloted through shore based pilotage (Loodsen op Afstand-LOA).

RADAR
This means that a shore based pilot, with the help of RADAR information and radio communications, directs the vessel. However, RADAR information is, by definition, not representative of manoeuvres in real-time.

For example, information concerning the ship’s course, its speed and turning speed, is not up to the minute information. The safety margins, in this case, have to be increased, which means amongst other things, that overtaking of other ships has to be avoided. The pilot will board an incoming ship as soon as it is possible within the breakwaters. For outgoing ships, the pilot will leave the ship as late as possible, where it will continue its voyage with the directions of the shore based pilot.

This service is not available to ships carrying dangerous goods and only under certain circumstances.