Three centuries of pilot regulations - Germany / Federal Republic of Germany 1979 - 60 Pfennig

Wherever offshore and in the estuaries the shipping traffic clashes in narrow fairways and thus increases the risk of accidents, pilotage services by experienced and experienced sea pilots are an important help for captains who often lack the necessary special and changing local knowledge , An efficient naval service contributes significantly to the safety of shipping in the coastal area. Pilots have been operating on the German coasts for more than 500 years. In the early days, it was mainly fishermen who, as a sideline, were guided by ships, on demand, free of any state ties and supervision. Along with the growth in shipping and maritime trade, the state recognized the growing importance of pilotage on the approaches to ports, and thus the need for governmental influence. Initially, the state regulations were limited to the qualification and licensing of pilots. Such pilot regulations exist in the various territories for three centuries. However, the regulations and also the organization of the pilots from district to district were different. Only 60 years ago, in 1919, there was a merger of all the sea pilots in the German pilotage. This was an important step towards unifying the pilotage system. This development came to an end 25 years ago, when, on 13 October 1954, the Law on Sea Pilotage was passed. This was the final basis for a modern and unified sea service throughout the coastal area. These three occasions, namely, - three centuries of pilots' regulations, - sixty years of all pilots, - twenty-five years of the Naval Law, give us an opportunity to understand the importance of seafaring for the safety of shipping in the past, today and in the future to honor a special stamp. Although the sailors are no longer in the southwest on the open deck today; However, her work has not become easier. Day and night, in any weather, on small coasters as well as on supertankers, they operate on the seven sea pilot areas off the German North Sea and Baltic coasts and in the Kiel Canal. From small boats they climb over pilot ladders aboard the ships or can lately - abseil on large ships from a helicopter. They are familiar with the latest technical aids and do not deny their good old traditions. The sea guides in the Federal Republic of Germany carry out their consulting work as a free, non-commercial profession. There are around 1,000 sailors. Every year, they advise more than 200,000 ships with a total tonnage of more than 1 billion GRT. All the sea pilots of the respective districts are united in pilot fraternities, which in turn form the Bundeslotsenkammer as the highest authority. The pilot fraternities, as public corporations, are responsible for the orderly conduct of the Lotservice on the areas. State administration by the federal government limits itself to the necessary legal regulations, the admission of new pilots together with the pilot fraternities, the provision of the necessary pilot stations and pilot ships and to the supervisory functions. This mix of freelance work and government responsibility has worked well. It is the basis for a high-performance and qualified sea air service, to which we owe the high safety standards of shipping in the coastal area on the North and Baltic Sea. (Text: Federal Ministry of Transport, Bonn)