Pilotage

Two pilot stations provide a 24/7/365 service in virtually all weathers.

Published on - Updated

Two maritime pilot stations serve the needs of the HAROPA PORT area: Le Havre-Fécamp pilot station and Seine-Rouen-Caen-Dieppe pilot station.

Organisation of the Le Havre and Antifer pilot station

A pilot is mandatory for vessels 70m or more in length and all ships carrying dangerous goods. Masters of ships whose overall length is under 70 metres can however request a pilot.
The pilot on duty will respond around the clock to any request for information from masters of ships or their agents. Information is communicated by VHF channel 20 (permanent watch) or more generally by telephone on (33 (0)2 35 19 28 48).
 

Trois vedettes de pilotage en mer - Enlarge image, modal window

Pilotage area:

  • Northeast limit: a line joining Antifer Light to position 49°46.0′ N – 000°01.0′ E.
  • North limit: the 49°46.0′ N parallel.
  • West limit: the meridian passing through Lt buoy LHA (000°09.8′ N).
  • South limit: parallel 49°27.0 N.
  • East limit: the easternmost extremity of Le Havre port, including the Tancarville Canal to the upstream Tancarville lock gates.

Human and technical resources:

  • 48 pilots, 2 helicopter pilots, 2 winch mechanics and 30 seamen,
  • 6 launches,
  • 1 pilot boat (at Fécamp),
  • 1 maintenance shop,
  • 1 helicopter,
  • 1 manoeuvre simulator.

For difficult vessel manoeuvres the station has been equipped since 2007 with the PPU system, completely autonomous DGPS kits and iPad tablets.
Since 2004, a simulator has helped keep the training and knowledge of pilots and seamen up to date.

Organisation of the Seine Rouen-Caen-Dieppe pilot station

Pilotage is mandatory:

  • For vessels longer than 55 metres, from the roads up to the relay station at Caudebec-en-Caux.
  • For vessels longer than 45 metres, between the Caudebec-en-Caux relay station and Rouen.
  • For vessels carrying dangerous goods.
  • For passenger ships 25 metres in length and over.
  • Pilot boarding.
Pilote montant à bord d'un navire - Enlarge image, modal window
©HAROPA PORT / Hubert Langlois

Pilotage area:

  • 1 mile EAST of the "RNA" buoy.
  • Latitude: 49°28''.6N Longitude: 000°02’.7 W.

Human and technical resources:

  • 54 pilots,
  • 6 sea launches and 2 river launches.

For difficult manœuvres the station is equipped with 6 Channel PPU (Portable Pilot Unit) kits and 3 Port PPU kits.

Managed by the pilots and certified to ISO standard since 1998, the Seine pilot station attaches major importance to listening to its customers’ concerns and to a continuous effort to improve the 12,000 piloting operations it carries out every year.