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IMPA
PILOTAGE STRONGHOLD WITHIN IMO
The International Maritime Pilots’ Association (IMPA) is the HOW DID IMPA COME ABOUT?
international body that collectively represents the various national Simon Pelletier, himself a pilot in Canada: “In the early seventies,
pilotage bodies; 8000 active pilots in more than fifty countries are affiliated with the organisation. “It is all about safe and sound pilotage,” IMPA President Simon Pelletier says. “All over the world,” adds Secretary-General Nick Cutmore. “In this respect, we are the natural dialogue partner of IMO.”
EMPA, the European Maritime Pilots’ Association, gave birth to IMPA. EMPA wanted a seat at IMO, but IMO wanted an international body rather than just a regional one. In 1971, this resulted in the establish- ment of IMPA, the International Maritime Pilots’ Association. Of course, there is a close and warm cooperation, but EMPA is not the only regional pilotage group within IMPA.”
Nick Cutmore: “There is also a Latin American Forum, a strong and close group with a highly informal structure and a very strong regional focus. They too depend strongly on IMPA for guidance. Furthermore, IMPA has many members in China, Japan and Korea who are building an embryonic but growing Asia-Pacific group. Only Africa is underrepresented, but that is the case for all international maritime organisations.”
Pelletier: “Despite the fact that we are a relatively small group, we have very positive and influential relationships with organisations such as MAIIF (accident investigators), IALA (navigation and lighthouses), PIANC (waterborne infrastructure) and the ICS (shipowners).” Cutmore: “In 2003, IMPA offered a substantial contribution to IMO
Nick Cutmore
Simon Pelletier
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NAVIGATOR NL 2018 N° 18