Page 8 - Navigator 20
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COMPULSORY PIL
THE STRENGTH OF GOOD COOPERATION
AS OF THE 1ST OF JANUARY 2021, COMPULSORY PILOTAGE NEW STYLE (LOODSPLICHT NIEUWE STIJL) WILL BE INTRODUCED IN THE NETHERLANDS: A NEW STATUTORY REGULATION THAT GIVES CAPTAINS WHO WISH TO SAIL WITHOUT A PILOT MORE OPTIONS TO OBTAIN AND RETAIN A PILOT EXEMPTION CERTIFICATE.
“A lengthy process was involved that has now reached a successful conclusion through intensive collaboration between the government and stakeholders such as harbour masters, the Dutch Maritime Pilots’ Organisation and shipowners over the last couple of years. Fortunately, this collaboration will continue after the 1st of January 2021 as well,” say registered pilot Rob Keijzerwaard and lawyer Nancy Hereman from Loodswezen Rotterdam-Rijnmond.
END TO PROLIFERATION
After fifteen years, Compulsory Pilotage New Style - abbreviated
to LNS in Dutch - is to put an end to the proliferation of exceptions and varying regulations regarding the exemptions from compulsory pilotage. The aim of LNS is to preserve the good elements of the old regulations and to standardise and modernise them. LNS allows a captain with a Pilot Exemption Certificate (PEC) - as the exemptions will now be called - to sail aboard a certain vessel without a pilot on
a specified route where pilotage is normally compulsory. To qualify,
the captain must have demonstrated that he possesses both the theoretical and practical knowledge and skills to safely navigate the route in question and he must continue to visit the area with a certain frequency so that said knowledge and skills remain current. The requirements regarding the aforementioned knowledge and skills have been laid down in various modules. The regional pilotage corporations bear responsibility for the training and examination. LNS will come into effect in almost all Dutch seaports in early 2021. In the Scheldemonden region, this will probably be a year later, as the input of the Belgian authorities must be taken into consideration as well.
WHY DID IT TAKE SUCH A LONG TIME?
“A scheme such as LNS requires consensus between all the stakeholders, all of whom have their own views and interests,” explains Keijzerwaard. “Having in place a good consultation structure is essential; this is something that the regional harbour masters have
 8 NAVIGATOR NL 2020 N°20
 ‘The aim of LNS is to preserve the good elements
of the old regulations and to standardise and modernise them’
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