CHAIRMAN’S REPORT 10/07

January 8th, 2008 by JCB
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For those that don’t as yet know, our secretary, Monica, has been seriously ill recently, and has spent some time in hospital. She is now at home convalescing, and I’m sure that you will all want to wish her a speedy recovery. Read the rest of this entry »

Chairman’s Report 04/07

June 13th, 2007 by JCB
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I am going to keep this report short as I have already taken up a half page (I hope) with another reminder about the incident reporting procedure.

The last quarter has seen section committee members attending meetings with DfT, MCA, DEFRA, IALA, Harbour Masters, the Transport Select Committee, the Shipping Minister – to name but a few. On several occasions we have also been assisted by pilots from outside the committee, and my thanks go to them.

There has also been movement with the Boarding & Landing Code for pilots. This has finally been agreed by UKMPA, BPA and UKMPG. Not bad considering that it was first started by Peter Russell back in 1991. Peter has kindly written the foreword. All pilots should give thanks to the enormous amount of time and effort given by the various people that have been involved. The Code will be officially launched at the PMSC SG meeting on 28 June.

Some of you may be aware that the MAIB Report on the Skagern / Samskip Courier collision on the Humber last year has now been published, and is available on their web site. It’s a bit late now, but I guess we could say “we told you so”.

Included in this edition is a letter from Avald Wymark. I hope, as presumably Avald does, that the letter will inspire some responses. Many of the issues have been discussed at section committee, and, in view of the wide circulation of the Pilot, there are some issues that I do not wish to comment on openly. Perhaps this could be an agenda item for the IDM in September, so please, do let us have your thoughts before then.

An early indication of attendance at the IDM would be appreciated – circular 03/07 refers.

Joe Wilson

Chairman.

Chairman’s Report 07/06

July 15th, 2006 by JCB
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CHAIRMAN’S REPORT

Who’d be Chairman?

As you will all know, Les has been on sick for a couple of months now, and it is unfortunately beginning to look as though he will have to retire on ill-health. Part of Les’ problem has been due to the amount of work that he took on. I can sympathise with him – every day I do something concerned with pilotage, whether it is just replying to e-mails, writing letters, phone calls, meetings or even my day job. Section committee members give their time freely for the sake of UK Pilots. My wife asked me the other day why I do it, when there are some people who do nothing, except their job. There is no easy answer, but I am just one of a team, and I guess we do it in an effort to preserve the job that we like, and for the future of pilotage.

Recently I was to travel to London at 0700 for a meeting, but was on duty the night before. As such I did a couple of ships and finished [early] at 2100. Down to London on the 0700 train, and into the office for a couple of hours, had the meeting, then back to Teesside on the 1700 train, arriving home at 2000. Back on shift the next day!

A couple of days later a colleague remarked that “he had had to do 4 ships whilst I was socialising in London”. Had he forgotten the month earlier, where in similar circumstances I did 6 ships on a night watch, finishing at 0330, and then set off for the Clyde at 0800, for 2 days?  That’s the moan over, but the point is that those pilots on committees, be it national, international or local do give up a lot of their own time. We all realise that to do it we rely on the support of our colleagues whilst we are at meetings and not actually piloting.

Past Chairmen of the UKMPA have spent a lot of time, days on end, in the office in London – I, if I am elected Chairman next year, do not intend to.  Firstly I can see little point, and, secondly, it would probably mean [another] divorce.  Yes, there will be occasions when it is necessary, however section committee can do a lot of work these days by e-mail – we have yet to try video-conferencing, but it is coming. (Please note; probably the quickest way to contact me is by e-mail).  There is so much information forthcoming from the plethora of meetings we each attend, it is easy to spend hours working at a computer. It is a bad world out there, and there are some people who do not have our best interests at heart.

I can see the value in having a “figure head” paid for by the Association, as do IMPA and EMPA. Such a person –

President, General Secretary, or whatever would be able to man the London office on a regular basis, carry out some of the secretarial work, and be the first point of contact for most queries. An opportunity has arisen for us that I shall be discussing with section committee in August.  Monica does a great job on our behalf, and although “pilots come first”, she does have another job within the T&G. You may be aware that the T&G are in the throes of an amalgamation – who knows what the future holds? No other section of the T&G has the autonomy that we have. 

Humber: ABP have now appointed a QC to defend their case. We still await their Disclosure of Documents.

Kristian: It is with regret that I have to report that Kristian lost his appeal for unfair dismissal (see page 10). 

Belfast: A contract for services was drawn up, and terms agreed, however, almost on the eve of signing, the CHA altered the terms. As such it is back to negotiation for now.

Boarding & Landing Code:

We haveentered discussion with the Btitsih Ports’ Association regarding the code (our version and theirs). Hopefully, as there is much common ground, we are close to adopting one code (see page 6).  Insurance: I have had several phone calls relating to incidents “some time ago” where nothing was written down. It is imperative that you keep records, even if the incident appears to be trivial.  Pension: The PNPF Trustees meet on July 17^th to make a formal reply to the offer regarding the deficit, made by the Association. Recent changes to pensions may mean that some districts, selfemployed, will have to look at their terms or contracts. I expect to be able to expand on that after the next trustee meeting.  The new web site is up and running, and is somewhat different. I intend to make much more use of this in the hope that a lot of paperwork can be avoided. Most local secretaries will have been receiving e-mails from me recently and many thanks for the replies. Those that haven’t had an e-mail please note – it’s because I don’t have your e-mail address (hint). It is not the intention to bombard you with megabytes of information, but to advise you that new information/circulars are available on the web site. How you advise your colleagues will be up to you. Those that don’t want the electronic notices will be able to get the paper versions. A circular will be sent shortly.

Best wishes to all, and safe piloting.

Joe Wilson

Vice Chairman

TRAINING

RESEARCH AND

CONSULTANCY

Chairman’s Report 01/06

January 15th, 2006 by JCB
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Chairman’s Report

I am writing this on behalf of our Chairman, Les, who is currently not available due to family ill health. I’m sure that you will all join me in sending him our thoughts and best wishes, during these difficult times.

Section committee continue to be fully committed, and we are currently assisting our colleagues in Belfast and Clyde, along with our long running assistance with Spurn Pilots, and SE Wales.

The situation in Belfast is nearing a conclusion, and I have been asked to pass on thanks to Dave Devey. I hope that Les will be able to report fully in the next issue.  A situation is developing on the Clyde, where it is anticipated that the next pilot recruit will be from within the port structure, and does not have the previous pre-entry qualifications. At this stage I would not want to report further.

We continue to meet the DfT on a regular basis, and they have been given the latest draft of our proposals for amendments to the Pilotage Act.

Don Cockrill, Avald Wymark, Gareth Rees and Brian Wilson continue to represent us with the Port Marine Safety Code (PMSC), National Occupational

Standards (NOS) and Pilot Exeption Certificate (PEC) issues, Nigel Allen has become the front man for MarNIS. The T&TC have a full agenda here. It would appear that we may now be moving towards an involvement with PSSL (formerly BPIT), and have been invited to a meeting on May 25^th.

As I write this John Pearn and Paul Haysom are attending the 40^th EMPA General Meeting in Antwerp. EMPA contributed towards the rejection of the second port services directive; and, although a Lloyds List article reported it was “buried”, a more recent article suggests that it may not yet be dead – it is rumoured that there will be a third attempt to introduce a Port Access Directive in autumn. We await the Directive in the autumn.

We are currently in the position of handing over the hosting and running of the UKMPA web site to a professional company, and I would like to give my personal thanks to Julian Lancaster (Tees) for his work over the years. Hopefully we will have a more used web site, with such things as circular letters being fully available, and other interactive areas. A separate circular will be sent giving details.  The situation with the PNPF moves ever closer (I feel) to a court case – we now have QC’s giving differing opinions – and one saying I have heard (from another source) is “that we don’t know what the law is, until a judge tells us”. I’m sure that Debbie will touch upon it in her report. Richard Williamson, as Chairman of the trustees, has taken on a huge task, and thanks must go to his colleagues in Boston for their support.

We look forward to the Interim Delegate Conference on May 25^th, by which time we hope to be able to report more fully on the on-going situations. Can I just remind you that Conference 2006 has been moved to November 15^th/16^th, just prior to the IMPA Congress, November 20^th/24^th.

Joe Wilson, Vice Chairman

Chairman’s Report 10/05

October 15th, 2005 by JCB
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Chairman’s Report

With Parliament on its summer recess, London is in a quiet period. However, the conference season is upon us and I have attended the Labour Party conference for lobbying purposes. I met with the Shipping Minister, Dr Steven Ladyman, Ministers, MPs and MEPs on the Transport committee.  The Port Access Directive was discussed with Dr Ladyman and it would appear that, despite the activity in Brussels with presentations of amendments for consideration in the EU Parliament, the directive would not survive. The opportunity arose to meet with Lord Tony Berkeley in Brighton and questions have been formulated to be asked in the Lord’s regarding the lack of progress on the National Occupation Standards and on the use of a simulator programme set up for Belfast by the South Shields Maritime College. The questions and replies will be issued in a circular in the near future.

Department for Transport: The work on

the amendments to the 1987 Pilotage Act continues and, with recent events, further amendments are being considered and these will be presented to the Department in due course. Both Phil Hart (Pilotage) and James Weeden (Policy Advisor) will be at conference to give a presentation and answer questions.

Legal: Primarily we have been involved in the case involving Kristian Pedersen. A prehearing review was called for in advance of the Tribunal and I am pleased to inform you that the Chairperson of the Pre-hearing Review made it clear that there was a case to be heard at a Tribunal. Hopefully this will be heard by the latest March 2006. In the meantime Kristian has found employment and we wish him well both in his job and in the outcome of the Tribunal.

The T&G legal department have employed a Barrister to assist with the employment issues that have arisen in Belfast and Fergus Whitty is monitoring the situation. The Belfast Harbour Commission have presented a proposal for a new contract to the pilots. This new contract involves five pilots being made redundant.  Blake Lapthorn Linnell’s employment team will examine the contract. The Transport and General’s legal department is also involved, in particular, scrutinising the roster and holiday arrangements with regard to the WTD.

BLL are looking into the Bristol pilots contract and other issues and on behalf of Gloucester pilots with regard to insurance cover to piloting in an area not covered by their CHA.

The London pilots have legal work ongoing regarding a consultation Thames Notice to Mariner’s regarding the administration and use of local navigation certificates (shifting pilotage).

Europe: On the 6^th of September a Council of Presidents (COP) Task group met in Paris to discuss the European Port Package, EUPP(2). The commission had given a deadline of the 19^th of September for amendments to the directive to be received.  In Paris the amendments were considered in detail and a final draft prepared.

Arrangements were made to meet Georg Jarzembowski, the Rapporteur of the Ports Directive, on the 12^th to present the amendments. The amendments from all participants number 308 in total and these will be debated in the EU parliament on the 10^th of October.

It would appear that the Dutch Pilots Company do not wish to continue involvement in the MarNIS project. This will mean EMPA taking over the project and the re-organization will be discussed at the EMPA Board of Directors meeting in Antwerp on the 10^th and 11^th of October.  A Research and Development (R&D) group is being set up within EMPA that will take on the MarNIS project. The UK will have a prominent role in the (R&D) group.  Regarding ETCS, the code and guidelines are lodged with the EU Commission and EMSA (European Maritime Safety Agency) and we await their decision and comments.  The UK Government, in their role as President of the EU, is hosting a meeting to present to European Commissioners and other interested organizations a programme entitled ‘Maritime Employment Event’. The ‘Event’ will be held at the Excel Conference Centre in London’s Docklands on the 5^th of October and both Chris Lefevere, Secretary /General of EMPA and myself will be attending. The UKMPA continues to lobby in Brussels on your behalf on all matters that affect our profession.  A new EU project has recently surfaced with the acronym of ESMARALDA And it definitely is a case of ‘the bells, the bells’ tolling for pilotage. It talks about removing the necessity of boarding pilots at sea because of the time wasted in transiting to the berth. EMPA will have to become involved in this project and monitor it carefully. The ‘Esmaralda project’ has been designed by the European Harbour Masters Association (EHMA).

CHIRP: The AGM of CHIRP is being held on the 3^rd of October at Farnborough. The CHIRP maritime board will meet after the AGM. There is an interesting issue to be discussed regarding compulsory pilotage.  Please continue to make full use of the Confidential reporting system.

LG Cate, Chairman

Chairman’s Report 07/05

July 15th, 2005 by JCB
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Chairman’s Report

We are continuing to give our full support to Kristian Pedersen, SE Wales, during his current situation. He has had the bene.t of legal, UKMPA and T&G support since the .rst internal disciplinary hearing made the decision to dismiss him. An appeal was lodged and regrettably the internal appeal hearing upheld the dismissal. He was accompanied throughout by the T&G representative Alan Mayne and advised by Barrie Youde on a daily basis. The T&G appointed a Mr Robin Williams of Leo Abse in Cardiff to present his case of unfair dismissal to the Industrial Tribunal and this is now proceeding.

In the meantime we are endeavouring to .nd Kristian other employment in pilotage in the United Kingdom and any District that is able to assist in this matter please contact the UKMPA.

Department for Transport

Our regular meetings with the DfT continue. I have raised the subject of the lack of progress with the National Occupational Standards and a question will be asked in the House of Lords. I mentioned that the abuse of PEC’s is a continuing problem. In SE Wales compulsory vessels in a compulsory area are entering and leaving without either an authorised pilot or a PEC holder on board.  Belfast Harbour Authority has suggested that the pilots, although employed, may be asked to work from home in order that the Harbour Authority can circumvent the Working Time Regulations. I have asked the Department to look into this.

I am hoping for a meeting with the new Shipping Minister, Dr Steven Ladyman, in the near future. Lord Tony Berkeley is arranging this on our behalf.

The .rst draft of amendments to the 1987 Pilotage Act have been lodged with the DfT and are now being scrutinized by their legal department.

Legal

All contractual work for Wisbech Pilots has been completed to the satisfaction of the pilots. Serious problems have arisen in Belfast. I have met with Maurice Cunningham the T&G of.cer from Belfast and have informed the T&G legal Director of the  Situation. It would appear that 5 of the 15 pilots might be made redundant as a result of the pilots no longer manning the VTS. The T&G legal department is monitoring the situation carefully especially the idea of insisting the pilots work from home to circumvent the requirements of the Working Time Regulations. BLL is dealing with the new contract and a PEC issue for the Bristol pilots and is awaiting a new contract being issued to the Belfast pilots. Work has been done on behalf of Inverness and SE Wales.

Please Note: At a meeting on the 11^th of July 2005 with Blake Lapthorn Linnell it was agreed that the existing employed and self-employed retainers would apply to ALL PORTS.

Europe

The EMPA 39^th AGM was held in Sopot, Poland during the .rst week of June.

The election results were as follows:

President – Juha Tulimaa (Finland)

Senior Vice President

Board members as follows:

Claude Haut (France)

Chris Lefevere (Belgium)

Dieter Bloechl (Germany)

Paco Gayoso Mosquera (Spain)

Themis Daskalakis (Greece)

The new Editor of the EMPA Journal is Roger Allaert from the Belgian river Pilots.  Both Gianfranco Gasperinin, President of EMPA and Hein Mehrkens President of IMPA who died recently while in of.ce were remembered with affection.

Gianfranco’s widow and daughter were guests on the last day of the conference and received the EMPA medal on behalf of Gianfranco.

The general meeting agreed to send the completed ETCS (European Pilot Quali.cation) code and guidelines to the Commission in Brussels for their approval.

The GM did not wish the ETCS working group to continue. I therefore formed a Research and Development working group under the same UK management, namely

Gareth Rees and Brian Wilson. They will continue with the outstanding work involving specialist aspects of a pilot’s qualification that will not be sent to Brussels and then consider all new innovative technology that will affect pilots in the future.

It was agreed to oppose the proposed EUPP (2) (European Union Port Package) that includes competition in pilotage.  Support for the MarNIS project (Maritime Navigation Information Service) was unanimous. This project will continue until 2009 and if accepted could become law by 2012. At the moment SBP (Shore Based Pilotage) has been kept out of MarNIS.  Interestingly, IALA has also rejected the concept of SBP. However, it is practiced in some European ports!

I attended the Public Hearing on the EUPP (2) in the EU parliament in Brussels on the 14^th of June. The majority of representatives opposed the proposed Port Package, particularly the self- handling issue. Our ship owner “friends” were their usual delightful selves in condemning pilots opposition to inclusion in the Directive. The UKMPG (UK Major Ports Group) are also opposed to the directive.

CHIRP

A board meeting was held at Shell House in London to Review the success of the Programme thus far and present evidence to the DfT for continuing to fund the programme. It was generally accepted that it should continue because evidence is available that action has been taken to improve safety following reports being submitted.

L G Cate, Chairman

Chairman’s Report 04/05

April 15th, 2005 by JCB
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CHAIRMAN’S REPORT

It was with sadness that we received the news of Lord James Callaghan’s death.

Lord Callaghan was the President of our Association from 1963 until 1976 when he was the MP for Cardiff South East. Lord Callaghan oversaw the introduction of the PNPF in 1971, the Steering Committee on Pilotage (SCOP) and was a true friend to pilots during his tenure as President.

We offer our heartfelt condolences to his family.

DfT

The PMSC Compliance Working Group continues to meet, overseeing the Pilots National Occupation Standards, VTS Policy Steering Group, the Compliance Assurance of the PMSC and Pilots Assessment Criteria. The lack of progress that is being made towards producing a pilot’s qualification has been expressed at these meetings. The Warsash Maritime Centre has presented a report to the DfT entitled ‘Pilotage Assessment Criteria’ that proposes changes in relation to the knowledge components of the NOS and the UKMPA has responded to their document. A copy of our response is available to any member on request. It is apparent that certain organizations are trying to ‘muddy the waters’, especially the outstanding issue of PEC standards that the DfT fully support.

The ‘Port Safety Bill’ presented to parliament by the DfT was not accepted for consideration but will be presented again when the opportunity arises following the election. A 1^st draft of our proposed amendments to the 1987 Pilotage Act has been completed and this will be discussed at the May Section Committee meeting and debated at the IDM.

Working Time Regulations (WTR)

The Chairman of CHIRP, Professor Tony Nicholson, has called for a study into fatigue in the Maritime and Ports Industry.  He has appointed Professor Mike Barnett (Board member of CHIRP) to head this study. Mike is Head of the Department for Human Resources at the Southampton Institute. I will be involved with Mike on this study. At a meeting he attended recently at the MCA he was informed that the Health and Safety Branch is overseeing a project studying fatigue.

The DfT, Ports Division (the Shipping Minister) and the T&G (Tony Woodley) are in correspondence regarding the WTR and its impact on tugs crews and Pilots.  The legal department of the DTI is studying pilotage and the WTR but have yet to make a statement on their findings.  I have secured the facility, through Mike Powell, Director Maritime CHIRP to have any pilots roster arrangements put into the Quiniteq fatigue management computer programme for appraisal if you so wish.  Please note that the same procedure of confidentiality will operate as in the case of CHIRP reports.

The UKMPA through Richard Wild, Harwich and Deputy Representative, has started a dialogue with the British Airline Pilots Association regarding working practices and fatigue. Richard will be reporting on any meetings he has with the Airline pilots and will take a cautious approach.

Questions were asked to HMG in the House of Lords regarding the responsibility of PECs, promulgation of shoal soundings and the PMSC working group in order to quote the response to Districts experiencing problems. It is pleasing to note that in all cases it has had the desired effect.

LEGAL

At a meeting recently organized by the T&G and UKMPA between the Wisbech Pilots and Fenland District Council a satisfactory conclusion was reached regarding outstanding contractual financial issues. A further meeting has been arranged for the 25^th of April to discuss amendments and updating of the contract.  Belfast, Orkneys and SE Wales are still involved in solving contractual issues. The T&G are involved in Belfast and ‘Blake Lapthorn Linnell’ is working with the Orkney and SE Wales Pilots.

EUROPE

The UK government takes over the

Presidency of the EU in the second half of this year. In recent statements by HMG it is obvious that they are wholeheartedly supporting the EU liberalization of the Transport sector. This fills me with foreboding when considering our stance on the EUPP (2). EMPA has been invited to a public meeting on the proposed EUPP (2) to be held on the 14^th of June to present our position; namely our opposition to the inclusion of pilotage as a commercial operation in the directive.

ETCS

Attempts are being made to curtail this project at the AGM in Poland in June by the Dutch and German Associations. This will have to be opposed if we wish the project to be completed to the level that we wish to present to the EU Commission. We need a safeguard in place to counter attempts by member states to lower the standards of a pilot’s qualification. The activities of certain organizations involved in the PMSC Compliance Working Group leave no doubt this.

MarNIS

This project is underway and the second meeting was held recently in Oslo. The work package for each participating country has been established and tasks have been consigned to the ‘expert pilots’.  Joe Wilson has taken over as our lead ‘expert pilot’ on the project.

CHIRP

This confidential reporting system is dealing with many reports and pilots are raising issues on a regular basis. When you have tried every avenue to resolve an issue, without success, contact CHIRP.

To conclude on a good note, Geoff Taylor informs me that IMPA has secured agreement at the recent IALA meeting that SBP (Shore Based Pilotage) will not form part of any document or philosophy that is forthcoming from IALA. I will offer a prize to the first member to identify the next attempt at introducing it in a new guise from our friends in London.

Captain LG Cate

Chairman, UKMPA

Chairman’s Report 01/05

January 15th, 2005 by JCB
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CHAIRMAN’S REPORT

DfT

The Ports Division of the DfT issued the UKMPA with a document entitled “A Sea Change for Port Safety” in advance of the 20^th of January PMSC Compliance Working Group meeting. It was produced in July 2003 and corrected for publication in November 2004. It is a commentary on the Ports Division’s view of the progress or lack of it that has transpired since the PMSC was introduced. We have aptly christened it their “Christmas Cracker”.  The Compliance WG should have been working towards the methodology of the MCA being able to determine on a port by port basis how individual ports compliance with the PMSC would be monitored and where it has not yet been adopted, encouraged/enforced. It appears that this will not now transpire. The only conclusion that can be drawn is that a preemptive strike has taken place by parties that you can name for yourselves. Your representatives will continue to challenge this state of affairs and the contents of the document “A Sea Change for Port Safety” that is now available on the DfT website.  A proposed “Port Safety Bill” is expected to be presented to parliament in the form of a Private Members Bill by the Ports Division. On their own admission it has very little chance of being adopted.  To highlight the ineffectual state of the PMSC, I will appraise you of the current situation regarding PEC abuse. The DfT state that it is not their remit to investigate and take action if an offence is committed.  The MCA inform me that it is not for them to interfere and it is a matter for the CHA.

The CHA have stated that the PMSC does not require them to police a PEC issue. I

just hope the last official to leave remembers to switch the light off! The NOS for Pilots and the Pilot qualification is receiving a lukewarm reception by certain parties.

Following a recent meeting with Lord Tony Berkeley parliamentary questions are being drafted on the above issues and will be presented in the House of Lords. The T&G have been appraised and will become involved in the near future.

LEGAL

Contract issues are being studied for Wisbech, Dundee, Belfast, and the Orkneys. An issue relating to over carriage has been successfully dealt with by Blake Lapthorn Linnell.

EUROPE

The EUPP (mark 2) is being opposed by all parties. I have asked for a parliamentary question to be presented to establish the UK Governments stance on the EUPP (EU Port Package).

EMPA

It was with immense sadness that we acknowledged the death of our much admired President Gianfranco Gasperini.  Juha Tullima, (Finland), our senior vice-President, has assumed the President’s position until the AGM in Poland.

ETCS

At a meeting in Paris of the Council of Presidents on the 13^th and 14^th of January, it was agreed that the UK will take charge of the ETCS project in the person of Gareth Rees (Southampton), Chairman of the T&TC, ably assisted by Brian Wilson (Belfast). It has been agreed that the subject of SBP (Shore Based Pilotage) will not be included in the ETCS project. A progress report will be presented at the AGM in Poland and the project will be completed in time for the AGM in Antwerp 2006 and then sent on to Brussels.

MarNIS

The problems experienced in the lead up to the commencement of this project have been resolved. The first meeting took place in Venice with the Dutch Pilot company involved and Rhein van Gooswilligen, President of the Dutch pilots Association, leading our delegation.  Each meeting of the project will be monitored by an EMPA Board of Director and terms of reference are to be established, including strict financial arrangements. The UK, France, Germany, Holland and Belgium are supplying, two each, ‘expert pilots’ to scrutinise the project.

It is also regrettable that Harry Tabak has resigned from the Board of Directors and, consequently, the MarNIS project.

CHIRP

The next meeting is set for Wednesday the 2^nd of March on board the Wellington.

Chairman’s Report

August 15th, 2004 by JCB
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CHAIRMAN’S REPORT

DfT

The DfT has handed the responsibility for monitoring, compliance and review of the PMSC to the MCA. This new responsibility will cover the Pilots National Qualification, HM Standards and PEC Standards.

Interestingly, the Working Time regulations and how they impact on Pilotage is on the agenda. Mr Joe Collins will head the department that will be renamed the Navigation and Safety Branch and both he and his new assistant a Mr Simon Gooder have been invited to the Eastbourne Conference. Two working groups will be established; one covering the PMSC and the other the qualifications and standards. The DfT, Ports Division, still retain overall control and responsibility. The Transport Select Committee, chaired by Mrs Gwenyth Dunwoody, has demanded action from the MCA on these issues. Don Cockrill (London) will head the UKMPA team assisted by Brian Wilson (Belfast) and they will attend both working groups. I have invited Mr Phil Hart ( pilotage) Ports Division, and his research assistant Mr James Weedon to the conference.

A question has been raised regarding body searches required by the ISPS code. I have contacted TRANSEC (transport security) at the DfT for their interpretation of the code. There exists a document on the Standards to be applied to the code.

TRANSEC is discussing with the DfT whether or not they can issue this confidential document to the UKMPA. However, amendments that have been issued to this document state that if an individual has been issued with a pass to gain entry into an area at Security State 1, would not normally be expected to be bodily searched. If you refuse to be searched by the individual acting as a security officer you will be held until a member of Her Majesty’s constabulary arrives and carries out the search.

Legal

Blake Lapthorn Linnell has dealt with contracts for Inverness and Peterhead and are monitoring the contractual discussions in Belfast and Wisbech. An opinion was sought and given regarding the interpretation of the Railways and Transport Act where, following an incident, a pilot was tested for alcohol content. Circular no 36/04 refers to the opinion given. Following more enquiries into our liability issues further opinion was given and circular no 29/04 refers.

Europe

The EU Commission, on the 13^th October 2004, has adopted the new Port Access Directive without further consultation. Rest assured that the UKMPA will be lobbying hard against this directive on its various stages in the EP, Council and Commission.

I will be attending a meeting at

Transport House to prepare a strategy of opposition to this directive on 3^rd November. Immediately following this meeting we will be meeting with Mike Davies, the Ports Division civil servant responsible for the Port Access Directive.

EMPA

The Board of Directors of EMPA met in Antwerp on 1^st and 2^nd September. The three main topics were the new Port Access Directive, the finalisation of the Internal Rules and the MarNIS project. The Port Access Directive will be opposed by EMPA and lobbying will be carried out in each member country and in Brussels. Only one significant change has been made to the Internal EMPA Rules and that is the possibility of the Secretary/General being a non-active pilot with a maximum period of office of 2 years. This does not preclude an active pilot being nominated for the post at the General meeting that next year will be held in Poland.

The MarNIS project officially started on 15^th September although the working groups do not begin until November. EMPA are looking for two pilot volunteers from each member country who are technically qualified, document competent, possibly with a knowledge of French and able to be released to cover the meetings. Joe Wilson has volunteered for one of the positions. If you are interested please contact the Chairman.

The Council of Presidents (COP) met on 8^th and 9^th September and an Extraordinary General Meeting (EGM) of EMPA was held on 10^th September in Paris. The COP discussed the Internal Rules and the impending start of the MarNIS project. The EGM ratified the new Internal Rules of EMPA.

Review of the 1987 Pilotage Act

I have appointed our Vice Chairman Joe Wilson to the task of preparing amendments to the Act after which we will submit them to our legal team to scrutinise and then to the DfT for their perusal and translation into civil service jargon.

CHIRP

The AGM and quarterly Marine Advisory Board, of which I am a member, met at Quiniteq in Farnborough both Maritime and Aviation board members were present at the AGM. Another abuse of PEC’s was on the agenda and this was discussed but because I informed the board the matter is being investigated, CHIRP is putting the matter on hold. I have informed both the DfT and the MCA of the incident and they are investigating on our (UKMPA) behalf. I hope to have more information in the near future.

Association of Maritime Pilots of Ireland.

In September I met with the Irish pilots in Cork and experienced their renowned hospitality. I was able to give them an insight into the structure and way of operating of the UKMPA. We discussed all the relevant issues facing pilots in the UK and Europe; in particular the Working Time Regulations, the ETCS and MarNIS projects and the new Port Access Directive.

Their President Bob Kieran has accepted an invitation to attend the UKMPA

Conference in Eastbourne and give a presentation about his association

Conference

Conference is in Eastbourne on 17^th and 18^th November. A day delegate rate of only £25 is offered and I very much hope that pilots in the near locality will take advantage of this and attend.

The Section Committee

Vice Chairman: Joe Wilson: (Tees)

In addition to the responsibilities detailed in the Chairman’s Report, Joe attended the 17^th IMPA conference in Istanbul and his detailed report was included in the October issue of Seaways magazine.

John Pretswell: Treasurer (Forth)

· UKMPA accounts on a weekly, monthly and quarterly basis

· Reconciling quarterly membership figures for T&G subscriptions

· Preparation for treasurer’ report and budget preparation for the Annual Conference in November

· Secretary’s work in advising District Secretaries of Section Committee

Regional elections and nominations

· Notification to District Secretaries on Proxy voting at conference, also hotel and delegate booking forms

· Scottish Pilot’s representative.

Geoff Taylor: (Tees)

· Senior Vice-Charman IMPA. Attended 17^th Conference in Istanbul

· Attended the GLA’s 2020 vision for navaids

· Unfortunately the news on the IMPA front is not good insofar as Hein has had a recurrence of cancer and is currently undergoing chemo and radiotherapy

· Issues we shall be covering in the future include the use of ECDIS charts

· Deep Sea pilotage issue

· Attended the American Pilots congress in san Francisco representing IMPA

· Presented a paper in Newcastle on the Pilot Master relationship to a P&I club technical seminar

· Had an initial meeting with the chair of their International Pilotage Committee

· IMO MEPC meeting where our single interest will be developments of PSSAs.

Don Cockrill: (London)

· Attends IMO Nav sessions

· Attends MCA meetings

· VTS steering group

· EMPA

· Attended GLA 2020 vision

· Member of PMSC / Pilotage Act working group and attends DfT/MCA meetings.

Kristian Pederson: (Swansea)

· Represents the interests of South West members

· Involved in the legal aspects of pilotage.

· Recruitment of new members

· Technical and training matters.

Paul Haysom: (Great Yarmouth)

· Representing the small ports and has written to pilots in these ports detailing the benefits of UKMPA membership.

· Attends miscellaneous meetings on behalf of the UKMPA

· Meeting with Navigators and General to discuss rates, implications of the FSA (Financial Services Act) and Insurance for Pilots operating in the VTS.

David Devey: (Liverpool)

· Represents NW UK and self employed pilots

· Attends miscellaneous meetings on behalf of the UKMPA

· Review of the Pilotage Act and PMSC

· EMPA EGM (Emergency General Meeting ) to ratify the new Internal Rules of EMPS (Non-profit Association under Belgian Law).