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