Pilotage is the assistance of a maritime pilot — a licensed expert of the local waters — who boards the vessel to advise its master during approach, entry and berthing. In most commercial ports pilotage is compulsory above a certain vessel size, because channels, currents and traffic demand precise local knowledge.
Pilotage, towage and VTS together form the safety chain of port navigation. Whether pilotage is compulsory at a given port is one of the standard facility attributes recorded in the World Port Index.
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