In Sweden, specific areas are exempted from the obligation to use a
pilot in waters otherwise subject to compulsory pilotage in
accordance with the Pilot Regulations.
The Swedish Transport Agency establishes regulations on pilotage
in the Swedish territorial waters. As a general principle, the use
of pilot is compulsory in the Swedish internal waters (landward of
the baseline) based on the dimensions of the vessel and the cargo
it is carrying. Valid regulations are found in The Swedish
Transport Agency’s Regulations and General Advice (TSFS
2009:123) on Pilotage.
The Pilot Regulations describe specific areas exempted from the
obligation to use a pilot in waters otherwise subject to compulsory
pilotage in accordance with the regulations. Such exemptions are
called area exemptions.
Today there are 13 area exemptions in force in Sweden.
What factors determine an area exemption?
Area exemptions are determined by area and traffic. Sometimes an
area exemption is also subject to specific conditions.
Area refers to the area where the exemption is valid. An area
can be defined by one or more distances connecting two or more
locations (e.g. anchorages, berths or sections of ports). An area
may also be a fairway or a section of a fairway. Unless otherwise
specified, the exemptions apply to transfers and passages in both
directions along the distances, in the fairways and in the sections
of fairways.
Traffic refers to the vessels, barges and towed units which are
subject to compulsory pilotage in areas that may be exempted. The
traffic may be limited regarding size, cargo, compulsory pilotage
category or other circumstances.
An area exemption may be subject to conditions. When using an
area exemption, the master must be aware of these conditions.
Shipping movements in port
When an area exemption is used for making transfers in a port,
the transfers shall be made by the shortest possible route in
consideration of maritime safety, the current traffic situation and
the manoeuvring space needed.
Indication of exempted areas
The areas covered by area exemptions are described in text as
well as graphically, in the form of chart extracts where exempted
areas are indicated by a green pattern. The indications are
approximate and do not indicate an exact geographical area where
the exemption is valid.