Fairway-specific pilot exemption certificate (PEC)
One kind of exemption from the compulsory use of pilot in Swedish waters is called fairway-specific pilot exemption.
As a general principle the use of pilot is compulsory in the Swedish internal waters (landward of the baseline). The Swedish Transport Agency is the authority responsible for issuing detailed regulations on compulsory pilotage concerning the areas where it is in force and the vessels to which it applies. The regulations can be found in The Swedish Transport Agency’s Regulations and General Advice (TSFS 2012:38) on Pilotage (for the moment only available in Swedish).
The regulations regulate the possibility for the master of a vessel or another signed on nautical officer to be granted an exemption from compulsory pilotage.
A fairway-specific Pilot Exemption Certificate can be granted the master of a vessel or another nautical officer on the vessel. A nautical officer other than the master may only use his or her fairway-specific Pilot Exemption Certificate if the master is also in possession of a fairway-specific exemption or a general exemption for the vessel and the fairway concerned.
Applications
You will find application forms for a new PEC here. Some of these forms shall also be used when you apply for a renewal of a PEC or when you apply for a supplementary addition to a PEC.
Give yourself a good margin (at least 4 weeks) when applying for a renewal of or a supplementary addition to a fairway-specific Pilot Exemption Certificate.
State the appropriate contact address, invoice address, telephone number and e-mail address on all applications.
New fairway-specific Pilot Exemption Certificate (PEC)
Applying for a fairway-specific pilot exemption certificate is a process with various stages. Before you submit an application to the Swedish Transport Agency, you are required to accomplish at least one informational passage with an appointed pilot in both directions of the fairway in question, on the ship for which the application is intended. When we have approved your application, you are required to take one theoretical and one practical exam.
An application for a new fairway-specific Pilot Exemption Certificate shall contain the following supporting forms:
- Application for Pilot Exemption Certificate (PEC) (tick off New Pilot Exemption Certificate)
- Safety Assessment Documentation
- General conditions when using a fairway related or general Pilot Exemption Certificate (to be signed)
- A copy of the valid nautical competency certificate for the position on board
- For non-Swedish citizens: a legible copy of the applicant’s passport shall be attached
- Verification of Informational Passages
Renewal of fairway-specific Pilot Exemption Certificate (PEC)
A fairway-related Pilot Exemption Certificate is valid for 3 years after issuing. An application of renewal can be made at the earliest 6 months before the date of expiry. If a renewed exemption certificate has not been issued before the date of expiry of the current Pilot Exemption Certificate, the certificate is not valid and a pilot must be used. However, renewal of the Pilot Exemption Certificate may still be made.
An application for renewal shall contain the following supporting forms:
- Application for Pilot Exemption Certificate (PEC) (tick off Renewal)
- General conditions when using a fairway related or general Pilot Exemption Certificate (to be signed)
- Verification of passages or other documentation proving recent experience of the fairway during the last 12 months.
- Safety Assessment Documentation A copy of the valid nautical competency certificate for the position on board
- For non-Swedish citizens: a legible copy of the applicant’s passport shall be attached
Supplementary addition to a fairway-specific Pilot Exemption Certificate (PEC)
A fairway-specific Pilot Exemption Certificate may be supplemented to be valid on additional vessels and, in some cases, in fairways connecting to the fairway for which it was originally issued. A fairway-specific Pilot Exemption Certificate may also be supplemented to be valid when using a tugboat.
An application for a supplementary addition shall contain the following supporting forms:
- Application for Pilot Exemption Certificate (PEC) (tick off Supplementary addition)
- Safety Assessment Documentation, if the application concerns a supplementary addition to cover additional vessels
Additional information may be required, depending on what the application for a supplementary addition concerns. In some cases, the applicant may be required to carry out examinations in the fairway, in which case the ship must first be approved in a safety assessment and the applicant must first pass a qualification check. Following this, the Swedish Transport Agency will issue an examination permit.
Fees
Note: The fees charged by The Swedish Transport Agency for new and renewed PECs, and for supplementary additions to existing PECs, refer to the handling of the application. This means that the fee shall be paid irrespective of the resulting decision (granting or rejection). In addition, fees will be charged for any resits and extra examinations.
It is also important to know that the Swedish Maritime Administrations fees for pilotage during informational passages and the examinations for pilot exemption certificate is not covered by the Transport Agencys fees for pilot exemption certificate.
Contact
Applications for new fairway-specific Pilot Exemption Certificates (PEC) or applications for renewals of or supplementary additions to such exemptions are to be sent to:
Swedish Transport Agency
Civil Aviation and Maritime Department
SE-601 73 Norrköping
Telephone no: +46 771 503 503
Fax: +46 11 23 88 12
E-mail: pec@transportstyrelsen.se
