A brief outline of the legal history of harbour pilotage in Malta

Abstract

When a vessel calls at a port infrequently or perhaps even for the first time, it is virtually impossible for her master to have a good knowledge of the winds, seas, currents, tides, traffic separation schemes, geology, infrastructure and traffic of that port and its approaches. Whether a port is a compulsory pilotage area or not depends primarily on the decision of the port authorities of that country. However, the traffic systems of that port have a heavy influence on such decision. In fact, most of the world's ports are compulsory pilotage areas. The Grand Harbour has been described as 'the finest in the world' , but as a port, pilotage was very necessary due to the, 'narrowness of the entrance and the usual variableness of the wind' . Malta's main harbours are compulsory pilotage areas. Therefore, every vessel entering and exiting the Ports of Valletta and Marsaxlokk requires a pilot. The law lays down a number of exceptions to this rule. The Malta Maritime Authority Act also reserves the right of the Director of Ports to exempt any vessel from the compulsory requirement of pilotage services at will.