Catalogue description Records of the Pilotage Commission

The Pilotage Commission was established by the Merchant Shipping Act of 1979, following the recommendations of the Steering Committee on Pilotage (1964) and the Advisory Committee on Pilotage set up in 1977. The 1977 Advisory Committee on Pilotage had itself taken over previously less formal arrangements for pilotage advice under the Pilotage Act 1913

The main duties of the Pilotage Commission were advisory and covered the safety of navigation in and around the United Kingdom, the provision of efficient pilotage services, the terms of service of pilots, and the promotion of standards in the qualifications for and training of pilots. In addition the Commission was empowered to keep under consideration the organisation of pilotage services and the numbers of pilots needed, to carry out investigations in non-compulsory pilotage areas, and to establish and maintain (by Statutory Instrument no 883 of 1982) pension and compensation schemes for pilots.

The Chairman and other members of the Commission, all with some experience and specialism in marine safety, were appointed by the Secretaries of State for Trade and, from 1983, Transport.

Pilotage operations themselves were carried out by pilotage authorities, who also had the right to license pilots and make byelaws. The principal pilotage authority for England, Wales and the Channel Islands is the Corporation of Trinity House (commonly know as Trinity House), which is responsible for pilotage and navigation in London and forty other districts throughout the country. The pilotage authorities direct, under byelaws, whether pilotage is to be compulsory or not in their districts. A pilotage authority is also empowered to delegate any of its powers and duties to a committee, and usually a pilotage committee is set up to administer the business of the district. Representatives from shipowners and the pilots themselves are usually included on such a committee.

Section 26 of the Pilotage Act 1987 abolished the Commission and its functions were devolved upon the pilotage authorities. The Commission's last year of operation was 1990.