Pilotage Directions

The following Pilotage Directions will apply to vessels bound to or from the Port of Southampton or transiting the Solent when navigating in the Associated British Ports Competent Harbour Authority’s (CHA) pilotage area.

Please also see this document for a useful summary of all pilotage requirements in the Solent.

The following Pilotage Directions (Directions 1 to 3) will apply to vessels bound to or from the Port of Southampton or transiting the Solent when navigating in the Associated British Ports Competent Harbour Authority’s (CHA) pilotage area.

ABP Southampton CHA ( a competent Harbour Authority within the meaning of the Pilotage Act 1987) in exercise of its powers under 5.7 of that Act directs that pilotage in the Southampton CHA area shall be compulsory for the following vessels:

1 Compulsory Pilotage

Pilotage in the ABP Southampton CHA area is compulsory for the following vessels:
All vessels ?61m LOA and Vessels carrying more than 12 passengers ?20m in length

2 Bona fide deck officers with sufficiently high levels of skill & experience, of all vessels subject to compulsory pilotage within limits defined in the schedules may apply for and be issued with Pilotage Exemption Certificates for the area, or specified parts of the area, subject to their fitness and qualification both by examination and experience in the appropriate parts of the area.

3 Pilotage Exemption Certificates may be revoked if considered justified. In this event, the holder would have a right to appeal to the Competent Harbour Authority.

Click here for a full copy of the Pilotage Directions in PDF format.