The station today

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The pilot station of Le Havre has existed since the XVIth century. Nowadays 48 pilots are providing their services and advices, 24 hours a day, 365 days a year, in practically all weather conditions, in Le Havre, Antifer Oil Terminal, and Fécamp.

Organisation of the service

Organisation of the Pilot Service

The service provided to vessels operates on a rota system. A duty pilot is always present at the station, on watch, to coordinate operations and remain available at all times to respond to inquiries from the harbour master’s office, shipping agents, or vessel captains. Recommendations, expertise, or simple advice can thus be provided at any moment.

In the case of unusual and exceptional manoeuvres, a pilot will be specifically designated to dedicate their full attention to that particular operation.

Nautical Technical Safety Commission

A pilot designated to handle nautical matters is responsible for the daily follow-up of key files, such as port development plans, navigation safety, and modifications to equipment specifically related to port manoeuvring. This pilot convenes meetings with the Technical Safety Commission—a body composed of voluntary pilots—to discuss complex pilotage-related issues. Additionally, they ensure the implementation of knowledge maintenance modules and keep pilots updated on relevant developments.

Human ressources

In addition to the pilots, the station also has 47 salaried employees:

Maritime service: 30 sailors (skippers and pilot boat engineers)
Helicopter service : 2 helicopter pilots and 2 winch mechanics
Administrative department : 2 people
Maintenance : 6 people et the workshop
Transport department : 5 drivers

Material supports

Our Equipment and Training

To carry out their mission, our pilots rely on a modern and high-performance fleet, consisting of six ORCA pilot boats based in Le Havre, a pilot boat in Fécamp, and a maintenance workshop tailored to our fleet and equipment. They also have access to a helicopter for rapid interventions and a state-of-the-art maneuvering simulator.

Since 2007, the station has been equipped with PPU (Portable Pilot Units), fully autonomous DGPS devices, as well as tablet-based visualization systems, such as iPads, ensuring optimal precision during delicate maneuvers.

When it comes to training, our simulator, in service since 2004, plays a central role. It supports initial training, continuous development, and skills maintenance for our Le Havre maritime pilots and marine personnel, guaranteeing a high level of expertise and safety. This simulator was fully renovated in 2020.