Maritime Pilotage from the Perspective of the International Law of the Sea

Matters concerning maritime pilotage have only been dealt with in a few individual points in international maritime law, as pilotage services generally are regulated in the respective territorial waters in accordance with national law. However, especially in view of the possible further expansion of use of deep-sea pilots, it seems worthwhile taking a closer look at the obligations and powers under international law to provide pilotage services. This applies in particular to the establishment of compulsory pilotage and its limitation by the freedom of navigation rights under international law in the various maritime zones. Considerable legal ambiguities become apparent in this context. Hence there are arguments in favour of explicitly regulating maritime pilotage by including it in the provisions on maritime services in Chapter V of the Annex to the International Convention for the Safety of Life at Sea.