The pilotage service is funded by fees paid by the shipping industry who make use of the service, and annually carries out around 45 000 assignments nationwide.
Pilots board the vessels at the designated embarkation marks marks along the coast by means of a pilot boat or helicopter. On board the vessels the pilot acts as an advisor and provides the crew with the necessary knowledge of the fairways to and from Norwegian ports.
The compulsory pilotage requirement in Norway may be fulfilled by using a pilot or a pilot exemption certificate. Vessels over a certain size that operate within the sea boundary are subject to compulsory pilotage, depending on whether the vessel is transporting hazardous cargo or not.
Vessels that operate with a pilot exemption certificate can be exempted from compulsory pilotage. The pilot exemption certificate is a document showing that the holder is qualified to sail vessels in designated fairways.
Pilots board the vessels at the designated embarkation marks along the coast by means of a pilot boat or helicopter. Transport of pilot by helicopter is limited to vessels classified for carrying hazardous and/or polluting loads to certain oil and gas terminals.
The Norwegian Coastal Administration's three pilot dispatch centres are located at Horten, Kvitsøy and Lødingen, and they are staffed at any given time with two persons who plan and coordinate each pilotage assignment.