Coastal & Deep Sea Pilotage
Description
Shipping over sea is becoming more and more complicated due to increased legislation, volatile fuel costs, increased congestion and overall demands for increased operational safety and security. Shipping companies run ships worth 75 million each, which makes the need for safe and efficient passage very high. Due to tighter sailing schedules, shorter port turnaround times in the NW-European region the risk of crew fatigue increases.
The English Channel is the primary route for vessels moving between the Atlantic and the North Sea and ports along the way. To the east, the Channel narrows to the Strait of Dover, where more than 20,000 deepsea ship movements are recorded per year. When cross-channel ferry and other traffic are included, the total exceeds 400 vessel movements per day. Due to unfavourable weather conditions and intense industrial activity offshore, this sea-area is one of the busiest and most dangerous passages in the world. The International Maritime Organisation (IMO) recommends the use of adequately qualified deep-sea pilots for vessels passing the North Sea and the English Channel.
Deep-sea pilotage
Dirkzwager's Coastal & Deep Sea Pilotage (DCP) was established in 1946 and is part of the shipreporting company Royal Dirkzwager in Maassluis, the Netherlands. DCP has well trained and highly skilled deep-sea pilots who make an effective contribution to the safety of navigation in busy waters such as the North Sea. Many shipping lines make use of the services offered by the deep-sea pilots of Royal Dirkzwager. The majority of the ships that Dirkzwager guides, are operated by companies, with good crews who recognize the fatigue problem. By ordering a deepsea pilot you can value the added safety we bring to the bridge team for less than € 3,- a mile.
The pilots
All pilots are former foreign-going Master Mariners with command experience and are fully licensed according to IMO Resolution A486(XII), European Community and Dutch legislation. Safety in these congested waters is the profession of our pilots, active 24 hours per day, piloting ships to safe harbours through the risks inseparable from this intense and ongoing traffic.
Green award
As from 1st October 1995, Dirkzwager's Coastal & Deep Sea Pilotage BV has participated as a sponsor in the "Green Award Scheme" as initiated by the Rotterdam Port Authority. For vessels carrying the Green Award Certificate, we offer a reduction of five percent of our published tariff.
Insurance premium reducation
Since both Hull & Machinery and P&I insurance follow either the bonus-malus rule or a premium rating system to the same effect, it is obvious that our service will have a positive influence on the claims record and as such will result in a refund of our pilotage fee by lower insurance premiums.
Additional services
Whereas the existing deep sea pilotage organisations solely offer the traditional assistance to the bridge management team, the Dirkzwager service goes further by adding extra features:
Vessel Traffic Routing Services
Continuously combining the vessel's location, characteristics,
direction, destination, latest ETA with live weather, wave
height forecasts, latest data on currents and any other
relevant nautical element
Worldwide alert service for ships at sea in distress
Royal Dirkzwager offers this service to all ship owners
who do not have the means to comply with the
International Safety Management Code obligation
SSAS service for ships regarding the ISPS code
Royal Dirkzwager provides a 24 hours attended focal
point in order to establish a smooth settlement of SSAS
messages.
Summary
- Nautical assistance to Masters who are unfamiliar in this sea-area
- Prevention of fatigue
- Assistance in communication with VTS-/Port Authorities
- Supplementary service to the Bridge Management Team
- Additional safety precaution with regard to the maritime environment
