The Government is considering what the best model of public service delivery pilot has not yet determined whether to proceed with the grant of this service, as had been announced by the Secretary of State for Transport in December last, or maintaining the current model, where the pilot is inserted in port administrations.
Industry prefers current model: Granting of Pilotage Services is not yet decided The Government is considering what the best model of public service delivery pilot has not yet determined whether to proceed with the grant of this service, as had been announced by the Secretary of State for Transport in December last, or maintaining the current model, where the pilot is inserted in port administrations. John Carvalho, president of IMT revealed during the V Conference of APIBARRA - Pilots Association Bar and Ports, which took place in Sines, on the 1st of July, that 'this is not a closed process and still nothing is decided . Mr. Secretary of State for Transport has asked me to inform you that with the collaboration of APIBARRA to jointly find the best solution for this area of activity. " AV Conference APIBARRA had as main theme "The Public Service Steering: Market Expectations" and gathered for a day about 180 participants. The event, during the morning, with the presence of international guests such as Frederic Moncany, the FFPM - Federation Francaise des Pilotes Maritimes; Joan Roig and Antonio Molinero, National Official Colegio de Puerto STUDIES; Dahn and Stein, president of the EMPA - European Maritime Pilots Association, who spoke about how models are providing a public service pilot in their countries. In the afternoon, held a roundtable with the presence of several "stakeholders" and industry experts in a session moderated by the Director of Transportation in Review, Joseph Lemon. Overall, most participants noted that the current model, in which the pilot is under the tutelage of Port Authorities, work properly and does not need to be changed. The liberalization of the activity, through concessions to private, is seen as a potential "threat" to the quality of service that is currently provided and which may also carry risks in terms of security. The President of the Port of Sines, John Franco, stated that 'the current model is effective and I see no reason for major changes', one also shared by the president of the Ports of Portugal, Vitor Caldeirinha, belief which stressed that "despite the current model work there is always room to be instilled continuous improvements in the management model ', particularly in terms of efficiency and equipment. Carlos Vasconcelos, president of MSC Portugal, also said: "This management model has given good results" and that the Portuguese market 'has no dimension for the creation of a liberalized market. "Vasconcelos said that the main focus should be' in tuning of this system 'and that port communities should also be involved in the management process, appealing to drivers to have' greater openness' in addressing these issues. Sandra Aires, lawyer of the Legal Interface, assumed that 'the model change, public expenditure implies that the national accounts do not advise' adding that 'this is an activity that has no economic attractiveness' and that you should not change' what is good '. The president of the Portuguese Shippers Council (CPC), Pedro Galvao, praised the national pilots but did not fail to criticize the prevailing system of management, classifying it as 'inefficient' and pointed out the difficulty of port administrations to hire new pilots. The chairman of the CPC also said that the security argument, advocated by the pilots, is "a false issue, although important 'not to move towards a concession, noting, however, that if they go to a model liberalized, "it is important that the regulator is present and in full swing." Antonio Belmar da Costa, the Agepor, stressed that "despite the primacy of security is important, there remain excesses" arguing that the requirement to have pilots on board great regularity in the lines of Short Sea Shipping could have a significant and punitive cost.
