International training proposal for pilot boat personnel from Turkey to IMO The General Directorate of Maritime Affairs of the Ministry of Transport and
International training proposal for pilot boat personnel from Turkey to IMO
The General Directorate of Maritime Affairs of the Ministry of Transport and Infrastructure submitted a proposal to IMO to create an international guide on transfer safety and emergency preparedness of pilot boat personnel.
The document titled "Need for Harmonized Safety Training and Emergency Preparedness of Pilot Boat Personnel" prepared by Turkey was submitted to the agenda of the 112th Term Meeting of the IMO Maritime Safety Committee (MSC) to be held on 14-18 December 2026.
In the document, it was recommended to develop standardized training for pilot boat personnel in order to prevent serious injuries and loss of life that may occur after accidents and possible accidents during pilot transfers.
In the document prepared by the General Directorate of Maritime Affairs, it was reminded that IMO has carried out comprehensive studies on pilot transfer equipment and it was emphasized that not only the equipment but also the training level of the pilot boat personnel is an important element of safety in transfer operations.
It was recommended to prepare an international guide
In the document submitted by Turkey to IMO, it was noted that training for pilot boat personnel varies between countries. In this context, it was proposed by IMO to prepare a common training guide that can be applied in all member countries.
It was also stated in the document that the work carried out within the scope of the Directive on Pilotage Services Safety implemented in Turkey was presented as an exemplary practice to IMO members.
With its proposal, Türkiye invited IMO member countries to share experience and incident data on the subject, and requested that an international study be initiated to improve safety standards in pilot boat operations.
Source: SeaNews Türkiye
