The Hindu Business Line : Pilots shortage may affect Kochi port operations

The poaching of pilots by foreign shipping lines and private ports especially in the Gulf region for hefty salaries has resulted in the migration of Indian pilots for better prospects.

Kochi March 13 The acute shortage of pilots being faced by the Cochin Port Trust off late is likely to affect pilotage of vessels shortly, which would result in sailing and berthing delays.

The vessel operators express concern over the prevailing situation and have urged the authorities concerned to take urgent steps to sort out the problem, especially at a time when arrival of container ships to the port is on the rise. It is pointed out that the port is presently having the service of only 4 pilots as against the requirement of 11.

Even this will not be sufficient, when major projects such as single buoy mooring of Kochi Refineries and LNG terminal commences operations in a few years, the vessel operators said.

Permanent Solution

A senior official of the port admitted that Kochi is facing shortage of pilots for taking incoming and outgoing vessels. As of now, it has not affected sailing or berthing of vessels to and from the port as the authorities are managing it by engaging senior officers in the marine department for the jobs. However, it would be difficult to continue with the existing arrangements and there is a need to find out a permanent solution to the problem.

Not only Kochi, he said all Indian ports are facing pilot shortage on account of unattractive salaries in the Government-owned ports. The poaching of pilots by foreign shipping lines and private ports especially in the Gulf region for hefty salaries has resulted in the migration of Indian pilots for better prospects.

He pointed out that pilots at foreign ports and in shipping lines are getting monthly salaries in the range of $5,000, whereas their counterparts in Indian ports are drawing around Rs 30,000.

Insurance Coverage

There were suggestions to set up a separate division for pilots from other port departments and provide them with good salary hike and other benefits in order to attract and retain pilots in the service of Indian ports. However, the Shipping Ministry has to take steps in this regard considering the competition from private players in the port sector.

It is pointed out that pilots are master mariners stationed at ports to steer all type of vessels both outgoing and incoming for cargo loading and unloading. As most of the captains of the vessels are not familiar with the respective ports, the pilots stationed in every port steer the ship for safe anchoring.

The assistance of pilot is a necessary requirement for a ship to claim insurance coverage for the accident caused in the restricted water limits of a port.

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