Pilotage licences

The stages and order of completion of the PEC are regulated by the Pilotage Act. The examination consists of a written part and a practical part. The written part includes a theory test and a fairway knowledge test, and the practical part includes a practical pilotage test and a ship simulator test.

When the applicant is about to complete the necessary parts for the PEC, he or she must first complete the online theory test. The theory test can only be done once through the link below. If the first theory test is failed (less than 75% correct), the test can be retaken 2 weeks after the failed test. Retake is requested at luotsausasiat(at)traficom.fi. The content, competence requirements and structure of the theory test are specified in more detail in the PEC regulation.

You can find the privacy statement of the theory test (Dnro TRAFICOM/589429/00.04.00.03/2024) in the link below.

After successfully completing the theory test, the applicant must complete a PEC familiarisation voyage. The familiarisation voyage can be given by a person who has acted as a pilot in the specific fairway for at least five years, or a person who possesses a PEC licence that has a pilotage exemption for the fairway in question and during this exemption at least 10 voyages in the fairway in question during a three-month seagoing service. The familiarisation voyage must be made in both directions of the fairway.

If the PEC familiarisation voyage is ordered from Finnpilot Pilotage Ltd, the order must be made at least 24 hours in advance. More information about ordering the PEC familiarisation voyage can be found on Finnpilot Pilotage Ltd’s web page. After completing  a familiarisation voyage, the applicant must submit a PEC familiarisation voyage form together with a PEC licence application. 

For a fairway-specific exemption from compulsory pilotage to be marked on a PEC, the applicant must have completed the training voyages as prescribed in Section 40 of the Pilotage Act.

 Please note that back and forth training voyages can be completed only after the familiarisation voyage. The Finnish Transport and Communications Agency can, with a separate application, accept at most two fifths of the necessary voyages as completed before the PEC familiarisation voyage, if there is a special justified reason. The voyages can be completed on a compulsory pilotage vessel or a vessel exempt of it. Training voyages must be recorded on the application form and they must state the pilot or a person with a PEC licence that has been responsible for the piloting of the vessel during the voyage.

The minimum number of voyages should be as follows:

• 10 voyages in both directions of the fairway if the applicant has experience at least for six months in the steering of the vessel that is the target of the application.
• 10 voyages in both directions of the fairway if the applicant has experience at least for 30 months as the ship’s master, or
• 15 voyages in both directions of the fairway if the applicant does not fulfil the aforementioned experience requirements.

When the applicant has the necessary training voyages completed, he or she can complete the fairway knowledge test. The purpose of the fairway knowledge test is to assess the applicants’ fairway knowledge, their ability to perceive the available fairway space in conditions typical of the area and their ability to prepare a pilotage plan. In the fairway knowledge test, the applicant prepares a pilotage plan for the  fairway that is being applied for. The minimum content of the pilotage plan is specified in section 5.5 of the PEC regulation. The fairway knowledge test is received by a person receiving the PEC exams. Finnpilot Pilotage Ltd has the responsibility to uphold PEC examination receivers, and the fairway knowledge test is ordered from Finnpilot.

The practical part of the PEC examination consist of a practical pilotage test and a ship simulator test. In the practical part, the applicant shall demonstrate his or her ability steer and navigate the ship in the fairway specified in the application in a safe manner. In the practical pilotage test, the applicant shall navigate the ship entered on the certificate through the fairway specified in the application in one direction.

The ship simulator test shall measure the applicant’s ability to steer and navigate the ship entered on the certificate in the fairway or fairways specified in the application in exceptional conditions and situations.

Once the above mentioned parts have been completed, you can apply for a PEC. More information on how to apply can be found by visiting the link below.