EMPA - European Maritime Pilots' Association

07/06/2026

📘 EMPA Activity Report | April & May 2026

The past two months have been exceptionally active for the European Maritime Pilots' Association.

Across Europe, European Maritime Pilots'​ Association (EMPA)European Maritime Pilots'​ Association (EMPA) has continued to engage with institutions, member associations, industry stakeholders and maritime professionals, contributing to discussions on some of the most important challenges facing our sector: safety, sustainability, innovation, training, human capital and the future of pilotage.

From the 60th EMPA General Meeting in Ghent 🇧🇪 to national congresses and technical conferences in France 🇫🇷, Italy 🇮🇹, Turkey 🇹🇳 and Spain 🇪🇸, from participation in the European Maritime Skills Forum and the BPAC meeting, to discussions on pilotage, port operations, tug integration and green transition, EMPA has remained actively involved in promoting professional excellence and sharing best practices across the maritime community.

Particular attention has been dedicated to training, recruitment, knowledge exchange and the role of pilots in an increasingly digitalised maritime environment, reaffirming a principle that remains unchanged: technology can support operations, but safe navigation ultimately relies on competent professionals making sound decisions.

At the same time, EMPA has continued to support initiatives such as GREENPORT AlliancesGREENPORT Alliances, contributing to the discussion on sustainable port operations and the behavioural changes required to achieve meaningful progress towards decarbonisation.

Beyond meetings and conferences, May also offered an important opportunity to strengthen the human side of our profession. The 60th EMPA Football Tournament in Ålesund 🇳🇴 once again brought together colleagues from across Europe, demonstrating that cooperation, friendship and mutual trust remain at the heart of our community.

A sincere thank you to all member associations, partners, colleagues and friends who contributed to another busy and rewarding period for EMPA.

Together, we continue to navigate change while upholding the highest standards of safety, professionalism and service to society.

👉🔗 LINK IN FIRST COMMENT

28/05/2026

This week European Maritime Pilots'​ Association (EMPA) is in Valencia, represented by our President Miguel Vieira de Castro and Vice President and Chairman of the Technical and Training Committee and Member of the Board of Colegio Oficial Nacional de Prácticos de Puerto Jose A. Pérez.

We are pleased to attend the 111th Spanish Maritime Pilots’ Congress Colegio Oficial Nacional de Prácticos de Puerto in Valencia (26–29 May 2026).

European Maritime Pilots'​ Association (EMPA) is deeply honoured to be invited to address the congress and present our work on a collaborative vision for safe, efficient and sustainable port operations—where digital tools support decision‑making, while the pilot’s professional judgement on board remains the critical safety barrier, free from competition or commercial pressure.

We had the opportunity to refer and explain the GREENPORT Alliances disseminating the advantages of training on behavioural changes regarding more sustainable operations.

The most valued, was the opportunity to engage with Spanish colleagues and to meet with established EMPA partners, like Jos Moens from Trelleborg Marine & Infrastructure.

My thanks to the organisers and to our Spanish colleagues for the unbelievable welcome and fabulous event.

28/05/2026

ℹ️ European Maritime Pilots'​ Association (EMPA) took part in the BPAC (Baltic Pilotage Authorities Commission) meeting held between Helsinki and Stockholm from 27–29 May 2026.

The meeting represented an important opportunity to strengthen cooperation and information exchange among Baltic countries on pilotage matters, contributing to safer and more efficient seaways across Europe.

EMPA was represented by Vice President Capt. Hahtonen.

18/05/2026

2026 EMPA football tournament and BOD
Ålesund - Norway 🇳🇴

Two wonderful days of work, friendship and social exchange for the European pilotage community.

On 14 and 15 May, the 60th edition of the EMPA Football Tournament took place — an event that has always represented a unique moment of aggregation and camaraderie among European maritime pilots. Once again, colleagues from across Europe met both on and off the pitch, competing with passion, sportsmanship and mutual respect.
🇧🇪 🇧🇬🇫🇷🇬🇧🇮🇹🇪🇸🇵🇹🇳🇱🇩🇪🇫🇮

This year’s tournament was hosted in Norway, in the beautiful city of Ålesund, whose extraordinary scenery provided the perfect setting for this long-standing EMPA tradition.

Our sincere thanks go to the Norwegian Pilots’ Association for the excellent organisation of the event and for the warm hospitality and friendship shown to all participants throughout the two days.

Alongside the sporting event, the EMPA board of directors also met to continue its ongoing work and discussions on the many important issues currently affecting the pilotage profession and the maritime sector across Europe.

During the event, the next edition of the tournament was also officially presented: the 2027 EMPA Football Tournament will take place in Sines, Portugal 🇵🇹, where the European pilotage community will once again gather to strengthen the bonds of friendship and cooperation that unite us.

Events such as these continue to demonstrate how EMPA is not only a professional association, but also a strong and united community built on cooperation, friendship and shared values.

18/05/2026

Today, on the occasion of the International Day for Women in Maritime, we would like to express our sincere appreciation to all women working across the maritime sector, whose professionalism, dedication and commitment contribute every day to the safety, efficiency and development of our industry.

A special thanks goes to the two women of the EMPA team whose work and support are invaluable to our Association:
Mrs. Aileen Van Raemdonck
Secretary-General EMPA
and
Mrs. Elke Bogaerts
Office Administrator EMPA

Their professionalism, competence and constant commitment represent an essential contribution to the activities of EMPA and to the maritime pilotage community.

To all women in maritime: thank you for your passion!

25/04/2026

Brussels, April 2026 – A milestone for inclusion: EMPA welcomes Deep-Sea Pilots into its family

This marks an important date for EMPA and for the European pilotage community. With the decision taken at the General Meeting in Ghent on 14 April 2026, EMPA opens its doors to Deep-Sea Pilots, approving 61 professionals as affiliate members and concluding a two-year process of revising its internal framework.

This step reflects a clear commitment to inclusiveness. For the first time, Deep-Sea Pilots who are not represented through national pilotage associations can now join EMPA directly, provided they hold a valid certificate issued by a European coastal state authority.

We warmly welcome the 61 pilots from Redwise, London Trinity House, Newcastle Trinity House, and Hull Trinity House. Their inclusion strengthens our collective voice and reinforces our shared mission to safeguard and promote deep-sea pilotage across Europe.

25/04/2026

News from members association, Spain - 🇪🇸

We are pleased to share the completion of the PEERS training course as part of the PAPIPRA programme, developed by the Spanish Pilots’ Association.

PAPIPRA represents an important step forward in bringing structured peer support to maritime pilotage, inspired by well-established models in aviation. Through this initiative, trained pilot volunteers provide confidential support to colleagues facing operational, professional or personal stress, reinforcing resilience within the profession.

This is a significant development for pilotage worldwide, highlighting the growing recognition that safety in our ports is closely linked to the wellbeing of pilots.
An initiative worth following with great interest.

19/04/2026

⚓️ EMPA 60th General Meeting – Ghent
Navigating the Past, Steering the Future

The 60th General Meeting of the European Maritime Pilots'​ Association (EMPA), held in Ghent on 14–15 April 2026, has successfully concluded, bringing together over 150 participants from around 25 countries, including maritime pilots, European institutions and key industry stakeholders.

The meeting officially opened with the Council of Presidents, setting the institutional framework for the works, followed by an intensive programme of sessions addressing the most pressing challenges for the maritime sector.

Throughout the General Meeting, discussions focused on key strategic topics, including:
the EU Port Strategy and Industrial Maritime Strategy,
port security in a rapidly changing geopolitical environment,
the evolving role of maritime pilots, and the crucial issue of human capital resilience.

The event featured contributions from leading European organisations and institutions, including representatives from DG MOVE , ESPO (European Sea Ports Organisation), European Shipowners | ECSA, European Tugowners Association ETA, FEPORT, EMSA and other key stakeholders, highlighting the central role of pilotage within the European maritime system.

The General Meeting also represented, as always, a valuable opportunity for sharing experiences, exchanging views and strengthening professional relationships among colleagues from across Europe.
At the same time, the presence of industry partners and sponsors provided a valuable opportunity to engage directly with companies, which had the chance to present and explain their services and products tailored to pilotage activities, contributing to a meaningful exchange of know-how and insights on the latest market developments.

The second day was dedicated to more technical and internal work, with sessions on training, innovation and legal aspects, including updates on projects such as EMPAsafe and discussions on pilot liability and operational frameworks.

The General Meeting also included the formal closed session, where core governance topics were addressed, such as reports from the President and Secretary General, financial approvals, and membership developments. In this context, the approval of new Affiliate Members, the Deep Sea Pilots, represents an important step in strengthening the Association’s inclusiveness and operational scope.
In parallel, the Board of Directors meeting ensured the final coordination of the event and the continuity of EMPA’s strategic direction.

Over the course of these two days, the meeting reaffirmed the importance of cooperation, information sharing and a common vision among European maritime pilots.
A strong and united community remains essential to face the challenges ahead and to ensure the highest standards of safety, efficiency and professionalism in maritime operations.

Thank you to all participants who contributed to the success of this event.

14/04/2026

To set your course for the future, you need Orizon on board.
On 14–15 April 2026, we will be in Ghent, Belgium, for the 60th EMPA General Meeting: “Navigating the past, steering the future”. Born from the vision of pilots in the newly formed European Community, EMPA - European Maritime Pilots' Association represents 4,500 maritime pilots from 18 European Union member countries and 6 neighboring nations.
We are proud to present Orizon on this occasion—a service designed to radically improve the management of workboats.
Discover all the advantages that Orizon will bring to your fleet:
⚓ Centralized fleet control
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14/04/2026