THE LEGISLATION

The organisation and the operational aspects of the Flemish Pilotage are set out in the Piloting Decree of April 19th 1995 and the Revised Scheldt Ruling which became effective on October 1st 2002.

The orders pursuant to both laws pertain to subjects such as arrangements for arriving and departing vessels, the more strict application of compulsory piloting, exemptions and discharges, certified captains, piloting fees, helicopter piloting, Shore Based Pilotage, ...

The complete text can be obtained upon request from the pilotage service by sending an e-mail to loodswezen@vlaanderen.be

When performing their duties, our pilots will act in full compliance with the shipping and police regulations (about fourteen in total) of their operating area where they are located, including:

• the International Regulations for Preventing Collision at Sea;
• the police and shipping regulations of Belgian territorial waters;
• the shipping regulations of the Westerscheldt (the Netherlands);
• the laws of the port of Zeebrugge;
• shipping regulations for the Ghent-Terneuzen canal;
• ...