What Is Pilotage?

Pilotage is the art of navigating in confined waters — harbours, estuaries, rivers, and channels — where precise positioning is critical and there is little room for error. Unlike open-water navigation using charts and instruments, pilotage relies heavily on visual references.

A good pilotage plan is prepared in advance and uses transits, leading lines, clearing bearings, depth contours, and buoyage to guide the vessel safely into harbour.