Harbour Pilots Bremerhaven
Committed to the safety and environmental protection of the ports of Bremerhaven - since 1830.
The harbour pilots of Bremerhaven have been assisting captains of the world's largest ships in one of the world's most demanding port for more than 190 years. Each harbour pilot is a highly skilled specialist with years of experience as a master, using his navigational experience, navigational skills and local knowledge to deliver a high-risk public service.
Harbour pilots carry out their work on behalf of the state of Bremen as freelancers. The income is drawn exclusively from shipping taxes for work performed and not from taxpayers' money or other public benefits.
The Harbour Pilot Corporation Bremerhaven guarantees every ship the constant availability of qualified pilots at all times, 365 days a year. The ships calling the port of Bremerhaven include: container ships, car carriers, passenger ships, offshore installation vessels, etc.

Presently 31 harbour pilots are ensuring the safety of life, ships and environment within the port limits of Bremerhaven. They are an essential part in the circle of continous movement of goods.
Ships with destination Bremerhaven are boarded at the federal borders of the state of Bremen.
Once arrived on the bridge, harbour pilots integrate themselves quickly into the bridge team to be able to bring forward their superior maneuvreing capabilities and profound local knowledges.

With increasing size of ships and traffic the damage potential increases drastically.
Harbour pilots are specially trained to understand complex traffic situations and to integrate them into a basic maneuvering concept. Weather and visbilty conditions have to be taken into account during preparation and execution of maneuvres. Vessels capabilities and limits are subject to evaluation of the Bridge Team.
All these aspects are collected and considered to agree the correct measures to ensure a safe maneuvre providing unobstructed traffic flow in the port of Bremerhaven.
In order to be able to meet consistent further developments of vessels in respect to size, equipment and manning and thus increased demands for advanced maneuvring capabilities harbour pilots undergo continuous in-service training and advanced education.
The Harbour Pilot Corporation Bremerhaven strictly complies with the requirements of IMO guideline A.960.