Finland reforms new pilotage law

The Ministry of Transport and Communications of Finland (Liikenne-ja viestintäministeriö) has launched a project to reform the law on the provision of pilotage services, according to a statement posted on the ministry's website.
Proposals to amend the law on the provision of pilotage came from shipping companies.

The current Law on Pilotage is considered controversial and somewhat controversial and, according to the industry, needs to be clarified and updated to meet current needs. Amendments, in particular, will be made in the provisions concerning the confirmation of certification of professional training of pilots.
In addition, the coronavirus pandemic has led to the need to seek ways to deviate from certain provisions of the law in order to be prepared to respond to future emergencies, for example by empowering authorities to use adequate ways to respond to such emergencies. The project will also explore the possibility of amending the law and other aspects to meet the current needs of the shipping industry.

The amendments to the law will be prepared in close collaboration with fleet operators and industry experts. The goal is to submit this proposal to the country's parliament in the fall of 2022.

The Finnish Ministry of Transport and Communications is a member of the Finnish State Council. Since December 10, 2019, the ministry is headed by Timo Hararakka. The ministry consists of three departments (transport, communications and general department) and is responsible for transport and communications policy.