Performing the Pilotage Assignment
As pilots must be able to manoeuvre and navigate all types of vessels in varying weather conditions, the job not only requires extensive education and experience, the person must also be unusually capable of handling critical situations and cooperating with the ship’s master.
Pilots have an academic background with qualification as a Master Mariner. After gaining experience as a ship’s master, they undergo a period of training (as a student pilot) to, at first, be allowed to pilot smaller vessels. It often takes many years to qualify for a full pilot’s licence and be able to pilot all types of vessels, including handling tugboats.
At present, there are about 220 Swedish pilots.