A proposal for a new single Pilotage Act for Malta

Abstract

After analysing the different aspects of Pilotage, both from the legal and technical perspectives, this thesis has sought to identify the problems caused by lack of legislation or by antiquated provisions present within the current laws of pilotage in Malta. In the first part of the thesis, the characteristics of the pilots' task are described so as to give the reader a good insight into what the pilotage industry actually entails. This leads on to a brief historical background of the Pilotage Corps in Malta, and an outline of how the law developed throughout the years is given. The study proceeds to examine the various parts of the law which require amendment or addition, such as those of pilot responsibility, the separation of the pilots from the mooring ment and the proper training of pilots to conform with international standards. In the second part of the thesis a model draft bill is presented. This will include all the legislation on pilotage and any amendments or recommendations, which were put forward in the first part of the thesis. The concept behind this model is to gather all legislation on pilotage in Malta into one single pilotage act. This, in turn, will facilitate reference and application of the law.