Ports to revise packages on shortage of pilot

Acute shortage of pilots have forced the country's major ports to revise the compensation package upwards. Almost all major ports are working on revised compensation for contract and permanent pilots employed. Ports are also working out flexible work schedule to retain the existing pilots and attract new lot.

"All major ports are currently facing a shortage of 30 per cent. Pilot assistance is necessary for ships to claim insurance coverage for accidents in the restricted water limits of a port," said a senior government official.

Pilots in shipping industry are the master mariners, stationed at ports, who assist all types vessels into outer limits of ports for berthing and cargo loading or unloading. Since captains of those vessels calling at ports are not familiar with the constraints of a particular port, pilots of respective port will get into the vessel and guide for safe berthing.

"At the Mumbai Port, the revised compensation package, that was pending for this year, should be approved by the government any time. The work schedule change at least for Mumbai Port is unlikely," sources said.

Kochi Port, which is also facing severe shortage of pilots, is also working out revised compensation package for pilots. Other major ports have also independently submitted their revised compensation proposals before the government.

Earlier, government had constituted a committee under the chairmanship of the Indian Ports' Association (IPA) to look into the remuneration issues of pilots at major ports.

Meanwhile, Jawaharlal Nehru Port Trust (JNPT), which handles more than half of India's container trade, has decided to change the working pattern of the contract pilots from 24 hours-on and 24 hours-off basis to 12 hours-on and 12 hours-off basis in order to mitigate the problem of shortage of pilots at the port.

The contract pilots will now be working for 240 hours in a month as against 300 hours they are currently putting in.

"This would considerably reduce the fatigue element. The contract pilots will also be paid an attractive lumpsum remuneration every month irrespective of the number of moves handled. There will be a considerable increase in their total emoluments also," a JNPT official said. JN Port has also decided to take experienced retired naval officers from the the Indian Navy as pilots for the port.

Earlier, the government had allowed ports to recruit pilots on contract basis to cope with the problem of work load. However, a lot of contract and regular pilots quitted due to the higher pay packages and less strenuous working pattern offered by other private ports.