Pilot shortage hits major ports

If you thought only airline companies are witnessing poaching and shortage of pilots, you would be wrong. Take this example: Jawaharlal Nehru Port Trust (JNPT), a major port which handles more than half of India's container traffic, has lost five pilots to private and foreign ports in last three months.

On the other hand, more than 10 pilots will retire in the next two years out of 24 working pilots in another major port, Mumbai Port Trust (MbPT).

"All major ports are currently facing 30 per cent shortage of pilots against the required number. Pilot assistance is a necessary requirement for a ship to claim insurance coverage for accidents caused in restricted water limits of a port," said a government official.

Poaching by private and foreign ports, unattractive salaries in government ports and high lead time in training are primarily responsible for this shortage.

Pilots in the shipping industry are the master mariners, stationed at ports, who assist in activities ranging from directing vessels into outer limits of ports, to berthing for cargo loading or unloading.