Ship-piloting services

Tender description

Belfast Harbour Commissioners (‘BHC’) is a competent harbour authority as defined in section I of the Pilotage Act 1987 and is legally responsible for the provision of pilotage services to vessels bound to and from Belfast Harbour, and within the approaches to, the Belfast pilotage area (including any extended area). This area is defined as the area seaward of an imaginary line between Black Head and Orlock Point (but also includes any extended area from time to time). In order to fulfil its obligations BHC is required to engage the services of pilots. To this end, BHC wishes to secure pilotage services from a qualified and competent supplier with effect from January 2017. BHC requires the provision of pilot navigation and berthing services, together with the provision of certain technical services (namely the provision of timely advice, support and technical expertise to assist BHC in the safe and efficient management of marine activities at the Port of Belfast) within the Belfast pilotage area, by means of suitably experienced, qualified and authorised pilots (in such number as may be prescribed by the pilotage directions issued by BHC from time to time) for each vessel designated by BHC as requiring the services of a pilot to navigate within any part of the Belfast pilotage area.