The European Maritime Pilots’ Association (EMPA) participated in the latest NEDSPA (North European Deep-Sea Pilots Association) meeting, held in Hull (UK), bringing together representatives from across Europe both in person and online.

The discussions covered several key topics for the deep-sea pilotage community, including:

• Strengthening cooperation and data exchange between European pilotage organisations and deep-sea pilotage organisations

• Developing a unified approach to deep-sea pilot licence validation and affiliate membership within EMPA

• Addressing GNSS and navigation safety challenges across the Dover–Cherbourg corridor

• Evaluating deep-sea pilot training standards and recognition processes

• Enhancing participation in European and international working groups such as NEDSPA and BPAC (Baltic Pilotage Authorities Commission)
  
  This meeting reaffirmed the shared commitment of deep-sea pilots to ensuring safe, professional, and internationally coordinated deep-sea pilotage operations across Europe’s waters.