What’s changing?
A new Check Pilot Voyage Assessment Procedure and Form 15 checklist will come into effect on 1 February 2026.
The updated procedure and checklist will replace the current version used to assess coastal pilot competency during live pilotage voyages.
There will be a transitional period from 1 November 2025 to 31 January 2026, during which either version may be used.
Key dates
01 November 2025 to 31 January 2026: Transitional period
- Check Pilots may use the existing (2019) or revised (2025) check pilot voyage assessment procedure.
- This approach is intended to provide flexibility and allow assessed pilots and Check Pilot assessors to become familiar with the updated process while maintaining operational continuity.
01 February 2026: New procedure applies
- Check Pilots must use the revised procedure and checklist (Form 15)
- Only assessments conducted in accordance with the new framework will be accepted.
Summary of changes
Below are the main changes incorporated into the revised procedure.
Performance criteria
Nine performance criteria (PCs) are now in use. PCs related to licence conditions and other matters specified in Marine Order 54 have now been incorporated into AMSA’s written examinations for coastal pilots.
Each performance criteria includes safety-critical and non-safety critical elements:
- Personal safety: Did the pilot adhere to relevant workplace health and safety (WH&S) practices, including Pilot Advisory Notes (PANs) and best practice standards?
- Master/Pilot exchange (MPX): Did the pilot demonstrate an effective MPX process?
- Passage planning and execution: Did the pilot plan and execute a safe and effective coastal pilotage passage plan?
- Nautical charts and publications: Did the pilot have access to up-to-date nautical charts and publications?
- VHF radio usage: Did the pilot correctly utilise VHF radio as required?
- Bridge resource management (BRM): Did the pilot demonstrate effective BRM practices?
- Rest management: Did the pilot demonstrate effective practices associated with planning and taking rest?
- Ship handling and navigational equipment usage: Did the pilot demonstrate appropriate ship handling ability, make effective use of all available aids to navigation and other navigational equipment/systems onboard to support safe navigation?
- Contingency planning: Can the pilot describe appropriate contingency plans associated with degraded navigation situations and/or emergency situations?
New grading scale
A 4-point grading scale is used to evaluate both technical and non-technical skills:
- Effective (grade 4)
- Acceptable (grade 3)
- Poor (grade 2)
- Unacceptable (grade 1)
The scale allows for more detailed analysis of coastal pilot performance. Grades are assigned using descriptors across 6 dimensions based on observed behaviours and decision-making.
Recommending training and continuous development
When conducting performance assessments, Check Pilots must always be mindful of their primary role as an assessor (on behalf of AMSA), and not a trainer (on behalf of a pilotage provider)
A Check Pilot may recommend further training and continuous development opportunities even if the pilot’s overall assessment result is satisfactory..
Reciprocal and consecutive assessments
Reciprocal (‘back-to-back’) assessments are prohibited, regardless of the timeframe in between such assessments.
Example: if ‘Check Pilot (A) assesses ‘Pilot (B)’ (who is also a Check Pilot), Pilot (B) cannot assess ‘Check Pilot (A)’ for Check Pilot (A)’s next assessment.
A coastal pilot cannot be assessed by the same Check Pilot twice in a row.
Taking over conduct
Check Pilots must not interfere with or take part in the actual conduct of the pilotage.
The Check Pilot may take over the Con (and the role of the Operational Pilot) only if necessary to ensure:
- navigational safety
- safety of personnel
- protection of the marine environment,.
If this occurs, the overall assessment will be unsatisfactory, and a remedial training plan must be implemented for the assessed pilot.
Assessment outcomes and follow up actions
Unsatisfactory assessments
If a pilot receives an ‘Unsatisfactory’ overall assessment:
- The pilotage provider must coordinate a remedial training plan for the pilot, approved by AMSA as a priority.
- A follow up assessment must be completed after the pilot finishes remedial training.
- The pilot should not be assigned any further pilotages until both steps are successfully completed.
Poor performance grade (non-safety-critical element)
If a pilot receives a grade of 2 (Poor) for a non-safety-critical performance element:
- The pilotage provider must coordinate a remedial training plan, approved by AMSA
- A follow up Check Pilot voyage assessment must be completed within 3 months of the initial assessment.
Background to the changes
In 2025, AMSA undertook a comprehensive review of the Check Pilot Voyage Assessment Procedure and associated Checklist.
In collaboration with coastal pilots, updates have now been incorporated to reflect insights gained from recent incidents and stakeholder feedback.
Data collected from assessments will be analysed to identify performance trends and potential opportunities for improvement. This will help maintain consistent standards across the coastal pilot cohort and inform broader risk management strategies.
Future engagement
To support continuous improvement and ensure the effectiveness of the Check Pilot Voyage Assessment procedure, we will convene twice-yearly meetings with Check Pilots.
These sessions are a forum to:
- review assessment data
- identify emerging trends
- discuss operational feedback
- address any issues encountered.
Contact us
If you have any questions, email: coastal.pilotage@amsa.gov.au