Since mid-June, the European Maritime Pilots' Association (EMPA) has brought together port pilots in the 58th Football Tournament with the support of companies from the port of Las Palmas, Boluda Towage and Maspalomas Costa Canaria. EMPA represents some 4.500 maritime pilots from 18 European Union member countries and six neighboring countries: Georgia, Montenegro, Norway, Turkey, Ukraine and the United Kingdom. For companions, they plan to visit some areas of the south of Gran Canaria and see the port of Salinetas.
EMPA is a non-profit organization created in 1963 by a group of pilots from the newly created European Community. The initial meeting and formation of our association took place in Antwerp, Belgium. Today, EMPA has member associations of maritime pilots from countries located in the Baltic Sea, the North Sea, the Atlantic Ocean, the Mediterranean and the Black Sea.
Pilotage is a mandatory public service (strictly regulated by States) to guarantee maritime safety and environmental protection. The pilot's task is to assist the masters of ships entering and leaving ports and their approaches by exercising their knowledge of local maritime conditions and operational practices.
His professional experience navigating boats in restricted waters is what makes pilotage the most important risk mitigation measure available. Through the skills and knowledge acquired through years of training, they can efficiently and safely control the flow of traffic and the operation of port facilities, while ensuring that the risks inherent to sailing vessels in sensitive coastal areas are acceptable.
