The safety of navigation inside territorial waters is a must for any country wanting to protect its environment, its economy, and above all, its population. That is why Malta and most other countries entrust the navigation of commercial ships inside their territorial waters to maritime pilots specially trained to guide ships of any nationality along their waterways.
When vessels call at Maltese ports, pilotage is compulsory for vessels of 500 GT and over, except in cases where ships are legally exempt from pilotage.
