A pilot is always present at the station, on watch, in order to organize the designation of pilots to the vessels. The pilot on watch is also always available to answer questions that may come from the harbor masters office, the shipping agents or captains of the vessels.

Recommendations, expertise, or simply advice can therefore be given free and at any moment.
In the case of unusual maneuvers, a pilot will be assign in order to exclusively take care of that maneuver.
Each day 2 meetings including all parties are done to assign vessel to their respective berth.

Beirut Port all around the year is known for being hubs of activity. From tourist vessels to oil tankers, from cargo ships to destroyers – the comings and goings in Beirut is essential elements in our country’s development and prosperity.
At the heart of all of that is the work of the maritime pilot. Maritime pilots are expert ship handlers who possess in-depth knowledge of local waterways
With all the hustle and bustle of a working port, the risk of accidents is high. And depending on the type of vessel coming in such incidents could cause extreme damage and such events might have a very hard impact on the environment, the economy, and the life of the main port of Lebanon and the surrounding areas. Maneuvering in confined Beirut port demands great nautical skill.
Merchant vessels with ever larger dimensions have to be safely guided through narrow waterways, often in heavy traffic.
The pilot acts as the partner of the captain coping with this demanding role, which requires long experience as well as specific knowledge of the vessel and the estuary.

Within a very short period of the time our maritime pilots have to acquaint themselves with the characteristics and maneuvering of an unfamiliar vessel, while taking weather conditions, currents and tides into account, before setting course and giving instructions to sail. The work of our maritime pilots is essentially to ensure a ship’s safe entrance and a safe exit from the Main entrance or the container terminal (east entrance).

The safety of a ship maneuvering in the port means the safety of all those who live and work around the same port. When vessels call at Beirut port or tanker area , pilotage is compulsory for vessels , except in cases where ships are legally exempt from pilotage ( less than 200 GT). All vessels approaching Beirut harbor are asked to proceed to the pilot area pick up point 1 mile north-east of green buoy. In bad weather, boarding may be restricted to the harbor entrance. The pilotage service offered by the Beirut Maritime Pilots station is available on a 24-hour basis.

9 pilots ( including 6 senior pilots )	5 boat driver
8 tug masters	4 administrations
8 mechanicals	30 seamen

Towage is provided by the pilot station, with a fleet of 5 tugs available 24h/7 days. This service is compulsory for all ships expect for tankers mooring outside the port.
The pilot can in coordination with harbor master impose more than 1 tug if it is required for safety condition. (Weather, size, draft of ship)


The mooring men are also provided by the pilot station, they assist all vessels coming to port or the tanker mooring. Mooring boats are also available to help the maneuver.
This service is available 24 h 7 days a week.
“The execution of mooring, unmooring and the movement of boats on arrival, departure and the execution of operations for tankers anchored in open berth and in the port itself is reserved for the Beirut pilot station. Only in exceptional cases for small tonnage vessels, not exceeding 200 GT., can the sevice be undertaken by the crew on board and only if this does not create hindrance or difficulties to traffic and without compromising port safety. It is strictly forbidden to make use of the services of persons who are not part of the Beirut pilot station.

The following services are provided by the station:

• Mooring and Unmooring services for vessels in the port
• Movement of vessels along the quay, in the key and from one quay to another
• Strengthening of the mooring and stretching of mooring lines
• Stretching and layout of dead weights during mooring and unmooring operations
• Mooring and Unmooring on specially fitted landing stages
• Mooring and Unmooring on Buoys .
• Mooring of vessels in tier.
• Mooring of several vessels together with mooring crew on board a on the quay
• Disentangling and freeing-of anchors
• Continuous monitoring of the mooring places to ensure safety of vessels
• Activities linked to the safety and functioning of public services