Pilotage exemption certificates

You can apply for a zone upgrade to your pilotage exemption certificate (PEC) by email.

It must be emailed to pec@nt.gov.au or it will not be processed.

Before you apply

To apply for an upgrade to your certificate you must have a record of trips within 12 months immediately before your application showing you have done all of the following:

• completed not less than four voyages through the compulsory pilotage zone of the port, with a licensed pilot, in command of the vessel for which the application is made
• or completed both:
  • three voyages through the compulsory pilotage zone of the port as chief mate, on duty on the bridge throughout the entire voyage, on the vessel for which the application is made
  • two voyages through the compulsory pilotage zone of the port, with a licensed pilot, in command of the vessel for which the application is made.

How to apply

Follow these steps to apply for a zone upgrade to your PEC.

Step 1: Application

Fill in the PEC application PDF (683.5 KB) and submit this with the documents listed above to pec@nt.gov.au.

The application will not be accepted unless all documentation is submitted with the application and complete.

Step 2: Pay invoice

The invoice will be forwarded to the address included in your application form. Read about marine fees including PEC fees.

Step 3: Examination

Once your application has been approved you must apply for an exam time.

The exam will be held at:

Department of Infrastructure, Planning and Logistics
Level 2, Energy House
18 Cavenagh Street
Darwin NT

To read about the exam criteria get the Darwin pilotage standards:

Darwin pilotage standards PDF (1.7 MB)
Darwin pilotage standards DOCX (656.8 KB)

Step 4: Pilot Assessment

When you have completed your exam, it will be forwarded to the pilotage service provider.

This will take at least 24 hours for marking.

You can't have a pilot assessment until your exam has been marked.

To book a pilot assessment email shipping@darwinport.com.au and copy your email to pec@nt.gov.au.

Once you have passed two pilot assessments, you will be sent an electronic certificate by email.

For more information on how to apply see the flow chart below:

Apply for PEC zone upgrade checklist PDF (311.4 KB)
Apply for PEC zone upgrade checklist   DOCX (266.5 KB)