DANPILOT, the state-owned pilot service of Denmark, has announced it is initiating a test program for remote pilotage alongside Danelec, a maritime data collection and analytics specialist.
The test program created by DanPilot and Danelec allows pilots to guide ships from land, using only advanced data transmitted directly from the vessels.
Described by the parties as a world first, the program will now go ahead after receiving approval from the Danish Emergency Management Agency.
Following six years of development, DanPilot believes the program marks a “significant step towards a technological paradigm shift”, opening new possibilities for safety, climate action, and operational efficiency in the maritime sector.
The state-owned pilotage service said the aim is to improve pilot safety and reduce fuel consumption for ships, without compromising navigational safety.
“In this way, remote pilotage can support Denmark’s maritime leadership in the shift towards safer and more sustainable shipping,” DanPilot said.
Erik Merkes Nielsen, CEO of DanPilot commented, “Remote pilotage makes our work safer and helps reduce both CO₂ emissions and operational costs for our customers”.
“We have worked intensively towards this for six years, and now we can finally test it in practice.
“It has the potential to become a major paradigm shift in how pilotage is carried out.”
Remote pilotage is based on Danelec’s technology, which collects and transmits key data from the ship, including course, speed, and position, via the ship’s Voyage Data Recorder (VDR).
This data is transmitted in real time to DanPilot’s control center in Randers, where the pilot uses Danelec’s software to analyse the information and provide accurate navigational guidance, without being physically present on board.
The company said the approval has been granted as part of a broader effort to enhance safety and preparedness at sea, with the test to serve as a foundation for future regulation and possible broader application, both in Denmark and internationally.
The remote pilotage program will take place in the Kattegat and the western Baltic Sea, allowing pilots to guide selected ships through Danish waters without boarding them physically.
Instead, the operation is carried out from a control center in the city of Randers, removing the physical boarding of ships, perhaps the most hazardous part of a pilot’s job.
CEO of Danelec, Casper Jensen said, “We are proud to deliver the technological infrastructure that enables safe navigation without the physical presence of a pilot”.
“Here, cybersecurity – a cornerstone of our technology – is a prerequisite for implementing the solution safely and at scale in the global maritime sector.”
Practicality wise, with remote pilotage ships no longer need to alter course or speed to embark a pilot, which would lead to lower fuel consumption.
Moreover, DanPilot asserts the potential success of the program would eliminate the need for pilot boats in relevant scenarios, further saving on fuel and logistics.
The company confirmed that the test phase, the technology will only be used on vessels that meet specific technical requirements and only in designated waters.
The solution is expected to be relevant for up to 10 percent of DanPilot’s pilotage operations in Danish waters.
The test is to be conducted in collaboration with a range of shipping companies, including Maersk, which contributes ships operating in the test area.