The Maritime and Port Bureau (MPB) of the Ministry of Transportation and Communications held the 2025 Outstanding Pilot Award Ceremony today, May 19, 2026. Director-General Hsieh-lung Yeh personally presented certificates of merit to 10 pilots who received outstanding ratings in their annual performance evaluation. The ceremony recognized the exceptional performance of the nation's excellent pilots in maintaining port navigation safety and improving pilotage service quality. It also commended their long-term, frontline execution of vessel piloting duties and their professional contributions through active cooperation with national maritime safety policies.
  The MPB stated that the pilots rated as outstanding not only demonstrated high professionalism and consistent performance in daily pilotage operations, but also actively participated in maritime safety meetings and drills. They assisted in handling near-miss incidents and reported events affecting maritime safety. Furthermore, when encountering vessels in distress or unpowered vessels, they assisted in safely guiding them into and out of ports, fully demonstrating their professional competence and sense of responsibility. Furthermore, these pilots have dedicated themselves to training successors, conducting ship-handling simulations, and educating tugboat crews, providing professional recommendations to continuously reinforce the overall operational safety of the ports. 
  To continuously improve pilotage safety, the MPB has steadily implemented several advancement measures. To update the pilotage fee system, the MPB gathered extensive feedback from pilots, shipping carriers, shipping agencies, and port authorities, ultimately revising the overall fee structure with clearer definitions and standardized formulas. Additionally, to strengthen the safety management of pilots, the MPB issued the Guidelines for Specifications of Newly Built Pilot Boats on March 20, 2026, to enhance the safety performance and operational environment of pilot boats. It also overhauled regulations governing pilot service hours, fatigue management, health examinations, and medical standards . The MPB supervised all pilot offices and implement reasonable work and rest hours, and required them to submit schedules for management according to regulations. Drawing on relevant practices from the International Maritime Organization and other domestic and foreign entities, the MPB has been engaging relevant units for continued discussions. The MPB will soon issue administrative guidance to verify safe and healthy working conditions for pilots, ensuring both their personal safety and the security of vessels navigating the ports.
  The MPB emphasized that pilots play a critical role in port operations and the safe entry and exit of vessels, and their professional competence directly affects port operational safety. The MPB expects that public recognition will enhance their professional image and societal awareness. In the future, the MPB will continue to refine the pilotage system from various aspects, and concurrently utilize regulatory amendments and administrative guidance to build a safer maritime environment.

Contact person: Wen-ting Chen, Section Chief, Maritime Safety Division
Contact number: 02-89783184