Pilotage 2026

MAXIMUM CHARGES APPLICABLE FOR PILOTAGE SERVICES

Maximum charges and rules of application

1. The Port Authority shall monitor and ensure transparency in the setting of charges and services invoiced.
2. Charges are established by zone, type of traffic and type of service (manoeuvre).
3. Surcharges may be applied depending on incidents attributable to users in the following circumstances:
   1. Dead ship or ship not under command.
   2. Entry/exit from dry dock.
   3. Delays in, or cancellation of, service provision attributable to the vessel.
4. Reductions shall apply in the event of incidents attributable to service providers, including delays by the provider in initiating the service.
5. No additional or differentiated costs shall be admissible based on the day or time at which the service is provided, in accordance with the provisions of Section h) of Article 113.4 of the Consolidated Text of the Law on State Ports and the Merchant Navy.
6. This tariff structure shall be mandatory.
7. In the event of any discrepancy regarding the application of the maximum charges between the licensee and the master, owner or agent of the vessel, the Port Authority reserves the right to act as mediator for the purpose of determining the applicable charge.
8. Updates due to cost variations shall apply to all the tariff lists in this section.
9. The maximum charges per service shall apply to each operation, with an operation being understood as each of the following manoeuvres, provided that they have been carried out with the intervention of the pilot:
   1. Entry and berthing.
   2. Unberthing and departure.
   3. Internal movements of the vessel
10. Maximum charges:

Maximum charges applicable to inbound, outbound and internal movements:

CHARGES (Euros €)
OUTER AREA AND INNER AREA
INBOUND – OUTBOUND
G.T Vessel			General charge			Ferry/RoRo			Trailer Carrier and Car Carrier
500 TO 6,000			408.79 €			286.15 €			245.27 €
6,001 TO 20,000			613.54 €			429.48 €			368.12 €
20,001 TO 35,000			1,337.07 €			935.95 €			802.24 €
35,001 TO 55,000			2,163.32 €			1,514.33 €			1,297.99 €
55,001 TO 75,000			3,378.30 €			2,364.81 €			2,026.98 €
75,001 TO 90,000			5,557.33 €			3,890.13 €			3,334.40 €
90,001 TO 115,000			5,821.95 €			4,075.37 €			3,493.17 €
115,001 TO 160,000			7,677.31 €			5,374.11 €			4,606.38 €
160,001 AND MORE			9,030.69 €			6,321.49 €			5,418.42 €

INTERNAL MOVEMENTS
G.T Vessel			Charge
500 TO 6,000			341.64 €
6,001 TO 20,000			476.51 €
20,001 TO 35,000			883.53 €
35,001 TO 55,000			1,427.99 €
55,001 TO 75,000			2,207.07 €
75,001 TO 90,000			3,630.61 €
90,001 TO 115,000			3,669.04 €
115,001 TO 160,000			5,068.03 €
160,001 AND MORE			5,971.93 €

11. Surcharges may be applied depending on incidents attributable to users. The concepts for which surcharges may be applied are:

1. 1. Amendments and berthing changes. The following charges shall apply to both amendments and berthing changes:
      1. Within the same dock as a normal manoeuvre: no surcharge applicable.
      2. Manoeuvres between different docks in the same section: 25% surcharge on the applicable fee for the section in which the manoeuvre is carried out.
      3. Manoeuvres between sections: 50% surcharge on the applicable fee.
   2. Cancellations attributable to the vessel before the pilot boards. If the vessel’s representative or captain changes the time that has been set for the start of operations of a previously requested service, the following surcharges shall apply:
      1. Cancellation made within one hour prior to the time initially requested for the start of the operation: 25% of the corresponding fee.
      2. Changes to the start time of a service already requested, made more than one hour in advance: no surcharge applicable.
   3. Cancellations attributable to the vessel after the pilot has boarded the vessel shall give rise to the following surcharges:
      1. Pilot on board for up to 30 minutes: 50% of the applicable fee.
      2. Pilot on board between 31 minutes and 1 hour: 75% of the applicable fee.
      3. Pilot on board between 61 minutes and 2 hours: 100% of the applicable fee.
   4. The Pilots’ Association shall have a maximum of 2 hours to respond to new requests, from the moment the new request for the service is made. Other time changes shall broadly be subject to the same arrangements as the cancellations mentioned above.
   5. Delays attributable to the vessel while the pilot is on board shall give rise to the following surcharges:
      1. Delay of up to 30 minutes: no surcharge.
      2. Delay of between 31 and 60 minutes: 50% of the applicable fee.
      3. Delay of between 61 and 120 minutes: 100% of the applicable fee.
      4. Subsequent hours (per hour): 50% additional surcharge on the applicable fee. In the event of a delay, the captain of the vessel shall decide whether or not the pilot should remain on board. However, the pilot may decide not to remain on board the vessel for justified service reasons when the operation is delayed by more than forty minutes. In this case, it shall be obligatory to make a new request for the service once the pilot has disembarked.
   6. Delays attributable to the Pilots’ Association. Any delay due to the late arrival of the pilot on board the vessel, or to starting service provision at a later time than that requested, and for reasons attributable to the Pilots’ Association, shall give rise to a reduction on the applicable fee:
      1. 1 hour delay or less: 10% reduction.
      2. In excess of 1 hour: 20% reduction.
      3. From the second hour onwards: 20% for each hour or fraction thereof, up to a maximum of 100%.Justification for delays due to exceptional weather conditions must be certified by the Harbour Master.
   7. Surcharges. Dead vessels and/or vessels not under command. Services provided to any vessel whose propulsion or steering system is out of service shall incur a surcharge of 50% on the corresponding general rate (excluding standby hours).
   8. Pilot remaining on board for safety reasons. When, at the request of the captain and for safety reasons, the presence of a pilot on board is required, without any manoeuvre having been previously planned, the following charges shall apply:
      1. Pilot on board for up to 40 minutes: 50% of the corresponding base rate.
      2. Pilot on board for between 41 and 60 minutes: 75% of the corresponding base rate.
      3. Pilot on board for between 61 and 120 minutes: 100% of the corresponding base rate.
      4. Each subsequent hour shall be charged at:
         • Vessels with GT ≤ 10,000: 166.63 euro/hour.
         • Vessels with GT > 10,000: 278.17 euro/hour.
   9. Over-carriage. If, due to weather conditions, it is not possible for the pilot to disembark and he/she is forced to remain on board until the next port, the vessel shall be responsible for the following costs:
      1. Provision of suitable accommodation and sustenance for the pilot.
      2. Accommodation and repatriation costs for the pilot from the place of disembarkation to Bilbao.
      3. Financial compensation, to be determined by the Bilbao Port Authority.
   10. Manoeuvres considered as special, in accordance with the definition established in these specifications, shall be invoiced in euros per hour or fraction thereof.
   11. Additional maximum charges for special manoeuvres: these shall apply in the case of services as defined in the Glossary in Appendix I to this document. These charges shall be:
       1. Pilot required to stay on board up to 40 minutes: 50% of the applicable fee.
       2. Pilot required to stay on board for between 41 and 60 minutes: 75% of the applicable fee.
       3. Pilot required to stay on board for between 61 and 120 minutes: 100% of the applicable fee.
       4. Each additional hour and/or each additional pilot shall be charged at:
          • Vessels with GT ≤10,000: 166.63 euro/hour.
          • Vessels with GT > 10,000: 278.17 euro/hour.