elobe

The Elbe Pilots are forming a Brotherhood. Their district covers the area between the "E 3" buoy in the German Bight Light Vessel and the Port of Hamburg, including all ports and berths on the River Elbe.

Apart from pilotage the Elbe Pilots offer a variety of additional services to shipping which guarantee all vessels fast and safe transit to and from their berths under all weather conditions. There are 250 Elbe Pilots available for this purpose round the clock. Duty hours are on a strictly roster system, ensuring that pilots are available at all times. Inbound vessels are offered special services when approaching port. Outbound vessels have the option of being piloted to the next German pilot station .

At the request of the Radar and VTS Station in Brunsbuettel and Cuxhaven, sea pilots also man these stations, operating shore-based radar and assisting Masters and sea pilots under special weather conditions (e.g. fog ,gales and ice) .

The Elbe Pilots currently use four pilots stations . Hamburg, Brunsbuettel, Cuxhaven and the Seastation "ELBE" nearby the lightbuoy "ELBE" .

Hamburg-station is the principal station for all vessels leaving the port of Hamburg.

The sea-station near lb. ELBE is the principal station for all vessels entering the River Elbe.

The Brunsbuettel station is the interchange point for all inbound and outbound vessels to and from the Port of Hamburg. Here too pilots are provided for all vessels leaving the Kiel Canal which request a pilot for the River Elbe. This station co-ordinates manning of the Brunsbuettel radar station, the additional services and river passage planning.

The Cuxhaven station also co-ordinates pilot services in the Port of Cuxhaven and services the radar station in Cuxhaven. The modern sea station at the Elbe Lightbuoy will ensure that ships entering the River via the German Bight Light Vessel will receive radar guidance to the new E3 Buoy pilot-boarding position.

All sea pilots hold the highest nautical licence and the majority have served as Masters on all types of ocean-going vessels trading world wide. This guarantees them a maximum of nautical experience.

Elbe Pilots undergo theoretical as well as practical training. With the co-operation of different nautical institutes and colleges, their training is intensified successfully on simulators and other PC systems.

Elbe Pilots take an active interest or hold posts in all nautical institutions of note.

Sea to Hamburg Hamburg to Sea

incl. other ports and berths on the River ELBE

ELBLOTSE BRUNSBUETTEL	ELBLOTSE HAMBURG
12 hrs und 1 hrs prior arrival seastation	4 hrs prior departure Hamburg other ports : 6 hrs prior departure
Tel.: ----- +49 (0) 4852 87295	Tel. : +49 (0) 40 820 244
Fax: ----- +49 (0) 4852 87165	Fax : +49 (0) 40 803 425
Telex --- 28343 ellots d
E-Mail : eta.elbe@elbe-pilot.de	E-Mail : depart.hamburg@elbe-pilot.de
VHF Channel 09	VHF Channel 67
Seastation : VHF Channel 08

A	Vessel's Name
B	Call Sign
C	IMO Number
D	Destination Hamburg Kiel Canal Cuxhaven Brunsbüttel Stade
E	ETA Elbe Pilot Station or "E3" - Bouy
D	Extras Orders, etc
F	Max River Speed

ETA time schedules for inbound vessels placing orders for pilots at the buoy " E 3 " are as follows:

1. ETA : 24 hrs prior arrival German Bight Lightvessel

2. ETA : 6 hrs prior arrival German Bight Lightvessel

3. ETA : 2 hrs prior arrival German Bight Lightvessel

The " Elbe - Approach " anchorage

ist established between buoy E 2 and E 3

The following vessels are obliged to take on a pilot at the buoy " E 3 " :

Tankers : Length > 150 m or Breadth > 23 m

Bulkcarriers : Length > 220 m or Breadth > 32 m

Ohter vessels : Length > 350 m or Breadth > 45 m

For further details please see LOTSVERORDNUNG ELBE or call Elbe Pilot

Pilotstation "Elbe" at Elbe Racon Buoy

Pilot Tender the strong inovative transfer system in the "ElbeRange"

Weser services:

Vessels leaving Weser ports and destined for the River Elbe may order a pilot to board the vessel at the port of departure. Orders for pilots should be placed 6 hrs prior to departure. Once on board, the pilot will draw up a paasage plan and consider what demands face the vessel's command, taking into account arrangements for the vessel´s berth in Hamburg or any other port or berth on the River ELBE, her draft, different tides and all other details available.

This service ensures a safeand fast passage , especially for large vessels, under all weather conditions such as gales, fog and ice.

Please send requests for pilots to

Elbe Pilot

Wache Brunsbuettel Tel. +49 (0) 4852 87 295 Fax +49 (0) 4852 87 165

All vessels destined for the River Elbe have the option of taking on a pilot at the last port of call or even en route.

Here part of the pilot´s duties commences upon boarding, when the first thing he does is to draw up a passage plan for the Elbe; he takes into account the demands facing the vessel's command, her berth in Hamburg, her draft, different tides and all other details available.

This service ensures a safeand fast passage to Hamburg, especially for large vessels, under all weather conditions such as gales, fog and ice.

Please send requests forr pilots to Elbe Pilot

During office hours: Elbe Pilot Office Brunsbuettel

Tel.: +49 (0) 4852 87246 Fax : +49 (0) 4852 87 487

After office hours:

Brunsbuettel Dutyroom Tel. +49 (0) 4852 87295 Fax +49 (0) 4852 87 165

Frequently served ports :

Amsterdam - Antwerp - Brixham - Cherbourgh - Dover - Emden - Esbjerg- Flushing - Felixstowe - Gothenburg - Immingham - Le Havre - Rotterdam -Skagen - Southampton - Stockholm - Tilbury -

or any other port at the Master's request

General Service	ETA	Weser Service	German Bight	European Service
Pilot Station	Pilot Tender