Pilot is a person specially deputed to take charge of a ship while passing through a particular sea, reach, or dangerous channel, or from or into a port. Pilots are of three classes—(1) those licensed to act in districts where the pilotage is compulsory; (2) those licensed to act where the pilotage is not compulsory; (3) unlicensed pilots. British pilots are licensed by the Trinity Houses of London, Hull, Newcastle-on-Tyne, and Leith, and by Pilotage Commissioners in other ports. The British pilotage laws were consolidated by 6 Geo. IV. chap. 125 and in 1853, but extensive changes were made by the Merchant Shipping Act of 1855, part v., and minor changes in 1862, 1872, 1874, and 1889. By the last of these acts the monopoly of employment claimed by licensed pilots has been strengthened. The scale of pilotage fees paid by the ship depends upon the distance piloted and the ship's draught of water. The fees earned are sometimes retained by the pilot earning them, less deductions for collection, superannuation, sick, or widows' funds, and sometimes they are thrown into a joint stock.
In the United States the several states make their own pilotage laws, which generally provide for the appointment of commissioners with power to make all needful rules and regulations.
A British pilot-boat must have conspicuously painted upon it its number, owner's name, and the port to which it belongs, and must show a large flag of two horizontal stripes, the upper white and the lower red. At night a pilot-vessel on its station shows a white light, and in addition shows a flare at intervals not exceeding fifteen minutes. Shipmasters or mates are often licensed to act as pilots for their own vessels.
By British law no owner or master of any ship is answerable to any person whatever for any loss or damage occasioned by the fault of any qualified—i.e. licensed—pilot acting in charge of such ship, within any district where the employment of such pilot is compulsory by law, but this law is not international nor universal. In general, foreign nations are more stringent than Britain in excluding aliens from their pilotage services for military reasons.