New pilotage regulations at Pasaia 2026: what changes for shipping companies and operators

Key data

Companies engaged in maritime transport at the port of Pasaia are facing a regulatory change that directly affects the cost and operations of each port call. The Resolución de 17 de febrero de 2026 de la Autoridad Portuaria de Pasaia, published in the BOE on 25 March 2026, amends the Pliego de Prescripciones Particulares governing the port pilotage service. Pilotage is not optional: it is a mandatory service for vessels carrying out manoeuvres in the port, and any change to its specifications has a direct effect on port call costs and the operational procedures of shipping companies and maritime agents.

What does this regulation establish?

The Pliego de Prescripciones Particulares is the document that sets the rules for the provision of the pilotage service at the port of Pasaia. It establishes the conditions under which specialised pilots assist vessel masters during entry, departure and internal movements within the port.

The published amendment updates three main areas of the service:

• Technical conditions: Requirements and procedures applicable to pilots and the manoeuvres they perform.
• Operational conditions: Service delivery protocols, availability and coordination with vessels.
• Economic conditions: The tariff framework applicable to the service, which may have changed compared to the previous specifications.

Pilotage is an essential port service for maritime safety. Pilots are specialised professionals with detailed knowledge of the port's characteristics — depths, currents, winds, infrastructure — and assist the master to ensure the safety of manoeuvres. Their involvement is mandatory for the majority of vessels operating in Pasaia.

The resolution does not repeal the previous specifications in their entirety, but introduces amendments to the current text. To identify exactly which articles or conditions have changed, it is necessary to consult the full text published in the BOE (reference BOE-A-2026-6941).

Economic and operational impact

Pilotage represents a fixed cost per port call that shipping companies and shipowners must budget for in every operation at the port of Pasaia. An amendment to the specifications affecting the economic conditions may result in variations in the tariff per manoeuvre, in the billing criteria, or in the grounds for exemption or discount.

From an operational standpoint, changes to the technical conditions may affect pilot waiting times, embarkation and disembarkation procedures, or the prior notification requirements that the vessel must meet before commencing the manoeuvre. Any misalignment between the shipping company's internal procedures and the new requirements of the specifications may generate delays or additional costs.

Logistics operators coordinating port calls at Pasaia must also update their workflows to incorporate the new procedures, particularly with regard to manoeuvre time planning and communication with the Port Authority.

The resolution does not specify concrete tariff amounts in the available information. To obtain the exact figures, it is essential to consult the full text of the amended specifications.

Who is affected?

• Shipping companies: All companies operating vessels calling at the port of Pasaia, regardless of their flag or size.
• Shipowners: Owners of vessels that use Pasaia as a regular or occasional port of operations.
• Maritime agents: Professionals who manage port calls on behalf of shipping companies and shipowners, responsible for coordinating the pilotage service and settling its costs.
• Logistics operators: Companies managing transport chains with a maritime component in northern Spain that include Pasaia in their routes.
• Companies with import or export activity by sea in northern Spain: Any company whose goods enter or leave through the port of Pasaia will be indirectly affected if the changes to the specifications impact the port call costs that their maritime transport providers pass on to the logistics chain.

Practical example

A maritime agent who regularly manages container vessel port calls at the port of Pasaia must, following the publication of this resolution, review the new specifications to identify whether pilotage rates have changed and whether the service request procedures have been amended.

If the specifications modify, for example, the minimum advance notice period for requesting a pilot or introduce new documentation requirements, the agent will need to update their operational instructions to masters and their port call management systems. If rates have increased, they will need to recalculate the port call budgets passed on to their shipping clients and review existing service contracts.

In practice, this type of specification amendment typically takes immediate effect on the next scheduled port call, so the review must be carried out before the next operation at Pasaia.

What should companies do now?

1. Download and read the new specifications: Access the full text of the resolution in the BOE (BOE-A-2026-6941) and identify exactly which articles or conditions have been amended compared to the previous specifications.
2. Review the economic conditions: Compare the rates in the new specifications with those currently in force and quantify the impact on the cost per port call. Update operational budgets for Pasaia.
3. Update internal operational procedures: If the changes affect advance notice periods, required documentation or manoeuvring protocols, communicate the new instructions to operations teams and to the masters of the affected vessels.
4. Inform clients and suppliers: If changes to rates or procedures affect costs passed on to clients or agreements with logistics providers, communicate this and review existing contracts.
5. Confirm the entry into force date: The resolution does not specify a concrete application date in the available information. Verify in the full BOE text when the new terms become enforceable in order to plan the adaptation with sufficient lead time.

Official source

Disclaimer: This article is for informational purposes only and does not constitute legal advice. For specific decisions, please consult a qualified professional. Source: https://www.boe.es/diario_boe/txt.php?id=BOE-A-2026-6941