Pilotage is organised in different ways throughout the world, but it is always subject to governmental control.

The maritime administration of the State is generally authorised to regulate pilotage services, to determine professional qualifications of pilots, to standardize training, to provide for compulsory pilotage and to arrange for investigations of incidents involving pilotage.

Compulsory pilotage is the primary means of protecting private and public interests from the consequences of maritime casualties, while at the same time improving shipping efficiency. Ships over a certain size have to take a pilot and pilots are bound to provide their services without discrimination or choice, under legally regulated terms and conditions..

Pilots may be employed by a port, an administration or by the State. Actually, most pilotage services are organised as independent economic entities. This system serves the best interests of all parties : the shipowner, the port, the pilots and the State.