The step­wi­se intro­duc­tion of com­pul­so­ry pilo­ta­ge in Spits­ber­gen has star­ted July 01. So far, pilo­ta­ge is man­da­to­ry only for the sai­ling rou­te to and from Sveagru­va in Van Mijenfjord. The first ship that deci­ded to make use of pilo­ta­ge en rou­te to Lon­gye­ar­by­en was the Ger­man crui­se ship Aida Cara (pas­sen­ger capa­ci­ty 1186), as the Cap­tain had never been to Spits­ber­gen befo­re. The pilot came from Nor­way by pla­ne for the job.

Source: Sval­bard­pos­ten (2612)