Paul Pinet, 35, a new ship pilot recruited for the Sète port station

Le capitaine Paul Pinet en pleine épreuve des oraux du concours de pilotage des navires pour le port de Sète. Hélène Amiraux

Le jeune capitaine de marine marchande vient d’être reçu au concours à l’issue d’une épreuve de haut vol. Il intégrera bientôt la station de pilotage de navires de Sète.

The ship pilot station in Sète is preparing to recruit a new pilot into its ranks. Paul Pinet, a merchant navy captain, was the last candidate in the running for the entrance exam for this highly selective port service at the end of the week. Faced with a jury of five professionals (pilots from Sète, Port-la-Nouvelle, a merchant navy commander, an inspector from the security center, chaired by Pascal Huet, a senior officer in the French Navy), the 35-year-old from Toulouse, who already has solid experience as a second captain within the CMA-CGM, defended his theoretical knowledge and technical skills. First in writing (8 hours of tests over two days), then for several 6 hours orally, not counting the individual interview, at the premises of the DDTM in Sète. A solemn and particularly demanding test that takes place in public.

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“A great commitment”

The competition organized under the auspices of maritime affairs, according to the recruitment needs of the local station (responsible for commissioning pilots from the Port-Vendres and Port la Nouvelle stations), is a major test for the candidates: “This competition represents a major commitment for the candidates for whom it represents almost a year without pay dedicated to preparation”, confides Captain Vincent Cador, a member of the Sète station, who has already been there in 2012. They have six months to acquire general knowledge and another six to discover local subtleties. All candidates, placed on an equal footing, receive support from the Sète station before the competition.

“A challenge for him and for us”

To hope to become a pilot, the selection criteria are also drastic since you must have between 10 and 12 years of career at sea within an age limit. Questioned on the safety rules on boats, with a lot of texts and acronyms or on the responsibilities of the pilot with regard to the law, Paul Pinet was also invited, without any notes, to develop his technical knowledge of docking maneuvers, diagrams in support. A success for the young captain who passed the competition and will become the 7th pilot of the Sète station in 2025. According to his peers, he made sparks, especially in the oral exam. “He will attack on January 1, 2025, says Vincent Cador. It's a major challenge for him and for us. For three months he will have to acquire as much knowledge as possible in tiling before piloting alone. Then for three and a half years, the weather and ship size criteria will be recorded every six months.” Paul Pinet's first mission could well fall a few hours after the New Year.

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