MPX- What is expected

An effective and thorough Marine Pilot Information Exchange (MPX) is a safety critical
aspect of any pilotage. It is by effective MPX that both the pilot and the vessel’s bridge
team confirm information already sent, share information and updates then finally agree on
what is going to take place during the pilotage. The purpose is to ensure as far as possible
that a ‘common operating picture’ (or as some refer to a shared mental model’) of the
pilotage exists between all members of the bridge team (pilot included).
The MPX is the legally accepted method by which the pilot briefs and advises the bridge
team (Master and others) of all relevant factors that will affect the safe conduct of the
vessel. These factors include (but not limited to), prevailing weather, tidal information,
anticipated under keel clearance, attending tugs (both power, positioning and connection
arrangements), general BRM principles to comply with, general berthing or un-berthing
procedures, means of disembarkation as well as other relevant safety information e.g.
confirming anchors ready for use etc.
The MPX is conducted verbally but with reference to the information on the approved
Newcastle MPX form and passage plan (including electronic mediums). The vessel bridge
team’s responsibility during the MPX is to query and challenge anything that they are
uncertain about with the pilot, and to finally come to a common agreeance with the pilot on
the proposed pilotage. It is important that all members of the vessel bridge team attend the
MPX discussion, not just the Master.
Part of effective MPX is that the Master by signing the MPX is declaring certain operational
pre-arrival or pre-departure equipment tests have been satisfactorily completed. The
Master must advise the pilot of any vessel deficiencies that may affect the safe operation
of the vessel during the pilotage. It is required that correct drafts are declared and that any
other information that the pilot requires is provided e.g. pilot card etc. It is required that
prior to the pilot taking the conduct of the vessel that the Master has signed the MPX form
(including electronic mediums) and the vessel bridge team understand the briefing.
The passage plan, as an integral part of the MPX, and must be completed in appropriate
detail including track, commit lines and abort tracks, identifying critical elements of the
plan, wheel over lines, target speeds at various positions throughout the pilotage, vessels
at other berths, general tidal stream directions and basic manoeuvring details.
Depending on the apparent comprehension of the vessels bridge team (nationality,
proficiency in English etc.), it may appear that in some instances, the vessel bridge team
have little understanding of what is being said by the pilot during the MPX. Although this
can be quite frustrating, it does not negate the responsibility of the pilot to effectively
conduct the MPX.
Numerous post-accident investigations have revealed deficiencies in how MPXs have
been conducted, and the lack of information that has been provided by both the pilot and
the Master during the information exchange resulting in no effective shared mental model.
As pilots are aware, the VDR (where installed) and pilot voice recorder records any
discussions on the vessel bridge. In all discussions it is imperative that you speak clearly,
unambiguously and with appropriate volume and manner:
As part of effective BRM and MPX, the designated and published arrival/ departure routes,
waypoints and navigable corridors should have been programmed into the vessels ECDIS
prior to the pilot boarding. This information is contained in the PANSW (Newcastle) web
site. These standard routes/ corridors have been determined and assessed for best risk
mitigation. It is only by having the proper route/ corridors information loaded into the
ECDIS that effective bridge team monitoring of the pilotage can take place. The pilot using
a PPU must verify the correlation between tracks/ corridors on the ECDIS and PPU they
must be the same, otherwise the pilot and vessel bridge team are effectively monitoring
different information, navigable zones, challenge zones and no-go areas are to be
included in this assessment. Everyone should be monitoring the same information.
It is important during the MPX to foster (as far as possible) a good working relationship
with the Master and crew. A pilot who exhibits any hostility, frustration or anger towards
any members of the bridge team will generally alienate the team to the point where any
challenge and response will be compromised and possibly not forthcoming.
To engage with the bridge team and encourage interaction, tasks should be allocated to
them, such as monitoring every rudder and engine order, monitoring the ECDIS track,
reporting any traffic, verifying ROT, notifying the pilot at predetermined distances from
wheel over lines as well as advising speeds passing buoys etc. It should always be
stressed during the MPX that Newcastle pilots welcome and encourage ‘challenge and
response’ at all times during the pilotage.
The time taken to go through an effective MPX and passage plan can of course vary
depending on the crew and their ability to comprehend what is being discussed. A
thorough briefing should generally take no more than 5 to 10minutes. It is important to stay
on topic and conduct the MPX and passage plan thoroughly and in detail. The pilot should
always display professionalism and confidence when conducting the MPX.

Pilotage Training Reference Material Issued: 28/06/2019

Date of next review: DD/MM/YYYY
Approved by: TBC Page 2
It should be noted that until the MPX has been completed and the full exchange of
information has taken place, the pilot must (unless emergent priorities require) not take the
conduct of the vessel.

Pilotage Training Reference Material Issued: 28/06/2019

Date of next review: DD/MM/YYYY
Approved by: TBC Page 3