There are, in all, 29 pilot stations - 24 on the French mainland and 5 in French overseas departments – with a total of 347 pilots, 269 sailing staff, 12 flying staff and 108 administrative staff. Apart from land-based pilot station facilities – offices, computers, radar, cars and maintenance installations – sea-going equipment consists of two pilot boats, 111 rapid pilot craft (varying in length from 10 to 17 metres) and three helicopters.
The pilots are independent employees and agents for a public service.
They are responsible for managing the public piloting service. They exercise public prerogatives and contribute to the protection of the general interests of the State.

When a pilot arrives on the bridge of a vessel and the words “By order of the captain following the advice of the pilot” appear in the log, the legal relationship between the pilot and the captain is established.
The pilot’s job is to help the captain by providing local knowledge and offering helpful advice during the vessel’s passage.
The International Code for Training, Certification and Watch Standards for sailors, drawn up in 1995, states that the presence of a pilot on board does not discharge the captain from his functions and obligations regarding the safety of the vessel.

In practice, the pilot guides the vessels, having exchanged information with the captain regarding navigation procedures, local conditions and features of the vessel.

In France, piloting is a public service run by pilots.

In 1999, 111,800 piloting operations were carried out.