A SPATE of recent accidents involving ships under pilotage in Australian waters, including two off the WA coast in the past month, and the increasing litigiousness of ship owners is prompting a rethink of the rules ship pilots operate under.

A SPATE of recent accidents involving ships under pilotage in Australian waters, including two off the WA coast in the past month, and the increasing litigiousness of ship owners is prompting a rethink of the rules ship pilots operate under.