CERTIFICATION OF ENROLLMENT

SUBSTITUTE SENATE BILL 5207

Chapter 123, Laws of 2005

59th Legislature
2005 Regular Session



PILOTAGE SERVICES--PORT DISTRICT LIABILITY



EFFECTIVE DATE: 7/24/05

Passed by the Senate March 11, 2005
  YEAS 46   NAYS 1

BRAD OWEN
________________________________________    
President of the Senate
Passed by the House April 5, 2005
  YEAS 94   NAYS 1

FRANK CHOPP
________________________________________    
Speaker of the House of Representatives


 
CERTIFICATE

I, Thomas Hoemann, Secretary of the Senate of the State of Washington, do hereby certify that the attached is SUBSTITUTE SENATE BILL 5207 as passed by the Senate and the House of Representatives on the dates hereon set forth.

THOMAS HOEMANN
________________________________________    
Secretary
Approved April 21, 2005.








CHRISTINE GREGOIRE
________________________________________    
Governor of the State of Washington
 
FILED
April 21, 2005 - 3:46 p.m.







Secretary of State
State of Washington


_____________________________________________ 

SUBSTITUTE SENATE BILL 5207
_____________________________________________

Passed Legislature - 2005 Regular Session
State of Washington59th Legislature2005 Regular Session

By Senate Committee on Transportation (originally sponsored by Senators Doumit, Hargrove and Sheldon)

READ FIRST TIME 02/25/05.   



     AN ACT Relating to liability limitations for providing pilotage services; and amending RCW 88.16.115 and 88.16.118.

BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF WASHINGTON:

Sec. 1   RCW 88.16.115 and 1981 c 196 s 1 are each amended to read as follows:
     The preservation of human life and property associated with maritime commerce on the pilotage waters of this state is declared to be in the public interest, and the limitation and regulation of the liability of pilots licensed by the state of Washington, and of any county-wide port district located partly or entirely within the Grays Harbor pilotage district as defined by RCW 88.16.050(2) authorized to provide pilotage services, is necessary to such preservation and is deemed to be in the public interest.

Sec. 2   RCW 88.16.118 and 1984 c 69 s 1 are each amended to read as follows:
     A ship's pilot licensed to act as such by the state of Washington, and any county-wide port district located partly or entirely within the Grays Harbor pilotage district as defined by RCW 88.16.050(2) authorized to provide pilotage services, shall not be liable for damages in excess of the amount of five thousand dollars for damages or loss occasioned by ((the)) a pilot's errors, omissions, fault, or neglect in the performance of pilotage services, except as may arise by reason of the willful misconduct or gross negligence of ((the)) a pilot.
     When a pilot boards a vessel, that pilot becomes a servant of the vessel and its owner and operator. Nothing in this section exempts the vessel, its owner or operator from liability for damage or loss occasioned by that ship to a person or property on the ground that (1) the ship was piloted by a Washington state licensed pilot, or (2) the damage or loss was occasioned by the error, omission, fault, or neglect of a Washington state licensed pilot.


         Passed by the Senate March 11, 2005.
         Passed by the House April 5, 2005.
         Approved by the Governor April 21, 2005.
         Filed in Office of Secretary of State April 21, 2005.