FINAL BILL REPORT

SB 5989

C 58 L 03

Synopsis as Enacted

Brief Description: Representing pilots on the board of pilotage commissioners.

Sponsors: Senators Haugen, Horn and Jacobsen.

Senate Committee on Highways & Transportation

House Committee on Transportation

Background: Pilots are responsible for the navigation of U.S. and foreign flag vessels in Puget Sound and Grays Harbor.

The Board of Pilotage Commissioners' (BPC) primary functions relate to pilot licensing and regulation. The BPC is responsible for the administration of pilot qualifications and performance standards, training and education requirements; setting pilotage tariffs; and monitoring the pilot and shipping industry to ensure adherence to the Pilotage Act.

The BPC is composed of the following: the Assistant Secretary of Marine Transportation of the Washington State Department of Transportation (or designee); the Director of Ecology (or designee); and seven members appointed by the Governor and confirmed by the Senate. Two of the appointees must be interested in pilotage, maritime safety, and marine affairs, with broad maritime experience. The remaining appointees are to be as follows:

      •    two active pilots (one from the Puget Sound pilotage district, one from the Grays Harbor pilotage district);

      •    two shippers or representatives of passenger vessels (one American, one foreign); and

      •    an environmental organization representative concerned with marine waters.

There are 50 pilots in the Puget Sound Pilotage district and two in the Grays Harbor Pilotage District.

Summary: Membership on the BPC is altered so that, in terms of representing pilotage districts on the BPC, one pilot must be from the Puget Sound pilotage district and the other may be from either the Grays Harbor pilotage district or the Puget Sound pilotage district.

Votes on Final Passage:

Senate       49  0

House       96  0

Effective: July 27, 2003