Brief Description: Limiting liability of ports providing pilots.

Sponsors: Senate Committee on Transportation (originally sponsored by Senators Doumit, Hargrove and Sheldon).

Senate Committee on Transportation
House Committee on Transportation

Background: Under current law, a marine pilot licensed by Washington State is immune from liability for damages in excess of five thousand dollars for damages or loss due to the pilot's errors, omissions, fault, or neglect in the performance of his or her pilotage services. However, the liability protection does not apply if the pilot engages in wilful misconduct or gross negligence.

Summary: The liability protection available to marine pilots is expanded to include any countywide port district located in part or in whole within the Grays Harbor pilotage district authorized to provide pilotage services. Such port districts are immune from liability for damages in excess of five thousand dollars for damages or loss due to a pilot's errors, omissions, fault, or neglect in the performance of his or her pilotage services. However, the liability protection does not apply if the pilot engages in willful misconduct or gross negligence.

Votes on Final Passage:

Senate      46   1
House      94   1

Effective: July 24, 2005