SENATE BILL REPORT

SB 5650

BYSenators Conner, Peterson, Garrett and Barr

Revising qualifications of pilots.

Senate Committee on Transportation

Senate Hearing Date(s):February 11, 1987; March 2, 1987

Majority Report:  That Substitute Senate Bill No. 5650 be substituted therefor, and the substitute bill do pass.

      Signed by Senators Peterson, Chairman; Hansen, Vice Chairman; Tanner, Vice Chairman; Bailey, Bender, Conner, DeJarnatt, Garrett, Halsan, Johnson, Patterson, Sellar, Smitherman, West.

Senate Staff:Gene Baxstrom (786-7303)

                  March 5, 1987

AS REPORTED BY COMMITTEE ON TRANSPORTATION, MARCH 2, 1987

BACKGROUND:

The Board of Pilotage Commissioners is charged with the responsibility for insuring that only qualified and well-trained individuals be licensed as Washington State pilots.  State law provides that the Board may establish additional training requirements for individuals holding state licenses to maintain a competent pilotage service.

All pilots and applicants are subject to an annual physical examination to ensure health standards sufficient to enable them to perform their pilotage duties.

State law provides that the Board may prescribe, during the first two years of licensing, certain size and type of vessel trips on which newly licensed pilots may serve.

A joint subcommittee of the House and Transportation Committees reviewed the State Pilotage Act during 1986. Recommendations of that subcommittee related to revising the qualifications of pilots are set forth in the bill summary.

SUMMARY:

The Board is directed to develop, in conjunction with the State Pilots Associations, a continuing education program for pilots.  The Board is authorized to prescribe vessel simulator training for a pilot applicant or a pilot during the two years of limited licensing, to enhance the ability to perform pilotage duties.

The period for a limited license for a new state licensed pilot is extended from two to three years.  The Board is granted specific authority to govern the size and type of vessels which a newly licensed pilot may be assigned to and whether the assignment involves docking or undocking a vessel. Familiarization trips are required before a newly licensed pilot may pilot a larger or different type of vessel.

The Board is directed to determine within 90 days of a pilot's required physical examination, whether the pilot or applicant is fully able to carry out the duties of a pilot.

Obsolete language is deleted.

EFFECT OF PROPOSED SUBSTITUTE:

The pilot organizations, which the Board is to consult in developing a continuing education, are specified as those located within Washington State.  The Board is directed to consider the economic cost of training when determining whether to require vessel simulator training for a pilot applicant or a pilot holding a limited pilot's license.

Language is added to provide that: 1) copies of the Board's annual report go to the Transportation Committee Chairs, rather than the Secretary of the Senate and the Chief Clerk of the House of Representatives; 2) only accidents, as defined by the Board, be included in the Board's annual report; and 3) the Board be authorized to appoint necessary advisory committees and employ marine experts as necessary.  Technical changes are made.  (These changes were in SB 5649, but were deleted from SB 5649 and moved to this bill to avoid a double amendment to RCW 88.16.035.)

Fiscal Note:      none requested

Senate Committee - Testified: Ralph White, Chairman, Board of Pilotage Commissioners; Robert Kromann, President, Port Angeles Pilots Association; John Woodring, Port Angeles Pilots Association; Randy Ray, Puget Sound Steamship Operators Association; Hal Schuyler, Sea-Land, Inc.; Vern Lindskog, major oil companies