SENATE BILL REPORT

SHB 624

BYHouse Committee on Transportation (originally sponsored by Representatives Haugen, Schmidt, Zellinsky, Gallagher, Meyers and J. Williams) 

Revising qualifications of pilots.

House Committe on Transportation

Senate Committee on Transportation

Senate Hearing Date(s):April 1, 1987

Majority Report:     Do pass.

     Signed by Senators Peterson, Chairman; Tanner, Vice Chairman; Bailey, Barr, Bender, Conner, DeJarnatt, Garrett, Halsan, Johnson, Nelson, Patterson, Sellar, Smitherman, von Reichbauer.

Senate Staff:Gene Baxstrom (786-7303)

                April 2, 1987

AS REPORTED BY COMMITTEE ON TRANSPORTATION, APRIL 1, 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.  Regarding continuing training for those individuals holding state licenses, a provision of state law provides that the Board may establish additional training requirements as required 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.

For newly licensed state pilots, state law provides that the Board may prescribe, for the first two years of their license, certain size and type of vessel trips upon which they may serve.

The Board is required to include in its annual report, a listing of all accidents, incidents, mishaps, as well as pilotage related complaints that were filed with the Board.  The Board has no specific statutory authority to appoint advisory committees or to employ marine experts as necessary to carry out its duties.

A joint subcommittee of the House and Senate 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 of Pilotage Commissioners 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 first two years holding a limited license, as it deems appropriate to enhance that persons 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.

The Board shall prepare an annual report, including only accidents as defined by the Board, to be submitted to the chairs of the House and Senate Transportation Committees.  The requirement that incidents, complaints and mishaps be set forth in the Board's annual report is deleted.  Where pilot error has contributed to an occurrence, it must still be reported.  The Board is authorized to appoint advisory committees and to employ marine experts as necessary.

Obsolete language is deleted.

Fiscal Note:    available

Senate Committee - Testified:   Robert Kromann, Port Angeles Pilots