SENATE BILL REPORT

SB 6528

BYSenator Patterson

Revising vessel pilots' license qualifications.

Senate Committee on Transportation

Senate Hearing Date(s):January 23, 1990

Majority Report:     Do pass.

     Signed by Senators Patterson, Chairman; Thorsness, Vice Chairman; von Reichbauer, Vice Chairman; Barr, Bender, Benitz, DeJarnatt, Hansen, McMullen, Madsen, Murray, Nelson, Patrick, Sellar.

Senate Staff:Vicki Fabre (786-7313)

                March 1, 1990

AS PASSED SENATE, FEBRUARY 8, 1990

BACKGROUND:

Under the state Pilotage Act, an individual applying for a license to pilot vessels in state waters must first hold, as a minimum, a United States Coast Guard master's license.  Current state law, however, is not consistent with 1989 changes in federal pilotage licensing requirements.

SUMMARY:

State pilotage licensing requirements are changed to reflect current federal standards.  The requirement that an applicant for a state pilot's license hold a U.S. Coast Guard license as a master of freight and towing vessels of not more than 1,000 gross tons inspected vessel is replaced with the requirement that such applicant hold a federal license as a master of ocean or near coastal steam or motor vessels of not more than 1,600 gross tons or as a master of inland steam or motor vessels of not more than 1,600 tons.

Appropriation:  none

Revenue:   none

Fiscal Note:    none requested

Senate Committee - Testified:   Don Swartzman, Chair, Board of Pilotage Commissioners; Gary Cramer, Port Angeles Pilots

HOUSE AMENDMENT:

The amendment makes a technical correction by adding the word "gross" to accurately define the weight of inland steam or motor vessels.