WSR 20-16-026
PROPOSED RULES
BOARD OF
PILOTAGE COMMISSIONERS
[Filed July 24, 2020, 8:27 a.m.]
Original Notice.
Preproposal statement of inquiry was filed as WSR 20-09-092.
Title of Rule and Other Identifying Information: WAC 363-116-0751 Qualifications for pilot applicants.
Hearing Location(s): On September 17, 2020, at 10:00 a.m., at 2901 3rd Avenue, Suite 500, Agate Conference Room, 1st Floor, Seattle, WA 98121. If Washington state agencies are still not allowed to hold public meetings in person in September, instructions will be provided for a virtual public meeting.
Date of Intended Adoption: September 17, 2020.
Submit Written Comments to: Sheri Tonn, 2901 3rd Avenue, Suite 500, Seattle, WA 98121, email BeverJ@wsdot.wa.gov, fax 206-515-3906, by September 10, 2020.
Assistance for Persons with Disabilities: Contact Jolene Hamel, phone 206-515-3904, fax 206-515-3906, email HamelJ@wsdot.wa.gov, by September 10, 2020.
Purpose of the Proposal and Its Anticipated Effects, Including Any Changes in Existing Rules: The board proposes to expand the qualifications for pilot applicants to be more inclusive of sea service that demonstrates the essential qualities necessary for piloting in Washington state, as well as to bring additional clarity to the rules in preparation for the 2021 Marine Pilot Exam. The proposed changes include (1) combined the tug and barge tonnage for the towing category, (2) a separate category, for ship assist to capture inner-harbor tug captains who have a great deal of shiphandling skill, but are operating on tugs under the requirement for tonnage in the existing towing category, (2)[(3)] clarity regarding the pilot category, (3)[(4)] clarification regarding the board's definition of sea service, including ship assist for the new category of vessel, (4)[(5)] clarification regarding what types of vessels are included in the special purpose category, and other minor housekeeping revisions for clarity.
Reasons Supporting Proposal: The board convened a work group, in collaboration with the board's joint diversity committee and maritime professionals with diverse backgrounds to review the existing qualifications and to consider ways to expand them without losing the qualities necessary for safe pilotage. The proposed changes were recommended by the board's trainee evaluation committee and were vetted through Puget Sound pilots and Port of Grays Harbor pilots.
Statutory Authority for Adoption: Chapter 88.16 RCW, Pilotage Act.
Statute Being Implemented: Chapter 88.16 RCW, Pilotage Act.
Rule is not necessitated by federal law, federal or state court decision.
Agency Comments or Recommendations, if any, as to Statutory Language, Implementation, Enforcement, and Fiscal Matters: The board does not recommend any statutory revisions at this time. If approved, the new rules will be implemented in time for the 2021 Marine Pilot Exam. Currently, there [is] no fiscal impact.
Name of Proponent: Board of pilotage commissioners, governmental.
Name of Agency Personnel Responsible for Drafting: Jaimie C. Bever, 2901 3rd Avenue, Suite 500, Seattle, WA 98121, 206-515-3887; Implementation and Enforcement: Board of Pilotage Commissioners, 2901 3rd Avenue, Suite 500, Seattle, WA 98121, 206-515-3904.
A school district fiscal impact statement is not required under RCW 28A.305.135.
A cost-benefit analysis is required under RCW 34.05.328. RCW 34.05.328 does not apply to the adoption of these rules. The board of pilotage commissioners is not a listed agency in RCW 34.05.328 (5)(a)(i).
This rule proposal, or portions of the proposal, is exempt from requirements of the Regulatory Fairness Act because the proposal:
Is exempt under RCW 19.85.025(3) as the rule content is explicitly and specifically dictated by statute.
July 24, 2020
Jaimie C. Bever
Executive Director
AMENDATORY SECTION(Amending WSR 18-14-024, filed 6/26/18, effective 7/27/18)
WAC 363-116-0751Qualifications for pilot applicants.
(1) Sea service.
(a) In addition to meeting the preexamination requirements of RCW 88.16.090, pilot applicants must, before taking the examination provided in WAC 363-116-076, meet one of the following indicated service requirements ((as master,)) while holding a minimum license as mate/master of steam or motor vessels of not more than 1600 GRT or 3000 GT (ITC):
Vessel Type
Minimum Size
Waters
Minimum Time
Cargo or tank
5000 GRT or 10,000 GT (ITC)
Ocean or near coastal
1 year as master
Cargo or tank
700 GRT or 1400 GT (ITC)
Ocean or near coastal
2 years as master
Cargo or tank
1600 GRT or 3000 GT (ITC)
Inland
2 years as master
Passenger or ferry
1600 GRT or 3000 GT (ITC)
Ocean, near coastal or inland
2 years as master
Towing
((150))100 GRT or towing/barge combination greater than 1600 GRT or ((300))3000 GT (ITC)
Ocean, near coastal or inland
2 years as master
Ship assist
100 GRT or 300 GT (ITC)
Inland
2 years as master or 4 years sailing as a mate/master with a minimum of 1 year as master
Articulated tug barge (ATB)
Combined 10,000 ((GRT))GT (ITC)
Ocean or near coastal
4 years sailing as a mate/master with a minimum of 1 year as master
U.S. Flag government
3000 displacement tons
Ocean, near coastal or inland
2 years as commanding officer or master
Special purpose
1600 GRT or 3000 GT (ITC)
Ocean, near coastal or inland
2 years as master
Other
State-licensed pilot or Navy civil service pilot
1600 GRT or 3000 GT (ITC)
Ocean, near coastal or inland
2 years as pilot and 120 vessel moves
((Other
Minimum Size
Waters
Minimum Time
Professional pilot association or government employed pilot
1600 GRT or 3000 GT (ITC)
Ocean, near coastal or inland
3 years as pilot))
(b) Sea service is calculated based on days spent onboard a vessel while it is actively engaged in normal operations. "Sea service" does not include time onboard a vessel that is "laid up" or on "standby." In calculating sea service under this subsection (((1) of this section)), a year of service shall equal three hundred sixty days of service on the vessel in the required capacity. Pilot applicants combining the above types of sea service shall have a total of at least two years of the various service times, except that one day of service as master on cargo, tank, or passenger/ferry vessels of at least 5000 GRT or 10,000 GT (ITC) shall be credited as two days of service time for the purpose of calculating such combined service times.
(c) Ship assist vessel sea service as mate must be on vessels where the mate is the sole vessel operator and acts independently of the master for twelve hours per day.
(2) In lieu of the requirements of subsection (1) of this section, a pilot applicant may substitute either:
(a) ((Three years of service as an active member of an organized professional pilot association or as a government employed pilot during which periods the pilot applicant was actively engaged in piloting and docking vessels while holding a minimum license as a master of steam or motor vessels of not more than 1600 GRT or 3000 GT (ITC) upon oceans, near coastal waters or inland waters. For purposes of this section, piloting shall refer to piloting vessels in the capacity of the pilot in charge of navigation with no other responsibilities (either when piloting or not piloting) as a member of the ship's crew))Two years of service as a state licensed pilot and active member of a professional pilot association or as a naval federal pilot during which periods the pilot applicant was actively engaged in maneuvering, docking and undocking vessels while holding a minimum license as a master of steam or motor vessels of not more than 1600 GRT or 3000 GT (ITC) upon oceans, near coastal waters or inland waters; or
(b) Two years of service as a commanding officer or master of U.S. flag government vessels of not less than 3000 displacement tons. The pilot applicant must hold at the time of application a minimum license as master of steam or motor vessels of not more than 1600 GRT or 3000 GT (ITC) upon oceans, near coastal waters or inland waters; or
(c) Two years of service as master of special purpose vessels of not less than 1600 GRT or 3000 GT (ITC) while holding a minimum license as master of steam or motor vessels of not more than 1600 GRT or 3000 GT (ITC), provided that the sea time making up the sea service was spent in charge of a vessel that can be documented to have been underway and to have required the type of ship-handling, navigation and leadership skills that the board finds necessary to provide the experience needed to become a pilot. Special purpose vessels may include fishing vessels, fishing processors, research vessels, offshore supply vessels, dredge vessels, and cable vessels. Special purpose vessels do not include drill ships. Evaluation of service time on special purpose vessels shall be made by the board on a case-by-case basis and shall not be approved unless the board finds the service to be the substantial equivalent of the sea service required in subsection (1)(a) and (b) of this section or (a) and (b) of this subsection (((2))). The determination of the board as to the suitability of service as master of a special purpose vessel will be final.
(3) As used in this section these terms shall have the following meanings:
(a) Cargo or tank vessels shall refer to vessels primarily engaged in the transportation of cargo between points.
(b) Passenger vessels shall refer to vessels primarily engaged in the transportation of passengers between points. This shall include yachts only to the extent and for such times that such vessels are actively engaged in moving passengers between points.
(c) Ferry vessels shall refer to vessels primarily engaged in the transportation of vehicles and passengers between points.
(d) Towing vessels shall refer to vessels primarily engaged in commercial towing ((of vessels or in ship assist work)).
(e) Ship assist vessels shall refer to vessels primarily engaged in assisting ships dock, undock, and maneuver.
(((e)))(f) GRT shall refer to gross register tonnage (domestic).
(((f)))(g) GT (ITC) shall refer to gross tonnage measured in accordance with the requirements of the 1969 International Convention on Tonnage Measurement of Ships.
(((g)))(h) Master shall refer to the person of master's rank on the vessel's station bill or muster list or other such document who, in the event of an emergency or the sounding of a general alarm, is required to be on the bridge and in charge. If there is no such designation, the term master shall refer to the person of master's rank and pay who is ultimately in charge of the navigation of the vessel as reflected in the vessel's official log book, or there being no official log book, the bridge log of the vessel.
(((h)))(i) Mate shall refer to the person of mate's rank (third mate, second mate, chief mate or simply mate) whose duties include regular bridge watchkeeping.
(4) It will be the responsibility of the pilot applicant to provide adequate documentation to enable the board to set forth and verify sea service in the manner specified in the board's application form.
The board will not provide applicants with a final determination verifying service until it receives an application form. An applicant will not get official notification of whether he/she qualifies to sit for the examination until the board reviews a formal application. In the event an applicant is working on a vessel other than one of the five specified in subsection (1)(a) of this section, e.g., a special purpose vessel, he/she will be required to provide the board with sufficient documentation to demonstrate to the board the amount of time involved in the navigation of a vessel underway.