HOUSE BILL REPORT

EHB 421

BYRepresentatives Zellinsky, Brough, Schmidt, Walk and J. Williams 

Creating a special pilotage license.

House Committe on Transportation

Majority Report:     Do pass with amendments.  (16)

     Signed by Representatives Walk, Chair; Baugher, Vice Chair; Cantwell, Cooper, Day, Fisch, Gallagher, Heavey, Meyers, Patrick, Prince, Spanel, Todd, J. Williams, S. Wilson and Zellinsky.

Minority Report:     Do not pass.  (7)

     Signed by Representatives Dellwo, Doty, Fisher, Schmidt, D. Sommers, Vekich and K. Wilson.

House Staff:Gene Baxstrom (786-7303)

AS PASSED HOUSE MARCH 19, 1987

BACKGROUND:

The Pilotage Act requires that all registered vessels (foreign flag) employ a state-licensed pilot while in Washington waters and pay required pilotage rates.  A state-licensed pilot is a highly qualified individual capable of providing pilotage services for Puget Sound or for Grays Harbor, on board any size or type of vessel.

When the owners of a high-speed passenger vessel began service in July 1986 between Seattle and British Columbia, state law required the vessel owners to employ a pilot on that vessel.

SUMMARY:

High-speed small passenger vessels are exempt from the regular pilotage requirements of the State Pilotage Act when:  (1) that vessel is capable of cruising in excess of 30 knots, (1) the vessel is not more than 150 feet in length and less than 500 tons, (3) the vessel is engaged in regular service exclusively between ports in Puget Sound and British Columbia, and (4) the vessel is operated and manned by a pilot holding a special state pilot's license created in this legislation.

The Board of Pilotage Commissioners is authorized to issue a special state pilot's license to persons meeting the following requirements:  (a) the person be a citizen of the United States and a resident of the state of Washington, over 25 years of age and under 70 years; (b) the applicant pass a written and oral exam administered by the board, (c) the applicant meet applicable United States Coast Guard requirements, (d) the applicant have a minimum of 100 trips on the routes to which the special license will apply, or one year's experience on routes of the Puget Sound pilotage district; (e) the pilot meet the physical examination health requirements of the act, and (f) the pilot meet other requirements which apply to state-licensed pilots, as established by the board.  Such requirements are to take into account the responsibilities of and be commensurate with the vessel and the route.

Persons holding a special pilot's license shall be licensed for a period of two years; renewal may be held for a good cause; and the annual license fee shall be set by the board but may not exceed $1,000.

The differences between the requirements for a special pilot's license and a state pilot's license are that a state pilot must take a minimum 75 practice trips before licensing, is limited to vessel size for the first two years of licensing, and must pay up to a $1,500 license fee annually.

The special pilot license provisions shall be limited to serving as a pilot on a vessel having the characteristics specified in the legislation.

Fiscal Note:    Not Requested.

Effective Date:The bill contains an emergency clause and takes effect immediately.

House Committee ‑ Testified For:     Jim Boldt, Clipper Navigation Inc.

House Committee - Testified Against: Robert Kroman, President, Port Angeles Pilots Association.

House Committee - Testimony For:     There should be provision in the State Pilotage Act for licensing individuals to pilot certain types of vessels, operating regular service between points in Puget Sound and British Columbia.  State-licensed pilots are overqualified for these types of operations.

House Committee - Testimony Against: The Board should be allowed to exempt these types of vessels from pilotage requirements, rather than issuing special licenses to their personnel.