PILOTAGE COMMISSIONERS

[Filed June 30, 2025, 8:34 a.m.]

Preproposal statement of inquiry was filed as WSR 25-07-101.

Title of Rule and Other Identifying Information: WAC 363-116-080 Licensing of pilots.

Hearing Location(s): On September 18, 2025, at 10:00 a.m., at 2901 3rd Avenue, 1st Floor Agate Conference Room, Seattle, WA 98121 and via Microsoft Teams [contact agency for link]; or dial in by phone 1-206-531-0324,,832235581#.

Date of Intended Adoption: September 18, 2025.

Submit Written Comments to: Jaimie Bever, Executive Director, 2901 3rd Avenue, Suite 500, Seattle, WA 98121, email jaimie.bever@wsdot.wa.gov, beginning June 30, 2025, 12:00 p.m. PDT, by September 10, 2025, 4:00 p.m. PDT.

Assistance for Persons with Disabilities: Contact Jolene Hamel, phone 206-515-3904, email jolene.hamel@wsdot.wa.gov, by September 15, 2025.

Purpose of the Proposal and Its Anticipated Effects, Including Any Changes in Existing Rules: The board of pilotage commissioners (BPC) is proposing a revision to WAC 363-116-080 Licensing of pilots, requiring pilot candidates to provide a certificate representing competency in electronic charts display and information systems (ECDIS) training prior to state licensure.

The proposed rule modifies existing licensure requirements by adding the following requirement to WAC 363-116-080(3): A certificate representing competency in ECDIS that complies with international maritime organization standards and international hydrographic organization regulations.

Reasons Supporting Proposal: This proposed rule revision is necessary due to the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration's sunsetting of traditional paper and raster nautical charts to focus solely on electronic navigational chart data, the more common source of navigation worldwide.

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: Both the BPC pilot exam committee and trainee evaluation committee have made this recommendation to BPC recognizing the need to ensure electronic chart competency.

Name of Proponent: BPC, governmental.

Name of Agency Personnel Responsible for Drafting: Jaimie Bever, Seattle, Washington, 206-515-3887; Implementation and Enforcement: BPC, Seattle, Washington, 206-515-3904.

A school district fiscal impact statement is not required under RCW 28A.305.135.

A cost-benefit analysis is not required under RCW 34.05.328. BPC 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.

Scope of exemption for rule proposal:

AMENDATORY SECTION(Amending WSR 19-03-141, filed 1/22/19, effective 2/22/19)

WAC 363-116-080Licensing of pilots.

(1) No person shall be issued a pilot license until he/she has applied for a pilot license and successfully completed:

(a) The written examination(s);

(b) The simulator evaluation;

(d) A physical examination; and

(e) Tendered the license fee stipulated in WAC 363-116-070.

(2) A majority of board members in attendance at a meeting where licensing of an applicant is scheduled for consideration, shall vote on the issuance of a pilot license. Pilot licenses shall be signed by the chairperson or his/her designee.

(3) At the time of completion of a training program as provided in WAC 363-116-078 and at the time of consideration for licensing, all applicants must provide a copy of his/her U.S. master license required by RCW 88.16.090 with a first class U.S. pilotage endorsement without tonnage or other restrictions on that U.S. master license to pilot in all of the waters of the pilotage district defined in RCW 88.16.050 in which the applicant desires to be licensed and an endorsement on that U.S. master license as a radar observer (unlimited); and both a certificate representing competency in automatic radar plotting aids (ARPA) and a certificate representing competency in electronic chart display and information system (ECDIS) that complies with International Maritime Organization (IMO) standards and International Hydrographic Organization (IHO) regulations.

(4) No person shall be licensed by the board who has been convicted of an offense involving drugs or the personal consumption of alcohol in the ((twelve))12 months prior to the date of application. This restriction shall not apply to license renewals.

(5) After completion of a training program the trainee evaluation committee (TEC) shall review the evaluations and the pilot trainee's performance on other required aspects of the training program and report to the board that the pilot trainee has or has not: Successfully completed all requirements set forth in the training program including any addendum(s) to the program. The board shall consider training program documentation and TEC reports and may: Issue the license if there is a need for a pilot in the relevant pilotage district; deny a license if it finds that the pilot trainee should not be licensed; or, delay the issuance of a license, if there is no need for a pilot at that time in the relevant district. If the board delays the issuance of a license, it may at its discretion offer an optional program that would maintain piloting skills and knowledge and may enable stipend credit to be earned and paid. The criteria to be followed by the board in issuing or denying licenses shall include, but not be limited to: Performance in the training program; piloting and ship handling and general seamanship skills; local knowledge; and, bridge presence and communication skills.

(6) If two or more pilot trainees are deemed qualified by the board for issuance of a license at the same meeting of the board, the pilot trainee with the highest combined score on the initial written examination and simulator evaluation shall be licensed first.