46 C.F.R. Subpart G—Professional Requirements for Pilot Licenses
Title 46 - Shipping
Source: CGD 81–059b, 52 FR 38659, Oct. 16, 1987 unless otherwise noted.
(a) An applicant for a license as first class pilot need not hold any other license issued under this part. An individual holding a license as master, mate, or master or mate (pilot) of towing vessels may apply for an endorsement as first class pilot for a specific route or routes in lieu of applying for a first class pilot's license. (b) The issuance of a license or endorsement as first class pilot to an individual qualifies that individual to serve as pilot over the route(s) specified on the license, subject to any limitations imposed under paragraph (c) of this section. (c) The Officer in Charge, Marine Inspection, issuing a license or endorsement as first class pilot, imposes appropriate limitations commensurate with the experience of the applicant, with respect to class or type of vessel, tonnage, route, and waters. (d) A license issued for service as a master, mate, or operator of uninspected towing vessels authorizes service as a pilot under the provisions of §15.812 of this subchapter. Therefore, first class pilot endorsements will not be issued with tonnage limitations of 1600 gross tons or less. [CGD 81–059, 52 FR 38623, Oct. 16, 1987, as amended by CGD 81–059, 54 FR 144, Jan. 4, 1989; USCG-1999–6224, 64 FR 63235, Nov. 19, 1999] (a) The minimum service required to qualify an applicant for a license as first class pilot, or for an endorsement as first class pilot on a license as master, mate, or master or mate (pilot) of towing vessels, is predicated upon the nature of the waters for which pilotage is desired. (1) General routes (routes not restricted to rivers, canals and small lakes). The applicant must have at least 36 months service in the deck department of steam or motor vessels navigating on oceans, coastwise, Great Lakes, or bays, sounds, and lakes other than the Great Lakes, as follows: (i) 18 months of the 36 months service must be as quartermaster, wheelsman, able seaman, apprentice pilot, or in an equivalent capacity, standing regular watches at the wheel or in the pilothouse as part of routine duties. (ii) At least 12 months of the 18 months service required in paragraph (a)(1)(i) of this section must be on vessels operating on the class of waters for which pilotage is desired. (2) River routes. The applicant must have at least 36 months service in the deck department of any vessel including at least 12 months service on vessels operating on the waters of rivers while the applicant is serving in the capacity of quartermaster, wheelsman, apprentice pilot, or deckhand who stands watches at the wheel as part of routine duties. (3) Canal and small lakes routes. The applicant must have at least 24 months service in the deck department of any vessel including at least 8 months service on vessels operating on canals or small lakes. (b) A graduate of the Great Lakes Maritime Academy in the deck class meets the service requirements of this section for a license as first class pilot on the Great Lakes. (c) Completion of a course of pilot training approved by the Commanding Officer, National Maritime Center, under subpart C of this part may be substituted for a portion of the service requirements of this section in accordance with §10.304. Additionally, round trips made during this training may apply toward the route familiarization requirements of §10.705. An individual using substituted service must have at least nine months of shipboard service. (d) An individual holding a license as master or mate of inspected steam or motor vessels of over 1,600 gross tons meets the service requirements of this section for an endorsement as first class pilot. [CGD 81–059, 52 FR 38623, Oct. 16, 1987, as amended by CGD 81–059, 54 FR 144, Jan. 4, 1989; CGD 95–072, 60 FR 50460, Sept. 29, 1995; USCG-1998–4442, 63 FR 52189, Sept. 30, 1998; USCG-1999–6224, 64 FR 63235, Nov. 19, 1999] (a) The Officer in Charge, Marine Inspection having jurisdiction determines, within the range limitations specified in this section, the number of round trips required to qualify an applicant for a particular route, considering the following: (1) The geographic configuration of the waterway; (2) The type and size of vessels using the waterway; (3) The abundance or absence of aids to navigation; (4) The background lighting effects; (5) The known hazards involved, including waterway obstructions or constrictions such as bridges, narrow channels, or sharp turns; and, (6) Any other factors unique to the route that the OCMI deems appropriate. (b) An applicant for an original license as first class pilot shall furnish evidence of having completed a minimum number of round trips, while serving as quartermaster, wheelsman, able seaman, apprentice pilot, or in an equivalent capacity, standing regular watches at the wheel or in the pilot house as part of routine duties, over the route sought. Evidence of having completed a minimum number of round trips while serving as an observer, properly certified by the master and/or pilot of the vessel, is also acceptable. The range of round trips for an initial license is a minimum of 12 round trips and a maximum of 20 round trips. An applicant may have additional routes added to the first class pilot license by meeting the requirements for obtaining an endorsement. (c) An applicant for an endorsement as first class pilot for a particular route shall furnish evidence of having completed the number of round trips over the route, specified by the Officer In Charge, Marine Inspection, within the range limitations of this paragraph, for the particular grade of existing license held. The range of round trips for an endorsement is a minimum of 8 round trips and a maximum of 15 round trips. (d) Unless determined impracticable by the OCMI, 25% of the round trips required by the OCMI under this section must be made during the hours of darkness. (e) One of the round trips required by the OCMI under this section must be made over the route within the six months immediately preceding the date of application. [CGD 81–059, 52 FR 38623, Oct. 16, 1987, as amended by CGD 81–059, 54 FR 144, Jan. 4, 1989] (a) An applicant for a license as first class pilot is required to pass the examination described in subpart I of this part. (b) An applicant for an extension of route, or a licensed master or mate authorized to serve on vessels of over 1,600 gross tons seeking an endorsement as first class pilot, is required to pass those portions of the examination described in subpart I of this part that concern the specific route for which endorsement is sought. (a) This section applies only to an individual who pilots a vessel of 1,600 gross tons and over. (b) Every person holding a license or endorsement as first class pilot shall have a thorough physical examination each year while holding the license or endorsement. (c) Each annual physical examination must meet the requirements specified in §10.205(d) except that the record of examination need not be submitted to the Coast Guard except as provided for in paragraph (e) of this section. (d) An individual's first class pilot license or endorsement becomes invalid on the first day of the month following the first anniversary of the individual's most recent physical examination satisfactorily completed; the individual may not operate under the authority of that license or endorsement until a physical examination has been satisfactorily completed. (e) Upon request, a first class pilot shall provide the Coast Guard with a copy of his or her most recent physical examination. (a) In order to obtain a first class pilot license or endorsement authorizing service on vessels of any gross tons over a particular route, the applicant must have sufficient experience on vessels of over 1,600 gross tons. (b) If an applicant does not have sufficient experience on vessels of over 1,600 gross tons, the license or endorsement will be for a limited tonnage until the applicant completes a number of additional round trips, as determined by the OCMI, within the range contained in §10.705 (b) or (c), as appropriate, on vessels of over 1,600 gross tons. (c) For purposes of this section, an applicant is considered to have sufficient experience if the applicant has 18 months experience as master, mate, quartermaster, wheelsman, able seaman, apprentice pilot, or in an equivalent capacity, standing regular watches at the wheel or in the pilothouse as part of routine duties, on vessels of 1,600 gross tons or over, and two-thirds of the minimum number of round trips required for the route have been on vessels of 1,600 gross tons or over. (d) For purposes of this section, for experience with respect to tonnage on towing vessels, the combined gross tonnage of the towing vessel and the vessel(s) towed will be considered. However, the OCMI may require that all or a portion of the required number of round trips be obtained on self-propelled vessels of 1,600 gross tons or over, when the OCMI determines that due to the nature of the waters and the overall experience of the applicant, self-propelled vessel experience is necessary to obtain a first class pilot license or endorsement that is not restricted to tug and barge combinations. (a) If a first class pilot has not served over a particular route within the past 60 months, that person's license or endorsement is invalid for that route, and remains invalid until the individual has made one re-familiarization round trip over that route, except as provided in paragraph (b) of this section. Whether this requirement is satisfied or not has no effect on the renewal of a license or endorsement. Round trips made within the 90 day period preceding renewal will be valid for the duration of the renewed license or endorsement. (b) For certain long or extended routes, the OCMI may, at his discretion, allow the re-familiarization requirement to be satisfied by reviewing appropriate navigation charts, coast pilots tide and current tables, local Notice to Mariners, and any other materials which would provide the pilot with current knowledge of the route. Persons using this method of re-familiarization shall certify, when applying for renewal of their license or endorsement, the material they have reviewed and the dates on which this was accomplished. Review within the 90 day period preceding renewal is valid for the duration of the renewed license or endorsement.
Title 46: Shipping
PART 10—LICENSING OF MARITIME PERSONNEL
Subpart G—Professional Requirements for Pilot Licenses
§ 10.701 Scope of pilot licenses and endorsements.
§ 10.703 Service requirements.
§ 10.705 Route familiarization requirements.
§ 10.707 Examination requirements.
§ 10.709 Annual physical examination requirements.
§ 10.711 Tonnage requirements.
§ 10.713 Requirements for maintaining current knowledge of waters to be navigated.
