PILOTAGE IN THE UNITED STATES Pilotage of international trade vessels in the United States is regulated by the individual states, each of which maintains a pilotage system that is suited to the particular needs and circumstances of its own waters. In 1789, the first Congress of the United States enacted a law giving the states the right to regulate pilotage in their waters. That created the state pilotage system, which remains in effect today. Every foreign-flag vessel and every United States-flag vessel engaged in international trade moving in the waters of a state is required by the state to take a pilot licensed by the state. Although each state has its own pilotage statute and regulatory system, there are substantial similarities in their systems. In all but one state, pilots are licensed and otherwise regulated by a pilot commission, which is a state-recognized governmental entity that is part of a state agency or of a local municipality or port authority. Most pilot commissions have a mixed membership composed of representatives of ship operators, port interests, environmental groups, pilots, government agencies, and the public. The commission selects individuals for admission to a training program, oversees the training process, issues licenses, investigates accidents involving pilots or complaints filed against pilots, and oversees various aspects of the pilotage operation Each U.S.-flag coastwise vessel is required by federal law to use a pilot with a federal license issued by the United States Coast Guard. Unlike the comprehensive state systems, federal regulation is limited to licensing and disciplinary enforcement. The federal license has much lower qualification requirements (for example, no prior training specifically as a pilot is necessary) than a state license, and is similar to a pilotage exemption certificate issued under systems in other parts of the world. Each state pilot also holds a federal license, however. In this respect, the federal license serves as a national minimum standard.
Posted on: Tue, 25 Jun 2013 04:56:07 +0000
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