Standards and Criteria for the Issue of Pilotage Exemption Certificates

Port Directions - Schedule 3

3.1   Application for a Pilotage Exemption Certificate

Bona fide Masters and First Mates of vessels to which this section applies (see schedule 1.1) may apply for and be issued with a Pilotage Exemption Certificate for the area, or specified parts of the pilotage area, subject to their fitness and qualifications both by experience and examination.

Experience

a  The bona fide Master or First Mate of a ship applying for a Pilotage Exemption Certificate shall satisfy the CHA as to their experience in the pilotage area by completing the number of acts of pilotage and assessment / familiarisation acts , within the last 12 months as follows:

i) All vessels > or = 20m LOA carrying more than 12 passengers plying within the limits of the pilotage area, 24 acts of pilotage (12 round trips) minimum of which 2 acts (1 inward and 1 outward passage) will be onboard  assessment acts.

ii) All vessels > or = 61m LOA and <150m and all vessels carrying LPG/LNG in bulk (i.e. in tanks which form part of the permanent structure of the vessel). 12 acts of pilotage (6 round trips) minimum of which 2 acts (1inward and 1outward passage) will be an onboard assessment acts.

iii) All vessels > or = 150m LOA in addition to the requirement of (i) and (ii) above a familiarisation trip on a vessel >220m and on a harbour tug engaged with a vessel > or = 150m

3.2  Conditions related to the examination, issue and renewal of a Pilotage Exemption Certificate.

a i) Examinations shall be held in such places and at such times as the CHA may direct. If a candidate fails the examination, a re-examination will not normally be scheduled within one month. If a candidate twice fails to pass the examination, any further examination shall be deferred for a period of at least 3 months from the date of the second examination. Practical onboard assessments of the candidate will be required in addition to the examination  as follows:

Assessment trips may be undertaken with either:

an authorised Southampton pilot or
an authorised PEC holder for the vessel for which the PEC is sought.

The PEC candidate will be responsible for ensuring that the form (page 20) is completed by the assessor and is forwarded to the Harbour Office prior to the examination.

ii) The examination will be conducted by the Harbour Master  or his deputy and an authorised Southampton pilot.

b  Candidates for a Pilotage Exemption Certificate shall be required to produce satisfactory written evidence of medical fitness including eyesight, by a qualified medical practitioner, registered in the United Kingdom or in the country in which the vessel is registered dated within 2 years of the application.

c  Candidates require a satisfactory knowledge of the International Regulations for Preventing Collisions at Sea, local regulations, Southampton Harbour Bye-Laws, Local Notice to Mariners and marine emergency procedures in  force with respect to that part of the pilotage area for which a Pilotage   Exemption Certificate is sought.

d  Candidates must have visited the Operations Room of Southampton VTS Centre within the preceding 3 months prior to the examination and be familiar with the VTS procedures within the pilotage area. They must ensure the form (page 20) is signed by the Duty VTS Officer.

e  Candidates must have a satisfactory working knowledge of the English language.

f   Candidates must be fully conversant with Dangerous Substances in Harbour Area Regulations 1987 (where applicable).

g   Certificates shall be uniquely numbered and shall include the name and description of each vessel and class or type of vessel that the certificate holder is authorised to pilot in the pilotage area.

h   Certificate holders shall not allow any other person to have possession, or make improper use of the certificate.

i   Certificate holders shall conform strictly to all local pilotage requirements.

j   Certificates shall be renewable annually and application should be made at least 1 month in advance of the expiry date.

k   Certificates shall not be renewed unless holders can satisfy the CHA of their continuing knowledge of pilotage requirements within the area.

l   On application for renewal, candidates will be required to produce updated written medical and eyesight evidence at intervals specified in accordance with the normal requirements for marine officers in the country in which their vessel is registered.

m   Certificates shall not be renewed unless the holder has visited the VTS Centre within the preceding the 2 years and submits a signed certificate to that effect.

n   Certificates shall not be renewed after holders reach the age of 65 years, except in exceptional circumstances relative to craft plying within the limits of the pilotage area.

3.3  Duties of a PEC Holder

       The following duties apply to all certificate holders:

3.3.1  Submit monthly returns on the ‘Monthly Return Showing Acts of Self-Pilotage’ form and return to the Harbour Office.

3.3.2  Ensure the appropriate flag is flown on the vessel when the certificate holder is acting as pilot for the vessel in the area of jurisdiction.

3.3.3   Report on navigation changes in the CHA’s pilotage district:     
Pilotage Exemption Certificate holders who observe any significant alterations in the depths or the position of the navigable channels, or that any sea marks of the Local
Lighthouse or General Lighthouse Authority are out of place or do not conform with, or display their charted characteristic, shall forthwith be required to report the fact without delay to the CHA.

3.3.4   Reporting collisions, groundings, close quarter situations and any other concerns relating to safety of navigation.
A bona fide Master or First Mate holding a Pilotage Exemption Certificate whose vessel has touched the ground or has been in collision or a close quarter situation with any other ship or any fixed or floating object in the waters for which he holds
such a certificate, shall report the occurrence in writing on the form prescribed to the CHA within 14 days of the occurrence. Additionally, in accordance with the Port’s Safety Management System, PEC holders are required to report to the CHA any concerns they may have regarding safety of navigation in the pilotage district by completing a ‘Potential Risk Report’. This form is attached to these guidelines.

3.3.5   CHA Investigations / Inquiry following an incident     
Pilotage Exemption Certificate holders shall attend the Harbour Office at the order  or summons of the CHA to answer any complaint or charge which may be made against them for the alleged misconduct, or in respect of any marine casualty which
may have occurred whilst they were in charge of their vessel in that part of the pilotage area for which they are certificated.

3.3.6   Pilotage Exemption Certificate disciplinary code
If, following an appropriate inquiry by the Competent Harbour Authority (CHA), the  PEC holder is found to be responsible for a marine casualty or serious incident or has contravened the Southampton CHA pilotage regulations, the CHA may suspend or revoke the certificate subject to informing the PEC holder in writing of  their intention to do so.

3.4    Fees related to the examination, issue, and renewal of Pilotage Exemption Certificates for Bona fide Masters and First Mates.

a Issue of a pilotage exemption certificate by written application for part of, or whole of See pilotage rates (attached) the pilotage area.

b Re-examination for a pilotage exemption certificate for additional parts in the area, or See pilotage rates upon failure of a previous examination.

c Renewal of a pilotage exemption certificate for part of, or the whole of the pilotage area. See pilotage rates

d Amendments to pilotage exemption certificate. See pilotage rates

3.5 Syllabus for Pilotage Exemption Certificate Examination

Applicants for a Pilotage Exemption Certificate are to make themselves thoroughly acquainted with the following subjects:

3.5.1 Limits of the Southampton CHA Pilotage area for which application is being made

a. The limits of the Southampton CHA Pilotage area defined in Schedule No.2
b. Vessels exempt from compulsory pilotage in the area.
c. Pilot boarding places – location and details of vessels using them.
d. VTS reporting points for vessels inward and outward throughout and adjacent to the district.
e. Duties of a certificate holder

3.5.2 General Navigation

The application to pilotage of:

a.  International Regulations for Preventing Collisions at Sea.
    
b.  International Association of Lighthouse Authorities (IALA) Maritime Buoyage System A General principles and rules.

c.   Appropriate Port of Southampton Bye-Laws, Regulations and
Directions for Navigating in the Pilotage area.

d.  Communication procedures.

e.   “M” Notices relating to pilotage.

f.   Relevant Local Notices to Mariners affecting the CHA pilotage area.

Note: Candidates will be expected to have knowledge of the Bye-Laws and Local Notice to Mariners of adjacent authorities where relevant to their application.

3.5.3 Experience and local knowledge

The candidate’s experience will be determined by his ability to demonstrate detailed local knowledge pertinent to the area for which he is being examined with particular reference to:

a. Coastal features.

b. Name of the channels and fairways including those available in an emergency.

c. The names of channel reaches, headlands, points and shoals in the area.

d. Clearing marks for shoals and points visually by day or night and by radar.

e. The approximate width of the various channels.
 
f. The bearing and distance from one buoy to another on each side of  the channel.

g. The fairway courses and distances in the area.

h. The depths of water throughout the area, particularly at buoys and  where the vessel might safely depart from the main fairways in the district.

The use of sounding equipment and anticipated under keel clearance.

i. The set, rate, rise and duration of the tides and the use of Tide Tables.

j. General direction of tidal streams and strongest rates and directions predicted at key locations.

k. Passage planning and critical areas of navigation.

l. i) Traffic movement and patterns including any holding or passing places for large vessels within the district. Knowledge of areas of recreational craft activity, yacht racing starting points will be expected.

ii) Typical passage times for large vessels on passage in the district. e.g. passage time for container vessels, tankers etc. between Nab Tower, Forts, Prince Consort, Hook Buoy and berths.

m. Statutory Harbour Authority limits for Southampton, Portsmouth and Cowes.

n. Names of wharves, jetties and berths of special significance and a knowledge of berthing/unberthing manoeuvres and limitations:

  i) in an emergency,

  ii) to meet the requirements of changes in trading pattern.

o. The names and characteristics of lights, their ranges and arcs of visibility.

The names and characteristics of buoys, beacons, light vessels and other seamarks.

Position of radar beacons, together with fog signals used to navigate in the area.

p. Significant radar patterns of aids to navigation and the use of parallel indexing.

q. The names of the anchorages, their position, use and limitations.

r. Restricted areas and zones.

s. Ship handling characteristics of own vessel, squat and interaction with other vessels.

t. Limitations and restriction of other vessels requiring special
consideration.

(Knowledge of vessels designated clear channel status in the Thorn Channel).

u. Operation with tugs; communications and precautions. Capability of tugs based in the port.

v. Local emergency plans and procedures (i.e. SOLFIRE Southampton Oil Spill Contingency Plan, etc).

w. Dangerous Substances in Harbour Area Regulations 1987.

x. Any other relevant information at the discretion of the Examiners.

3.5.5 Language

All examinations will be conducted in the English language.
 
NOTE:  Re-Examination
 
Re-examination after a first failure is at the discretion of the Examiners, butwill not normally be within one month. If an applicant twice fails to pass the examination, he will be put back for 3 months from the date of the second examination. After 3 months, examination to be at the discretion of the
Examiners