Compilation of Rules and Regulations of the State of Georgia › Department 494 - BOARD OF PILOTAGE COMMISSIONERS › Chapter 494-1 - SAINT SIMONS AND SAINT ANDREWS BARS › Subject 494-1-1 - RULES FOR THE GOVERNMENT OF BAR AND HARBOR PILOTAGE › Rule 494-1-1-.24 - Pilot Functions and Responsibilities

Current through Rules and Regulations filed through June 27, 2024
(1) Pilot
				services shall be made available to the Master of every inbound vessel that
				requires a State pilot pursuant to Section  52-6-45 of  the Georgia
				Code.
(2) The Boundary Lines
				defined in  46 CFR 7.75,  46 CFR 7.80, and  46 CFR 7.85  describe the areas of the
				coastal waters along the coast of Georgia that delineate the application of
				federal pilotage requirements. These same Boundary Lines shall encompass those
				waters upon which the Commissioners also require pilotage on those vessels
				subject to State pilotage laws and regulations. Nothing shall prevent the Board
				of Pilot Commissioners from extending these areas seaward of the federal
				Boundary Lines if necessary to assure that deep-draft vessels have
				appropriately licensed pilots on board while transiting offshore waters that
				otherwise may present a risk of grounding.
(3) The pilot station for the pilot vessels
				cruising offshore shall be in the approximate vicinity of the designated "sea
				buoy", or on waters up to two nautical miles seaward of the Boundary
				Lines.
(4) Every vessel subject to
				State pilotage shall be conducted and piloted by an appropriately licensed
				pilot whenever such vessel is underway on those pilotage areas designated in
				paragraph A above.
(5) Every pilot
				received on board a vessel at Brunswick subject to the jurisdiction of the
				Commissioners, shall remain on board such vessel while in transit between the
				Pilot Station and its terminal or anchorage. The transit shall begin on inbound
				vessels when the pilot assumes the conn of the ship and shall end when the
				first line is passed to a pier, wharf or other waterfront facility, or until
				the vessel is anchored fast to the bottom. The transit shall begin on outbound
				vessels when the last line is passed, or when the anchor is aweigh, and shall
				end when the pilot is discharged by the vessel master, having arrived at that
				place on the bar where the adjoining depths of water are sufficient for safe
				navigation. The transit on shifting vessels shall be from the passing of the
				last line, or weighing of the anchor, until the first line is passed or the
				anchor is made fast to the bottom.
(6) Every vessel requiring a State pilot
				shall receive on board such pilot to direct the vessel movement for every
				inward and outward transit of the port. Every vessel proceeding inward in
				direction, whether from anchorage within the port to berths or terminals
				inshore of the anchorage, or from one berth or terminal to another berth or
				terminal upstream, is considered to be on an inward movement. Every vessel
				proceeding outward from any berth or terminal upstream to another berth or
				terminal downstream, or to an anchorage seaward of that berth or terminal,
				shall be considered to be on an outward movement. Every berth or terminal on
				the Turtle River shall be considered upstream of any berth or terminal on the
				East River. Every berth or terminal on the South Brunswick River shall be
				considered to be upstream of any berth or terminal on the Turtle or East
				Rivers. This requirement for a State pilot applies regardless of the source of
				vessel propulsion, be it self propelled or propelled by tugs. If the master or
				operator of any seagoing vessel requiring a State pilot shall refuse to receive
				on board a pilot, such circumstance shall be considered a "Hazardous Condition"
				pursuant to  33 CFR 160.203  and shall immediately be reported to the Coast
				Guard.
(7) No pilot licensed by the
				Commissioners shall knowingly pilot any vessel, the operation of which, in the
				opinion of such pilot, may introduce an unnecessary risk to the port, other
				vessels, or the marine environment.
(a) An
				"unnecessary risk" includes situations where any vessel is deemed by the pilot
				not to be in compliance with applicable federal Navigation Safety Regulations,
				or where the condition of any vessel's operation, in the opinion of the pilot,
				constitutes a "Hazardous Condition" as defined by federal
				regulations.
(b) An "unnecessary
				risk" may also include situations that may prevent or inhibit the safe movement
				of a vessel, including, but not limited to, instances wherein the wheelhouse or
				bridge is not properly manned by sufficient numbers of qualified crew members
				or, conversely, when the wheelhouse or bridge is encumbered by the presence of
				extraneous persons who are not members of the crew, pilots or apprentice
				pilots, owners, agents, operating managers or federal officials conducting
				official business authorized by law.
(c) Nothing in this subpart shall prevent a
				pilot from piloting any vessel, when in his or her opinion, the vessel's safety
				or the safety of the port would be further impaired or endangered by the
				pilot's refusal to provide pilotage.