Code of Maine Rules › 17 - DEPARTMENT OF TRANSPORTATION › 387 - Maine Pilotage Commission › Chapter 1 - RULES AND REGULATIONS › Part A - LICENSING REQUIREMENTS › Section 387-1-A-2 - Training Trips

Current through 2024-29, July 17, 2024
Training Trips must consist of round trips on vessels of
					 tonnage, as established by the Commission, by these regulations and should
					 include trips made in all weather and seasonal conditions anticipated for the
					 Pilotage Area. Additionally, twenty-five percent (25%) of trips shall be made
					 during the hours of darkness where practicable. Such proof shall be a trip
					 sheet showing for each round trip, the date, geographic point of the beginning
					 and ending of the route, time at the beginning and end of the route, the name
					 and gross tonnage of the vessel, the name and signature of the pilot, licensed
					 by this Commission for that area, who was supervising the trip, a brief
					 description from the supervising pilot of the activities of the applicant, and
					 general weather conditions.
a.
Kennebec River
. 12 Round Trips on vessels of at least 1600 gross
				  tons.
b.
Sheepscot
				  River
. 12 Round Trips on vessels of at least 1600 gross tons and license
				  certification by the Maine Pilotage Commission in at least one other area.
				  Pilotage in this area is restricted to Daytime Only.
c.
Boothbay Harbor
. 12 Round
				  Trips on vessels of at least 1600 gross tons and license certification by the
				  Maine Pilotage Commission in at least one other area.
d.
Penobscot Bay
. 30 Round Trips
				  on vessels of at least 1600 gross tons, except that at least fifty percent
				  (50%) of the trips must be on vessels of at least 5000 gross tons, with a
				  minimum of 12 trips from each approach.
e.
Penobscot River (Fort Point to
				  Bucksport)
. 20 Round Trips on vessels of at least 1600 gross tons,
				  except that fifty percent (50%) of the trips must be on vessels of at least
				  3000 gross tons.
f.
Penobscot
				  River (Bucksport to Bangor)
. 18 Round Trips on vessels of at least 1600
				  gross tons.
g.
Blue Hill
				  Bay
. 6 Round Trips on vessels of at least 1600 gross tons, and the
				  applicant must possess a current license for Frenchman Bay. Pilotage in this
				  area is restricted to Daytime Only.
h.
Eastern Way/Sommes Sound
. 6
				  Round Trips on vessels of at least 1600 gross tons, and the applicant must
				  possess a current license for Frenchman Bay. Pilotage in this area is
				  restricted to Daytime Only.
i.
Frenchman Bay
. 20 Round Trips on vessels of at least 1600 gross
				  tons, except that fifty percent (50%) of the trips must be on vessels of at
				  least 10,000 gross tons.
j.
Eastport Area (Passamaquoddy Bay, Cobscook Bay, Friar Roads, Head Harbor
				  Passage)
. 20 Round Trips on vessels of at least 1600 gross tons, except
				  that that fifty percent (50%) of the trips must be on vessels of at least 5000
				  gross tons.
k.
Other
				  Areas
. In areas not listed above, the Commission may establish
				  provisional licensing requirements for pilots currently licensed for other
				  areas within the specific coastal zone. Such requirements must be in writing
				  and may be different from the initial requirements set forth above in this
				  Section 2 in order to protect the public by developing an adequate initial pool
				  of qualified professionals. These provisional requirements will remain in place
				  until the Commission promulgates rules.
l.
Traffic Variations
. The
				  Commission reserves its right under
				  38 M.R.S.
				  §91 to vary the number of Training Trips
				  required for an initial license in any given area based on changes in traffic
				  levels within that area. Such action by the Commission must be in consultation
				  with those pilots licensed for the area and noticed on at least two regular
				  meeting agendas with opportunity for the public to comment on the changes
				  during each meeting. Changes to Training Trip requirements in any area will not
				  be made more than once in any given three-year period.
m.
Low Volume Areas
. The Maine
				  Pilotage Commission has designated the following waters as Low Volume Areas:
				  Sheepscot River, Boothbay Harbor, Penobscot River (Bucksport to Bangor), Blue
				  Hill Bay, Eastern Way/Somes Sound.
(1) For
				  Initial License in Low Volume Areas: 
				  
												 The pilot must hold a license certification by the
						Maine Pilotage Commission in at least one other area governed by the
						Commission;
												The pilot must appear before the Maine Pilotage
						Commission to review applicable qualifications;
												The pilot must complete a license application and pay
						licensure fees for an added route endorsement per
						38 M.R.S.
						§93;
												The pilot must complete at least 12 round trips,
						except for the Penobscot River (Bucksport to Bangor to the Route 1A Bridge)
						which requires 18 round trips and Blue Hill Bay, Eastern Way/Somes Sound which
						require 6 round trips each. 25% of the required Training Trips must be
						completed during hours of darkness (although a daytime restriction may be
						issued if adequate Training Trips are not completed during hours of darkness);
						and
												The pilot must complete a comprehensive local area
						written examination upon the conclusion of pilotage training as proctored by
						the Administrator or a member of the Maine Pilotage Commission. The passing
						score must be at least 90%.
												Vessels below 1,600 gross tons may be used for
						initial Training Trips and Initial License as well as Recency
(2)
				  Pilotage waters cease to be Low Volume Areas when the number of ships requiring
				  compulsory pilotage increase to at least the route's defined minimum number of
				  Training Trips per Maine Pilotage Commission Rule 17-387 Chapter 1 Part A.2
				  (Training Trips) counted on a rolling average over 5 years. When the volume of
				  vessels meeting the compulsory gross tonnage and draft thresholds achieves the
				  frequency required for the normal Initial License requirements per Maine
				  Pilotage Commission Rule 17-387 Chapter 1 Part A.2 (Training Trips), then
				  paragraph 2m of this rule shall not apply.