Bill 3295

                    Current Status

Bill Number:               3295
Ratification Number:       299
Act Number                 285
Introducing Body:          House
Subject:                   Relating to pilots and pilotage in the port of
                           Charleston

(A285, R299, H3295)

AN ACT TO AMEND SECTIONS 54-15-100, 54-16-120 AND 54-15-130, CODE OF LAWS OF SOUTH CAROLINA, 1976, ALL RELATING TO PILOTS AND PILOTAGE IN THE PORT OF CHARLESTON, SO AS TO REQUIRE AN APPRENTICE PILOT TO BE EITHER A COLLEGE GRADUATE OR A LICENSED THIRD MATE, TO PERMIT AN APPRENTICE PILOT TO HAVE 20-20 VISUAL ACUITY CORRECTED BY CONTACT LENS, TO MODIFY THE PREREQUISITES TO OBTAINING A TWENTY FOOT LICENSE AND A TWENTY-THREE FOOT LICENSE, AND TO INCREASE THE NUMBER OF PILOTS FROM FOURTEEN TO FIFTEEN.

Be it enacted by the General Assembly of the State of South Carolina:

Requirements for apprentice pilots

Section 1. Section 54-15-100 of the 1976 Code is amended by striking in the second sentence "possess at least a high school education evidenced by a diploma or certificate of graduation from an accredited high school" and inserting "be a graduate of an accredited four year college or hold an unlimited ocean Third Mate's License" and by inserting after "uncorrected" in the same sentence "or corrected by contact lens". As amended the section shall read:

"Section 54-15-100. Apprentices for the port of Charleston shall be taken by full branch pilots only, and must be approved by a majority of the full branch pilots as well as the commissioners of pilotage for the port of Charleston. They shall not be under eighteen nor over twenty-eight years, must be a graduate of an accredited four year college or hold an unlimited ocean Third Mate's License, be of good moral character, have 20-20 visual acuity uncorrected or corrected by contact lens, have good color vision evidenced by his ability to distinguish colors by means of the Stilling's test or other equivalent test as accepted by the United States Coast Guard, have good natural hearing and such other physical and mental qualifications as may be required by the commissioners of pilotage for the port of Charleston. Satisfactory certificates of the above requirements must be filed with the commissioners of pilotage for the port of Charleston before the applicant will be accepted as an apprentice."

Further

Section 2. Section 54-15-120 of the 1976 Code is amended to read "Section 54-15-120. Apprentices in the port of Charleston shall serve three years before being eligible to take an examination for a twenty-three foot license or branch. During their apprenticeship licensed pilots shall take such apprentices on board all types of vessels, so that they may become thoroughly competent for the discharge of their duties. They must hold a twenty-three foot license or branch with a tonnage restriction in service six months before being eligible to take an examination for a twenty-three foot license or branch with no tonnage restriction; and must hold a twenty-three foot license or branch with no tonnage restriction in service six months before being eligible for a twenty-seven foot license or branch; and hold a twenty-seven foot license or branch in service one year before being eligible to take an examination for a thirty foot license or branch; and hold a thirty foot license or branch in service one year before being eligible to take an examination for a full license or branch. No apprentice, however, shall be granted a license until the number of pilots shall have fallen below fourteen. Should two or more apprentices be eligible to offer for examination at the same time, the seniority of securing a license shall be determined by the proficiency of the respective apprentices, established at such examination."

Limitation of pilots

Section 3. Section 54-15-130 of the 1976 Code is amended by striking "fourteen" in the first sentence and inserting "fifteen". As amended the section shall read:

"Section 54-15-130. The number of pilots for the bar and harbor of Charleston shall not exceed fifteen. The number of pilots for the port of Port Royal shall be limited to twelve and for the bar and harbor of Georgetown to three, with power to the commissioners of pilotage to increase the number for the port of Port Royal to fifteen and for Georgetown to five, if in their judgment the commerce of either of such ports shall require such increase. The number of pilots for the other ports shall be fixed by the commissioners of pilotage at such ports; but such limit in number shall not operate as an exclusion of any pilot who holds a regularly issued license. The board shall make no distinction in the selection of pilots on account of race, color or previous condition."

Time effective

Section 4. This act shall take effect upon the approval by the Governor.