Bill 4469

                    Current Status

Bill Number:                    4469
Ratification Number:            283
Act Number:                     269
Type of Legislation:            General Bill GB
Introducing Body:               House
Introduced Date:                19980121
Primary Sponsor:                Limehouse
All Sponsors:                   Limehouse, Cato, Campsen and
                                H. Brown 
Drafted Document Number:        psd\7129ac.98
Companion Bill Number:          938
Date Bill Passed both Bodies:   19980205
Governor's Action:              S
Date of Governor's Action:      19980220
Subject:                        Pilotage Commissioners, ports of
                                Charleston and Georgetown; license
                                requirements for pilots;
                                Watercraft

Body    Date      Action Description                       Com     Leg Involved
______  ________  _______________________________________  _______ ____________

------  19980306  Act No. A269
------  19980220  Signed by Governor
------  19980217  Ratified R283
Senate  19980205  Read third time, enrolled for
                  ratification
Senate  19980204  Read second time, notice of
                  general amendments
Senate  19980203  Recalled from Committee,                 15 ST
                  placed on the Calendar
Senate  19980203  Introduced, read first time,             15 ST
                  referred to Committee
House   19980130  Read third time, sent to Senate
House   19980129  Read second time, unanimous consent
                  for third reading on the next
                  Legislative day
House   19980129  Read second time
House   19980128  Committee report: Favorable              26 HLCI
House   19980121  Introduced, read first time,             26 HLCI
                  referred to Committee

(A269, R283, H4469)

AN ACT TO AMEND SECTION 54-15-90, CODE OF LAWS OF SOUTH CAROLINA, 1976, RELATING TO THE LICENSURE OF PORT PILOTS SO AS TO DIRECT THE COMMISSIONERS OF PILOTAGE TO ESTABLISH CERTAIN SHORT BRANCH LICENSE REQUIREMENTS AND RESTRICTIONS; AND TO AMEND SECTION 54-15-120 RELATING TO PREREQUISITES TO LICENSING IN THE PORT OF CHARLESTON, SO AS TO REVISE THE LEVELS WHICH AN APPRENTICE MUST OBTAIN BEFORE LICENSURE.

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

Short branch pilotage license requirements for other than Charleston Port

SECTION 1. Section 54-15-90 of the 1976 Code is amended to read:

Section 54-15-90. Apprentices for ports other than Charleston, which are governed by Sections 54-15-100 and 54-15-120, must be taken by full branch pilots only with the approval of the respective boards of commissioners of pilotage and shall serve two years in Georgetown and one year in Port Royal before receiving an initial short branch license. An apprentice must be taken on board vessels of every description so that the apprentice may become completely competent to discharge required duties. After holding an initial short branch license for one year, an apprentice shall receive a second branch license, which the apprentice must hold in service for one year, at the end of which the apprentice may receive a full branch or license. The commissioners of pilotage for the ports of Georgetown and Port Royal jointly shall establish in regulation the tonnage and draft restrictions for each short branch license.

Short branch pilotage license requirements for Port of Charleston

SECTION 2. Section 54-15-120(A) of the 1976 Code is amended to read:

"(A) An apprentice in the port of Charleston shall serve three years before being eligible to take an examination for the initial short branch license. During an apprenticeship licensed pilots shall take an apprentice on board all types of vessels, so that the apprentice may become thoroughly competent for the discharge of piloting duties. An apprentice successively shall hold a:

(1) first branch license with a tonnage restriction in service six months before being eligible to take an examination for the second branch license;

(2) second branch license with no tonnage restriction in service six months before being eligible for the third branch license;

(3) the third branch license in service one year before being eligible to take an examination for the fourth branch license;

(4) fourth branch license in service one year before being eligible to take an examination for a full license or branch.

The commissioners of pilotage for the port of Charleston shall establish in regulation the tonnages and draft restrictions for each short branch license."

Time effective

SECTION 3. This act takes effect upon approval by the Governor.

Approved the 20th day of February, 1998.