5.
BOARDING AND LANDING PILOTS
Gloucester Harbour Trustees as the Competent Harbour Authority for the Port of Gloucester for the purpose of the Pilotage Act 1987 and in pursuance of its powers under Section 7 of the said Act hereby make the following directions which come into force on 1 January 1999 and which supersede the previous directions which came into force on 1 January 1991.
whose deadweight tonnage is less than 100 tonnes or whose notional superficial area calculated by multiplying the overall length in metres by extreme breadth in metres is less than 200 m2 and, in either case:
a) not carrying dangerous or polluting goods as specified in Statutory Instrument 1987 No. 37 The Dangerous Substances in Harbour Areas Regulations 1987 and Statutory Instrument 1995 No 2498 The Merchant Shipping (Reporting Requirements for Ships Carrying Dangerous or Polluting Goods) Regulations 1995 or,
b) not carrying more than 12 passengers
Note: In the case of towed vessels the greater of the sum of the deadweight tonnage or notional superficial areas of the towing and towed vessels shall determine whether or not the criteria for compulsory pilotage are met.
In particular the Master must inform the pilot of any defect in or any matter peculiar to the ship and its machinery and equipment which might materially affect the navigation of the ship.
.
THE SCHEDULE
Pilotage Exemption Certificates
Pilotage Exemption Certificates are available for the Harbour in five categories:-
CLASS A – Full Sea-going
CLASS B – Restricted Sea-going
CLASS C – Smooth and Partially Smooth Waters
CLASS D – Vessels employed in tidal works within the Harbour
CLASS E – Vessels employed in mineral extraction within the Harbour
1.1
All applicants for the grant of a Pilotage Exemption Certificate (other than
Class C) will be required to attend before an examination board who will
determine whether or not a Certificate will be granted. The following will
be taken into account in considering an application:
a) the qualifications, experience, local knowledge and fitness of the applicant
b) the age, type, condition and status of the vessel in respect of which an exemption is sought.
c) from 1 January 2002 the ability of the applicant to use pilotwatch portable radar equipment.
1.2
Additionally an applicant must demonstrate that he has made not less than
8 voyages as defined below to the normal trading destination within the
compulsory area, and 8 voyages from that destination, including both day
and night passages over both spring and neap tidal conditions as either Master
or First Mate of a vessel which was or would have been subject to compulsory
pilotage during the twelve months immediately preceding his application for
the grant or renewal of a Certificate.
A voyage shall be defined as a passage throughout the whole length of that portion of the compulsory pilotage area for which the applicant wishes to obtain a Pilotage Exemption Certificate. In the case of passages to and from Sharpness this will include both docking and undocking at Sharpness Dock.
A Pilotage Exemption Certificate will not normally be issued in respect of a vessel exceeding 3000dwt.
1.3
The Trustees may, in their absolute discretion, vary the trippage requirements
dependent upon the type of vessel and cargo carried, and the candidate's
ability to satisfy the Trustees that he has relevant adequate local knowledge
and experience.
1.4
On application for the grant of, or the renewal of a Pilotage Exemption
Certificate, the Trustees will require the applicant or holder to produce
a medical certificate and may refuse to grant or renew the Exemption Certificate
if it is found after examination by a doctor nominated by the Trustees that
the applicant or holder is suffering from any physical or mental infirmity
or defect which might interfere with the proper performance of his duties
and responsibilities as a Pilotage Exemption Certificate holder.
1.5
Pilotage Exemption Certificates will be granted up to and including the 31st
day of December next, but may be renewed annually to come into effect on
the 1st day of January subject to compliance with the appropriate regulations.
1.6
Fees will be charged to applicants for the grant or renewal of Pilotage Exemption
Certificates in accordance with the current List of Charges, for one or more
of the following:-
a) an examination (whether successful or not)
b) the grant of a Certificate
c) the renewal of a Certificate
d) any alteration in or addition to or for the issue of a duplicate Certificate in place of one which may have been lost.
1.7
Every Pilotage Exemption Certificate holder will, when navigating within
any part of the Harbour for which such a Certificate is granted, produce
such Certificate on demand for inspection by any Officer of the Trustees.
1.8
Pilotage Exemption Certificate holders will, subject to reasonable notice
in writing given under the hand of the Clerk, attend before the Trustees
or any Committee thereof.
1.9
All regulations and directions made for the proper operation and administration
of pilotage will, so far as any of them are applicable, extend to all Certificate
holders. In particular a Certificate holder must not knowingly navigate a
vessel within the Harbour if there is any defect in the vessel, it's machinery
or equipment that might materially affect safe navigation within the Harbour
without the prior consent of the Duty Harbour Master.
1.10
Failure by a Certificate holder to comply with any regulations and directions
as defined in 1.9 will result in the immediate revocation of the Certificate.
2.1
A Class A Certificate will neither be granted nor renewed to any Master or
First Mate who does not hold and maintain a current Certificate of Competency
issued by an appropriate Authority which satisfies the requirements of the
International Convention on Standards of Training, Certification and Watchkeeping
1978 (STCW 78) as amended in 1995 (STCW 95) or any re-enactment or further
amendment thereof, and which is recognised by the Maritime and Coastguard
Agency as being appropriate to the class or type of vessel to be navigated.
Additionally, all applicants will be required on examination to demonstrate for navigational purposes an adequate command of the English language.
2.2
A Class A Certificate will neither be granted nor renewed unless the holder
can satisfy the Trustees' Duty Harbour Master that an adequate level of local
knowledge and experience in navigating merchant vessels or tugs within the
compulsory area has been maintained. The holder will be required to provide
the Duty Harbour Master with all relevant information to substantiate the
application, and may be called before the Duty Harbour Master for interview.
2.3
(a) The holder of a Class A Certificate will submit to the Gloucester Harbour
Trustees a return each month detailing each occasion on which a vessel was
navigated within the Harbour under the provisions of the Certificate.
(b) For each occasion when such a vessel is navigated by a Class A Certificate holder the owner of the vessel will pay to the Trustees 20% of all pilotage charges which would otherwise have been payable if an authorised pilot had been employed. Provided that when each such vessel has completed 10 trips in and 10 trips out of the Harbour piloted by Class A Certificate holders in any one calendar year, the charge paid by the owner of the vessel will be reduced to 5% for all subsequent trips within the calendar year.
3.1
A Class B Certificate will only be granted to the Master or First Mate of
a merchant vessel of not more than 70 metres length overall and a tug or
not more than 45 metres length overall which habitually operates within the
Harbour and between the Harbour and one or more of the other Ports on the
Bristol Channel including and lying inward of Milford Haven.
3.2
A Class B Certificate will neither be granted nor renewed to any Master or
First Mate who does not hold and maintain a current Certificate of Competency
issued by an appropriate Authority which satisfies the requirements of the
International Convention on Standards of Training, Certification and Watchkeeping
1978 (STCW 78) as amended in 1995 (STCW 95), or any re-enactment or further
amendment thereof, and which is recognised by the Maritime and Coastguard
Agency as being appropriate to the class or type of vessel to be navigated
within the area as described in 3.1 above.
3.3
A Class B Certificate will not be renewed unless the holder can satisfy the
Trustees' Duty Harbour Master that an adequate level of local knowledge and
experience in navigating merchant vessels or tugs within the compulsory area
has been maintained. The holder will be required to provide the Duty Harbour
Master with all relevant information to substantiate the application for
renewal, and may be called before the Duty Harbour Master for interview.
3.4
(a) The holder of a Class B Certificate shall submit to the Gloucester Harbour
Trustees a return each month of the vessel or vessels navigated by him within
the Harbour and for which the Certificate was granted.
(b) On the first occasion each year that such a vessel is navigated by a Class B Certificate holder the owner of the vessel will pay to the Trustees all the pilotage charges that would have been payable if an authorised pilot had been employed.
(c) No further charges will be levied on that vessel for subsequent trips in the same calendar year.
4.1
A Class C Certificate will neither be granted nor renewed unless the applicant
or holder can satisfy the Trustee's Duty Harbour Master that an adequate
level of local knowledge and experience in navigating vessels within the
area defined in 4.2 exists or has been maintained, as appropriate. The applicant
or holder will be required to provide the Duty Harbour Master with all relevant
information to substantiate his application for grant or renewal and may
be called before the Duty Harbour Master for interview.
4.2
A Class C Certificate will only be granted to the Master of a vessel which
habitually trades or operates within the Harbour and its Approaches providing
that such trading or operation is entirely confined within the Smooth and
Partially Smooth Water Limits relevant to the Harbour as defined in Statutory
Instrument 1987 No 1591 Merchant Shipping (Smooth and Partially Smooth Waters)
Regulations 1987, or any statutory re-enactment or amendment thereof.
4.3
(a) The holder of a Class C Certificate shall submit to the Gloucester Harbour
Trustees a return each month of the vessel or vessels navigated by him within
the Harbour and for which the certificate was granted.
(b) On the first occasion each year that such a vessel is navigated by a Class C Certificate holder the owner of the vessel will pay to the Trustees all the pilotage charges that would have been payable if an authorised pilot had been employed.
(c) No further charge will be levied on that vessel for subsequent trips in the same calendar year.
5.1
A Class D Certificate will only be granted to the Master, First Mate or Person
in charge of a vessel which is regularly employed in survey, construction
or maintenance work directly related to the construction and maintenance
of tidal works wholly within such areas of the Harbour as are determined
by the Trustees.
5.2
A Class D Certificate will neither be granted nor renewed to any Master or
First Mate who does not hold and maintain a current Certificate of Competency
issued by an appropriate Authority which satisfies the requirements of the
International Convention on Standards of Training, Certification and
Watchkeeping, 1978 (STCW 78) as amended in 1995 (STCW 95) or any re-enactment
or further amendment thereof, and which is recognised by the Maritime and
Coastguard Agency as being appropriate to the class or type of vessel to
be navigated within the area described in 5.1 above
5.3
A Class D Certificate will not be renewed unless the holder can satisfy the
Trustees' Duty Harbour Master that an adequate level of local knowledge and
experience in navigating merchant vessels or tugs within the relevant harbour
area has been maintained. The holder will be required to provide the Duty
Harbour Master with all relevant information to substantiate the application
for renewal, and may be called before the Duty Harbour Master for interview.
5.4
(a) The holder of a Class D Certificate shall submit to the Gloucester Harbour
Trustees a return each month of the vessel or vessels navigated by him within
the Harbour and for which the certificate was granted.
(b) On the first occasion each year that such a vessel is navigated by a Class D Certificate holder the owner of the vessel will pay to the Trustees all the pilotage charges that would have been payable if an authorised pilot had been employed.
(c) No further charge will be levied on that vessel for subsequent trips in the same calendar year.
6.1
A Class E Certificate will only be granted to the Master, First Mate or Person
in charge of a vessel which is regularly employed in sand, gravel or other
mineral extraction work wholly within such areas of the Harbour as are determined
by the Trustees which shall be considered as the normal trading destination
for the purposes of Direction 1.
6.2
A Class E Certificate will neither be granted nor renewed to any Master or
First Mate who does not hold and maintain a current Certificate of Competency
issued by an appropriate Authority which satisfies the requirements of the
International Convention on Standards of Training, Certification and Watchkeeping
1978 (STCW 78) as amended in 1995 (STCW 95), or any re-enactment or further
amendment thereof, and which is recognised by the Maritime and Coastguard
Agency as being appropriate to the class or type of vessel to be navigated
within the area as described in 6.1 above.
6.3
A Class E Certificate will not be renewed unless the holder can satisfy the
Trustees' Duty Harbour Master that an adequate level of local knowledge and
experience in navigating merchant vessels or tugs within the relevant Harbour
areas has been maintained. The holder will be required to provide the Duty
Harbour Master with all relevant information to substantiate the application
for renewal and may be called before the Duty Harbour Master for interview.
6.4
(a) The holder of a Class E Certificate shall submit to the Gloucester Harbour
Trustees a return each month of the vessel or vessels navigated by him within
the Harbour and for which the certificate was granted.
(b) On the first occasion each year that such a vessel is navigated by a Class E Certificate holder the owner of the vessel will pay to be Trustees all the pilotage charges that would have been payable if an authorised pilot had been employed.
(c ) No further charge will be levied on that vessel for subsequent trips in the same calendar year.
1.1.1999
APPENDIX 1
PILOTAGE ORDERS AND PROCEDURES
EFFECTIVE FROM IST APRIL 1999
The boarding of vessels inwards takes place normally between the Breaksea Light and Barry Roads between 6 to 4 hours before High Water at Sharpness by the Bristol Pilot Cutter.
Subject to tidal constraints the departure of vessels outwards from Sharpness takes place normally between 2 hours before to 30 minutes after High Water at Sharpness.
Timings to and from Chepstow and Lydney will be advised on request to the Duty Pilot.
Information on Inter-port movements between the South Wales Ports and Bristol, and the Gloucester Harbour Ports is available on request.
Factors such as ship dimensions, draught in fresh water, speed and equipment condition combined with tidal and weather conditions are critical to a safe and expeditious passage. Full co-operation from ships' Agents, Masters and Owners is essential in providing information on the vessel's status and in updating of ETAs and ETDS, otherwise delays and liability to additional charges may be incurred.
Orders for pilotage are to be directed by Ships' Agents, Masters and Owners to the Trustees' Duty Pilot.
Masters of vessels bound for Chepstow, Lydney and Sharpness boarding a pilot from the Barry Roads Station must give - either directly or via their Agent - at least 24 hours confirmation of their ETA off the Breaksea Light - latitude 51° 20'.85N longitude 3° 19'.00W - by telephone to the Duty Pilot. Masters who expect their passage time to be less than 24 hours must contact the Duty Pilot by telephone immediately before sailing.
All Masters must confirm directly to the Avonmouth Signal Station their ETA off the Breaksea Light 6 hours beforehand by:-
i. VHF radio to AVONMOUTH RADIO - Channel 12
ii. Telephone to 0117 9822257 (including Coast Radio Link Calls)
iii. FAX message to 0117 9235320 clearly marked 'GLOUCESTER PILOT'.
Failure to comply with this procedure will result in the pilot not being present at the Boarding and Landing Station at the appropriate time with consequent delay to the vessel.
Masters of vessels outward bound from Sharpness and sailing before 1300 hours, must agree, either directly, or through their Agent their ETD with the Duty Pilot by telephone before 1730 hours on the previous day. Where vessels are sailing after 1300 hours ETD must be agreed with the Duty Pilot a minimum of 4 hours beforehand. In both cases the agreed ETD must be confirmed by the Master directly to the Sharpness Pierhead two and one half hours beforehand.
ETD arrangements for Chepstow and Lydney will be advised on request.
5.
BOARDING AND LANDING PILOTS
Pilots are normally boarded and landed between the Breaksea Light and Barry Roads by the Bristol Pilot Cutter which keeps a continuous listening watch on VHF channel 16.
Masters bound inward should make radio contact with the cutter at least one hour before their arrival off the Breaksea Light using the call sign 'GLOUCESTER PILOT' - instructions will then be given to the Master of the position and time of boarding of the pilot.
Ships' Agents, Masters or Owners may cancel or amend an order for pilotage services during the Duty Watch period without charge providing that notice is given at least ten hours before High Water at Sharpness for inward bound vessels and for outward bound vessels at least four hours before High Water Sharpness and at least four hours before High Water Chepstow or Lydney. Cancellation or postponement of an order for pilotage services with less than the above notice or outside the Duty Watch period will result in the imposition of Cancellation or Postponement Charges as prescribed in the Trustees' current list of pilotage charges.
APPENDIX 2
i) where the vessel is of 2500 dwt and over
ii) where the vessel is of 13.75m (45 ft.) beam and over
iii) where the vessel is of 86.0m (282 ft.) length overall and over
iv) where the vessel's under-keel clearance on arrival off Sharpness Dock is not anticipated to be more than the minimum clearance required by Sharpness Port Authority plus 0.25m.
v) where the vessel's main or auxiliary machinery, control systems, navigational or communications equipment cannot be stated by the Master to be free from defect and where such defect may adversely affect the safety of the vessel during transit
vi) where the vessel's structure, equipment, cargo or any obstruction can restrict the Pilot's forward viewing or impair the safe navigation of the vessel
vii) where weather or tidal conditions are adverse
viii) where the vessel is carrying a hazardous, toxic or potentially polluting cargo
ix) where there is reason to doubt that the bridge staff have a sufficient command of the English language to be able to respond correctly and without delay to the Pilot's directions.
NB This list is not to be regarded as covering all circumstances in which the engagement of an assistant is necessary or desirable.
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