PILOTAGE DIRECTIONS
Gloucester Harbour Trustees,
as the Competent Harbour Authority for the
1.
Pilotage shall be compulsory within the area
described in paragraph 2 below for all vessels except:
i) those 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
ii) a tug responding to an emergency call
from either a vessel being piloted by an authorised pilot or a vessel under the
command of the holder of a pilotage exemption certificate.
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.
2.
The area to which compulsory pilotage applies is
that of the Gloucester Harbour as currently defined in Article 11 of the
Gloucester Harbour Revision (Constitution) Order 2002 and includes its
approaches.
3.
All vessels subject to compulsory pilotage shall,
when entering or leaving the harbour approaches, board or land their pilot in
the vicinity of Breaksea Light Float (51° 20' N, 3° 19' W)
(Chart BA1152) or at such other location as may be notified to meet operational
requirements.
4.
Orders for the provision of pilotage services to
any vessel are to be made in such manner as may from time to time be directed
by the Trustees and promulgated by an appropriate Notice to Mariners (Appendix
1).
5.
The Harbour Master
may require that on the advice of the authorised pilot intending to provide
pilotage to a vessel subject to compulsory pilotage the authorised pilot shall
be accompanied by an assistant who is also an authorised pilot. An illustration of the type of criteria which
may be taken into account by the authorised pilot and Harbour Master are set
out in Appendix 2.
6.
The Master of any vessel subject to compulsory
pilotage or any vessel requesting pilotage services will be required in
compliance with Section 18 of the Pilotage Act 1987 to provide details of the
ship’s dimensions and all other information relevant to the ship and its cargo
which may affect passage through the compulsory area.
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.
7. Training and Licensing procedures for Pilots are set out in
Schedule 1 and Appendix 3 to these
Directions.
8. Pilotage
Exemption Certificates may be applied for in accordance with the provisions of
Section 8 of the Pilotage Act 1987 and Schedule 2 to these Directions.
9. Pursuant to
Section 7 (3) of the Pilotage Act 1987 these Directions shall not apply to
ships of less than 20 metres in length or to fishing boats of which the
registered length is less than 47.5 metres.
10. In the
interpretation of these Directions and the Schedules and Appendices hereto the
masculine shall include the feminine and vice versa.
11. In these Pilotage
Directions:-
‘BW’ means
British Waterways
‘GPP’ means the
Gloucester Pilots Partnership
‘GHT’ means the
Gloucester Harbour Trustees
‘Harbour Master
(HM)’ means the Harbour Master for the time being of GHT or his relief
‘Act
of Pilotage’ means one carried out aboard a vessel for which pilotage within
the
Dated this 18th day of May
2007
Rosemary Elsey
Clerk to GHT
Navigation House
The Docks
Sharpness
GL13 9UD
SCHEDULE 1
TRAINING
AND LICENSING OF PILOTS
1 The aim of this training and licensing
regime is to ensure that the knowledge and experience of each Pilot is always
matched to the task in hand bearing in mind the acknowledged difficulties of navigation in
the River Severn and its estuary. A summary of the subjects in which a Pilot is
expected to demonstrate competence is attached at Appendix 3.
2 Gloucester Pilots
may, subject to the following conditions for each class of Pilot, be licensed
to pilot vessels in that portion of the Bristol Channel which lies eastward of
an imaginary line drawn from the lighthouse at Hartland Point to the Southern
Lighthouse on Lundy Island and thence through Caldy Island Lighthouse to the
mainland and the whole of the River Severn to Gloucester including the basin at
Sharpness and Lydney Harbour and so much of the River Wye as is below the road
bridge at Chepstow but excluding all docks (but not any entrance basin or lock
leading thereto).
3 TRAINING AND PROBATIONARY PERIOD
i) Training
Period
A trainee pilot
must accompany a licensed pilot on a minimum of 40 acts of pilotage, of which 25 acts are to be inbound and
10 acts to be during the hours of darkness.
This initial training period
will last not less than three months.
Assessment before
progressing to the probationary stage will be by theoretical and practical examination and submission of a training
record and passage plans. The National Occupational Standards for Marine Pilots will be taken into
account.
ii) Probationary
Period
Following
completion of the initial training period, the probationary pilot will
undertake a further 30 unaccompanied acts of pilotage under a Class 3
(Probationary) Authorisation, of which 20 acts are to be inward and 15 acts to
be during the hours of darkness, under the following conditions:
·
Vessels not to exceed 2500 DWT in the
loaded condition
·
Vessels not be exceed 3000 DWT in the
ballast condition
·
Vessels not to exceed 100m loa
·
All such ships to be handled only on
tides of less than 9.0m and when the anticipated underkeel clearance is
expected to be the normal beam/underkeel clearance required to enter/depart
Sharpness plus 0.5 metres at High Water and the prevailing weather, tidal and
operational conditions and all other pertinent factors (e.g. type, condition,
equipment of ship etc.) are agreed by the Duty Pilot in consultation with the
HM to be within acceptable limits given the experience of the probationary
pilot.
Assessment
before the issue of a full Class 3 Authorisation will be by a senior pilot and
will include submission of the log book and take account of the range of tides
and weather conditions that have been encountered.
b) CLASS 3 AUTHORISATION
A Class
3 Authorisation licences a pilot to handle the following ships:
·
Vessels not exceeding 3000 DWT in the
loaded condition
·
Vessels not exceeding 3500 DWT in the
ballast condition
·
Vessels not exceeding 100m loa
·
All such ships to be handled only on
tides when the anticipated underkeel clearance is expected to be the normal
beam/underkeel clearance required to enter/depart Sharpness plus 0.5 metres at
High Water and the prevailing weather, tidal and operational conditions and all
other pertinent factors (e.g. type, condition, equipment of ship etc.) are
agreed by the Duty Pilot in consultation with the HM to be within acceptable
limits given the experience of the holder of a Class 3 authorisation.
The holder
of a Class 3 Authorisation will not be licensed to act as Pilot of any vessel
bound to/from any locations other than those specified and endorsed on his licence.
4 CLASS 2
AUTHORISATION
a) A Class 2 Authorisation will only be
issued when the following conditions have been met:
i) To undertake 100 acts under the Class
3 Authorisation. 50 of these acts are to
be inbound, of which 25 should be
during the hours of darkness
ii) To undertake a minimum of 6 additional inbound
and 4 additional outbound trips accompanied
by a senior pilot on board vessels outside the Class 3 authorisation or requiring specialist skills because of
tidal, weather or ship handling conditions as specified
by a senior pilot
Assessment
before the issue of a Class 2 Authorisation will be by a senior pilot and will
include submission of the log book and will take account of the range of tides
and weather conditions that have been encountered.
b) A Class 2
Authorisation licences a pilot to handle the following ships:
·
Vessels not exceeding 3500 DWT in the loaded
condition
·
Vessels not exceeding 4000 DWT in the
ballast condition
·
All such ships to be handled only on
tides when the anticipated underkeel clearance is expected to be the normal
beam/underkeel clearance required to enter/depart Sharpness plus 0.3 metres at
High Water and the prevailing weather, tidal and operational conditions and all
other pertinent factors (e.g. type, condition, equipment of ship etc.) are
agreed by the Duty Pilot in consultation with the HM to be within acceptable
limits given the experience of the holder of a Class 2 Authorisation.
The holder
of a Class 2 Authorisation will not be licensed to act as Pilot of any vessel bound
to/from any locations other than those specified and endorsed on his licence
5 CLASS 1 AUTHORISATION
a) A Class 1 Authorisation
will only be issued when the following conditions have been met:
i) To undertake 100 acts under the Class
2 Authorisation, of which 50 should be inbound.
ii) To undertake a minimum of 6 additional
inbound and 4 additional outbound trips accompanied
by a senior pilot on board vessels requiring a Class 1 Authorisation or other
specialist skills because of tidal, weather or ship handling conditions as specified by a senior pilot
Assessment
before the issue of a Class 1 Authorisation will be by a senior pilot and will
include submission of the log book and will take account of the range of tides
and weather conditions that have been encountered.
b) A Class 1
Authorisation licences a pilot to handle the following ships:
·
Any vessel in the loaded condition
·
Any vessel in the ballast condition
·
All such ships to be handled only on
tides when the prevailing weather, tidal and all other pertinent factors (e.g.
type, condition, equipment of ship etc.) are agreed by the Duty Pilot in
consultation with the HM to be within acceptable limits given the experience of
the holder of a Class 1 Authorisation
The holder of a Class 1 Authorisation will not be licensed to act
as Pilot of any vessel bound to/from any locations other than those specified
and endorsed on his licence.
c) Minimum Requirements to maintain a Class
1 Authorisation:
To
undertake 50 acts of pilotage per annum and produce such proof of competency as
GHT may require
7 AUTHORISATION
FOR PASSENGER VESSELS TO SEVERN & WYE BERTHS
Pilots to have
undertaken at least 4 accompanied trips aboard the vessel to each berth before
being authorised for sole conduct of these passenger vessels
Assessment for
this authorisation will be by a senior pilot and include submission of the log
book.
SCHEDULE
2
PILOTAGE EXEMPTION
CERTIFICATES
1
GENERAL
REGULATIONS
1.1
All applicants for the grant of a
Pilotage Exemption Certificate 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)
the ability of the applicant to use
pilotwatch portable radar equipment, if required
d)
the applicant’s command of the English
language for navigational purposes, where appropriate
1.2
Additionally, an applicant must
demonstrate that, during the twelve months immediately preceding his
application for the grant or renewal of a Certificate, he has made not less
than 40 voyages as defined below within the compulsory area as either Master or
First Mate of a vessel which was or would have been subject to compulsory pilotage. A minimum of 15 of these voyages must be
inward and a minimum of 15 outward, including both day and night passages over
both spring and neap tidal conditions.
1.3 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.
1.4 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 adequate relevant local knowledge and experience.
1.5 On application for
the grant, or renewal of a Pilotage Exemption Certificate, the Trustees
will require the applicant or holder to produce a current medical certificate.
They may refuse to grant or renew the Pilotage 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.
1.6 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.
1.7 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.
1.8 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.
1.9 Pilotage Exemption
Certificate Holders may, subject to reasonable notice in writing, be asked to
attend before the Trustees or any of their committees if required.
1.10 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, its machinery or equipment that
might materially affect safe navigation within the Harbour without the prior
consent of the Harbour Master.
1.11 Failure by a
Certificate holder to comply with any regulations and directions as defined in
1.10 will result in the immediate revocation of the Certificate.
2 PILOTAGE EXEMPTION CERTIFICATES
2.1 GHT will only grant
·
not exceeding 3000 dwt and 80m length
overall and
·
not carrying dangerous or polluting
goods
·
not carrying more than 12 passengers
2.2 A
PEC will only be granted or renewed to any Master or First Mate who does holds
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 2.1
above.
2.3 A
PEC will not be renewed unless the holder can satisfy the Trustees’ 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 Harbour Master with all relevant information to substantiate the
application for renewal and may be called before the Harbour Master for
interview.
2.4 (a) The holder of a PEC 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 PEC 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 pilotage charge will be
levied on that vessel for subsequent trips in the same calendar year.
APPENDIX 1
NOTICE TO MARINERS NO. 5/02
PILOTAGE ORDERS AND PROCEDURES EFFECTIVE FROM 1 MAY
2002
1.
OPERATIONAL CONSTRAINTS
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
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.
2.
ORDERING OF PILOT SERVICES
Orders for pilotage are to
be directed by Ships' Agents, Masters and Owners to the Trustees' Duty Pilot.
·
Orders should be placed during the Duty Watch which
extends from 0900 to 1730 Monday to Friday inclusive and Saturday 0900 to 1200
(excepting Christmas Day) by telephone through 07774
226143 with a minimum of 24 hours notice of ETA off the Breaksea Light for
inward bound vessels, and a minimum of 8 hours notice before high water at
Sharpness for outward bound vessels.
·
Orders for Pilots received outside the Watch
hours, and in the case of orders received for inward bound vessels up to 10
hours before High Water Sharpness and up to 4 hours before High Water for
outward bound vessels, will be subject to the imposition of Late Booking Fees
as prescribed in the Trustees' current list of pilotage charges.
·
At the time of ordering, the Duty Pilot will
require ETA or ETD of the vessel, SDWT, maximum draught in fresh water, speed
and all other information relevant to the navigational status of the vessel.
Additionally - operational air draught above the waterline will be required for
all vessels.
3.
INWARD BOUND VESSELS - ETA
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 Bristol/Severn VTS their ETA off the Breaksea Light 6 hours
beforehand by either:-
- VHF radio to Bristol VTS - Channel 12
- VHF radio to Severn VTS - Channel 69
·
Telephone to 0117 9822257
·
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.
4.
OUTWARD BOUND VESSELS - ETD
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.
6.
CANCELLATION AND POSTPONEMENT OF PILOT SERVICES
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
TYPE OF CRITERIA TO BE TAKEN INTO ACCOUNT WHEN REACHING A
DECISION UNDER SECTION 5
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