WAC 363-116-205   Vessel certification.  (1) Upon boarding a vessel in the Puget Sound pilotage district or Grays Harbor pilotage district, a pilot shall request on the form provided in WAC 296-116-2051 that the master of the vessel certify that: (a) The engine room is properly staffed, able to maneuver, and all related equipment is in good order; (b) there are no defects listed against the ship by the United States Coast Guard which would prevent it from sailing; (c) the vessel is not leaking oil; (d) the vessel is experiencing no propulsion or maneuvering difficulties.

     If the master is unable to certify that all of the above conditions are met, he/she shall be asked to certify that the United States Coast Guard captain of the port has been notified of said deficiencies and has authorized the vessel to proceed.

     If the master is unable or unwilling to certify that either of the above are the case, the pilot shall not offer pilotage services to said vessel. Instead, the pilot shall disembark from the vessel as soon as practicable, immediately inform the captain of the port of the conditions and circumstances by the best possible means and forward a written report to the board of pilotage commissioners no later than twenty-four hours after disembarking from the vessel. Any Washington licensed pilot who offers pilotage services to a vessel on which the master has failed to make a certification required by this section shall be subject to the penalties provided in RCW 88.16.100 and 88.16.150.

     (2) Upon boarding vessels in either the Puget Sound pilotage district or the Grays Harbor pilotage district, the pilot shall also request to see the vessel's SOLAS certificate, and the Federal Maritime Commission certificate of financial responsibility.

     The pilot shall also inspect the following of the ship's equipment and conditions and indicate their suitability:

     VHF radio, channels 13, 14; radar; gyrocompass; rudder angle indicator; whistle; wheelhouse staffed by an officer and helmsman, one of whom speaks English; local, up-to-date charts; and wheelhouse to engine room communications.

     (3) The form appearing in WAC 296-116-2051 shall be used by pilots and masters in complying with the above requirements.

     (4) Forms completed by masters and pilots which indicate that the vessel is in compliance and nondeficient shall be forwarded to the offices of the board of pilotage commissioners where they will be retained for a period of at least six months. Forms indicating a vessel not in compliance or deficient and forms upon which either the master or the pilot have failed to make the required certification shall be forwarded to the board of pilotage commissioners and retained for a period of at least twelve months.



[Statutory Authority: Chapter 88.16 RCW and 2008 c 128. 08-15-119, § 363-116-205, filed 7/21/08, effective 8/21/08. Recodified as § 363-116-205. 97-08-042, filed 3/28/97, effective 3/28/97. Statutory Authority: RCW 88.16.035. 82-13-087 (Order 82-10-049, Resolution No. 82-10-049), § 296-116-205, filed 6/23/82; 79-11-063 (Order 79-5, Resolution No. 79-5), § 296-116-205, filed 10/18/79. Statutory Authority: RCW 88.16.035 and 88.16.155. 78-09-057 (Order 78-2, Resolution No. 78-2), § 296-116-205, filed 8/23/78.]