An Act To Authorize the Maine Pilotage Commission To Establish Alternative Initial License Criteria for Existing Pilots Seeking Endorsements for Low Traffic Volume Routes

Sec. 1. 38 MRSA §91, last ¶,  as enacted by PL 1999, c. 355, §14, is amended to read:

An applicant must complete a training trip in the area for which that person is making application under the direction of a licensed pilot actively piloting in that area. These training trips must be on vessels of at least 1600 gross tons except that the commission may establish alternative initial license criteria for existing pilots under the jurisdiction of the commission who are seeking route endorsements in areas of low traffic volume as defined by the commission. The commission shall establish standards for proof of such training and the minimum number of trips required. Once those standards are established, they may be amended only upon a 2/3 vote of the commission. The commission shall adopt rules implementing any alternative initial license criteria for existing pilots seeking route endorsements in areas of low traffic volume that are established by the commission. Rules adopted pursuant to this paragraph are routine technical rules as defined in Title 5, chapter 375, subchapter 2-A.

SUMMARY

This bill allows the Maine Pilotage Commission to establish alternative initial license criteria for existing pilots who are seeking low-volume route endorsements and requires the commission to adopt routine technical rules to implement any criteria that are established.