61G14-11.002. Qualifications of Applicants for a Certificate as a Deputy Pilot

(1) Service from two or more of the areas specified in Section 310.071, Florida Statutes, may be combined, provided that the service from any area must be of at least 60 days duration to be counted. However, shipyard periods in excess of 15 days shall not be counted as service, and furthermore, no amount of in-port relief service shall be counted as service.

(2) For the purpose of this rule, one year of maritime experience is defined as 300 days on a vessel in service under the following general conditions:

(a) Service on a commercial merchant or military vessel of the United States of at least 100 gross registered tons. Service will be accepted at the level of qualification which the Federal Government requires to legally perform that service under the conditions prevailing at the time the service is rendered. However, in no case will credit be given for service in a higher grade than the service authorized by the highest U.S. license held by the applicant at the time the service was performed.

(b) Service on a foreign flag vessel equal to that which would be earned if the same service were performed aboard a comparable U.S. vessel at the same time and under the same circumstances. However, in no case will credit be given for service in a higher grade than the service authorized by the highest U.S. license held by the applicant at the time the service was performed;

(c) Service in a pilotage program administered under the auspices of the U.S. Coast Guard for the purpose of providing pilotage services upon the Great Lakes to foreign flag vessels and U.S. flag vessels engaged in foreign trade, provided that the applicant was a fully registered senior pilot at the time service was rendered and provided further that the applicant held one of the following U.S. Coast Guard licenses at the time the service was rendered: unlimited second mate; Master of Freight and Towing Vessels of at least 1600 gross registered tons upon oceans; or unlimited Great Lakes Master. However, if the service was performed in a training status, such service shall not be counted as service;

(d) Service on U.S. flag vessels on the Great Lakes as Mate and First Class Pilot, while holding an unlimited Great Lakes Master’s license issued by the U.S. Coast Guard;

(e) Service as a pilot on vessels at U.S. naval facilities, whether in the U.S. or abroad, and whether in a military or civilian status; provided that such service was rendered while the applicant held a U.S. Coast Guard license as unlimited First Class Pilot, and provided further that the service included the handling of civilian-manned commercial vessels calling at the naval facilities;

(f) Service at sea aboard military vessels of the United States;

(g) Service as an unlimited First Class Pilot in a deep water U.S. port will be accepted on a day for day basis towards the service required with credit being given for each day upon which the applicant provided pilot service to a vessel which legally required such service and such service was provided under the authority of the duly constituted governmental regulatory entity under which the applicant was licensed.

(3) If after two publications of an advertisement for an opening for a Deputy Pilot there are no applicants for the opening who possess the advertised maritime experience requirements, the Board shall readvertise the opening and shall accept applications of persons who submit proof that they have sufficient maritime background and experience to enable them to obtain an unlimited first class pilot’s license for that port during the “observer trainee” period as such is defined in Section 310.075, F.S.

(4) All sea time required by Section 310.071, F.S., shall be fully documented by discharges, continuous discharge books, or other official documents. The Board will accept copies of official documents in lieu of the original. However, non-official documents will not be accepted by the Board unless the original document is submitted and its authenticity attested to by the applicant. After a final decision on an application, the Board will return those original documents accompanying the application upon submission of a copy of those documents. The applicant must provide a certified translation of any documentation not recorded in the English language.

Rulemaking Authority 310.071(2), 310.185 FS. Law Implemented 310.071(2), 310.073 FS. History–New 3-13-85, Formerly 21SS-5.125, Amended 5-4-86, 11-19-86, 1-8-87, 12-11-88, 6-20-89, 4-21-91, 12-8-92, Formerly 21SS-5.0125, 21SS-11.002, Amended 9-27-94, 6-11-95, 10-30-95, 10-5-97, 10-23-05.