PILOTAGE DIRECTIONS FOR THE RIVER OUSE WITHIN BRITISH WATERWAYS PILOTAGE AREA
British Waterways in exercise of its powers as a Competent Harbour Authority (CHA) under the provisions of the Yorkshire Ouse (Pilotage Powers) Order 1998 and having carried out consultations as required by the Pilotage Act 1987, give the following Pilotage Directions to ships or vessels to be navigated in the Pilotage Area.
In these Directions the Pilotage Area is defined in the Order, ie. the waters of the River Ouse bounded by a) an imaginary line drawn across the River Ouse at a distance of 91.44 metres below and parallel to the South side of the bridge known as Skelton or Hook Railway Bridge at latitude 53 42'.7 N ( the lower limit) and b) an imaginary line running West across the River Ouse at latitude 53 47'.5 N at Barlby near Selby (the upper limit)
(1) Pilotage shall be compulsory within the Pilotage Area for:
Any ship or vessel of greater than 40 metres, navigating within the Pilotage Area which shall be in charge of either
(a) A Pilot authorised by the Competent Harbour Authority; or (b) A Pilotage Exemption Certificate holder.
(2) Exemptions
A ship or vessel of less than 40 metres in length shall be exempt from Compulsory Pilotage within the Compulsory Pilotage Area, unless it is a Passenger Craft, with passengers on board, or a ship carrying Dangerous substances as defined by the Dangerous Substances in Harbour Areas Regulations 1987.
3. PILOTAGE EXEMPTION CERTIFICATES
(1) A Pilotage Exemption Certificate may be issued for any or all of the areas from the lower limit specified to:-
(a) The Port of Howden (Howdendyke)
(b) The Drax Power Station berth
(c) The Port of Selby
(d) Any other defined location
(2) A bona fide Master or First Mate of a ship or vessel may apply for a Pilotage Exemption Certificate, but must satisfy British Waterways by examination that they have such a level of skill, experience, local knowledge and understanding of the British language sufficient for them to be capable of piloting that ship (or any ships specified in the certificate), and at the discretion of British Waterways may be required to attend before such of its officers as British Waterways may from time to time specify to prove their abilities by examination
(3) An applicant for a Pilotage Exemption Certificate must produce evidence that during the one year prior to the application they have made 20 voyages (20 trips in and 20 trips out) over that part of the Pilotage Area for which they are applying for an Exemption as Master or First Mate of the named ship or vessel.
(4) Holders of Pilotage Exemption Certificates applying for their renewal must produce evidence that during the 2 months prior to the application for the renewal they have made at least 4 trips in and 4 trips out over that part of the Pilotage Area to which the certificate applies. In order to maintain their local knowledge up to date the Pilotage Exemption shall lapse if any longer period than six weeks passes between voyages through the Pilotage Exemption Area.
(3.1) CHARGES
(1) The fees for the examination or re-examination of applicants and for the grant, alteration or renewal of Pilotage Exemption Certificates shall be as published by British Waterways from time to time.
(2) The owner of every ship or vessel whose Master or Mate holds a Pilotage Exemption for any part of the Pilotage Area, shall for each occasion on which such Master or Mate may navigate their ship or vessel within the Pilotage Area, in cicumstances in which the employment of a Pilot would otherwise be compulsory, pay to the Competent Harbour Authority (CHA) one quarter of the pilotage dues which would have been payable in respect of the ship if a Pilot had been employed
For the purposes of this Direction a complete movement shall mean the movement of a ship or vessel from the lower limit of the area to her place of destination and return to the lower limit.
(3) The holder of a Pilotage Exemption Certificate shall make monthly returns to the CHA within seven days of the end of each month in which they make a voyage, noting the number of voyages and the name of the ship which they piloted within the area, and at the same time the owner or agent of the ship shall pay to the CHA the amount due.
(3.2) RENEWAL OF CERTIFICATES
(1) A Pilotage Exemption Certifate shall be valid for one calendar year from the date of issue. Requests for renewal must be submitted not less than 10 working days before the expiry of the certificate, complete with the required proof of voyages made. British Waterways may at its discretion, require that applicants for a renewal of a certificate submit themselves for re-examination. Renewal fees will be payable to cover administrative costs.
(3.3) CONDITIONS OF USE
A Master or Mate holding a Pilotage Exemption Certificate shall act in accordance with the requirements of the Pilotage Act 1987, as amended and:
(1) shall not attempt to pilot any ship unless they are bona fide Master or First Mate of that ship.
(2) shall, whenever an accident has happened to or has been caused by a vessel in their charge within the Pilotage Area, report the facts as soon as possible in writing on the approved form to the Harbour Master.
(3) shall, on observing any fault of the Navigation Beacons or any other aids, or any obstruction in or alteration of the navigable channel of the river, make a report as soon as practicable to the Harbour Master.
(4)shall, on reasonable notice from the Harbour Master, attend any meeting to which they may be summoned.
(3.4) APPLICATION FORMS
Application forms for Pilotage exemption Certificates may be obtained from British Waterways Harbour Master for the River Ouse.
(4) COMMENCEMENT
These Pilotage Directions will come into force on 1st of May 1998 and remain in force until amended or rescinded by British Waterways.
The CHA shall be free to make such exceptions to and exemptions from the requirements of these Directions as they may see fit with reference to the circumstances of the case.
M.D.Stilliard..... Harbour Master...... River Ouse......martin.stilliard@britishwaterways.co.uk