Section 250-RICR-80-00-9.14 - Pilot Boats Rules and RegulationsA. Certificate of Compliance: The owner or operator of a pilot boat used for the purpose of boarding or disembarking any Rhode Island State licensed pilot in the territorial waters of Rhode Island shall secure from and hold a valid "Certification of Compliance", issued annually by the Rhode Island State Pilotage Commission. Said certificate shall be conspicuously displayed on the pilot boat to show that it is manned and operated in compliance with the Rhode Island State Pilotage Commission Rules and Regulations. The Commission may suspend or revoke the license of any Rhode Island State licensed pilot if the Commission finds that said Rhode Island State licensed pilot has boarded or disembarked a vessel in the territorial waters of Rhode Island utilizing a pilot boat that does not possess a valid "Certification of Compliance" and thereby failed to ensure the health, safety, and welfare of the residents of the State of Rhode Island and the individuals utilizing the waters of the State.B. Log Book to Be Kept: On board each pilot boat, there shall be kept a log book approved by the State Pilotage Commission, and all appropriate entries shall be made therein by the operator of the pilot boat of all registry and enrolled vessels boarding and disembarking pilots from it. On or before the seventh (7th) day of the following month, a copy of the log shall be forwarded to the State Pilotage Commission. The original log book shall be subject to the inspection of the Commission at all times and each log book shall be preserved for reference for a period of not less than seven (7) years thereafter.C. Inspection and Certification of Pilot Boats 1. The owner or operator of a pilot boat used for the purpose of boarding or disembarking any licensed pilot on the waters of Rhode Island Sound, Block Island Sound, and Narragansett Bay, shall secure from and hold a valid "Certificate of Compliance" issued annually by the Rhode Island State Pilotage Commission. Said certificate shall be conspicuously displayed on the pilot boat to show that it is manned and operated in compliance with the Rhode Island State Pilotage Commission Rules and Regualtions. The above certificate may be revoked by the Commission for infractions of these Rules and Regulations.2. The "Certificate of Compliance" will be issued only after vessels have been inspected and found to be satisfactorily in compliance with the safety standards and Regulations as set forth in this section.3. A "Certificate of Compliance" will be issued for a period of one (1) year. All pilot boats will be inspected annually and within the sixty (60) day period immediately preceding the expiration date of the existing "Certificate of Compliance."4. For the purpose of receiving a "Certificate of Compliance", pilot boats will be inspected by a U.S. Coast Guard inspection officer or by a certified marine surveyor or inspector, authorized by the Commission. Any deficiencies noted by the inspection officer shall be corrected by the pilot boat owner to the satisfaction of the Commission prior to the issuance or renewal of the "Certification of Compliance." 5. For the purpose of receiving a "Certificate of Compliance", a pilot boat must satisfy the standards set forth in the U.S. Coast Guard's "Requirements for Uninspected Passenger Vessels" incorporated above at § 9.2(A) of this Part (a copy of which can be found on the R.I. State Pilot Commission informational page hosted on the RIDEM Website: http://www.dem.ri.gov).D. Complement of Pilot Boat: The crew of every pilot boat engaged in the service of transporting pilots to and from vessels shall consist of the operator of the boat (Federally licensed to carry persons for hire) and at least one (1) other qualified person whose duties shall include in particular, the safety of the pilot in embarking and disembarking and the protection of life and property in general.E. Additional Equipment on Pilot Boats 1. In addition to the equipment required by R.I. Gen. Laws § 46-9-6 and its subsections, every pilot boat subject to certification by the Commission shall be equipped with the following items which shall be maintained in good working order: b. Life Raft - A Commission approved self-inflatable life raft (Renene, Avon, or equivalent) of six (6) person capacity, in a canister, fixed on a deck with a Coast Guard approved hydrostatic release or installed on a float free installation. Said life raft and release shall be tested by a Coast Guard approved inspection station every twelve (12) months.c. Radios - Two (2) fixed VHF radio transceivers with appropriate frequencies. Said radios shall be independent of each other including its antennae.d. Flood Lights - Every vessel shall be fitted with floodlights on the mast or superstructure in a manner to light the fore deck and boarding area at night.e. Ladder on Stern - Every vessel shall have fixed on the stern ladder rounds or means to enable a person in the water to be retrieved.f. Work Vest - In addition to the required life preservers to be carried on board, every vessel shall supply the required deck hand and operator with a Coast Guard approved float work vest.g. Survival Suits - During the winter months, October 1st through June 1st, every pilot boat shall have on board three (3) Coast Guard approved survival suits stored in an approved manner. Said suits shall be inspected by a Coast Guard approved inspection station every twenty-four (24) months.F. Pilots and Pilot Boats, Exception to Rules: In the case of an emergency, or due to conditions beyond the control of the pilot, or the owner, or operator of a pilot boat where the Rhode Island State Pilotage Commission Rules and Regulations cannot be observed, said pilot, owner, or operator of said pilot boat shall within twenty-four (24) hours of reaching shore, make a preliminary report to the Commission and may be required to give a detailed written report and appear before the Commission in person.G. Pilot Station 1. Brenton Reef Pilot Station, at Lat. 41°-23.4'N, Long. 71°-21.2'W (072°-6 miles from Point Judith Light), is the main pilot station for the boarding of all State licensed pilots in the waters of Rhode Island Sound and Block Island Sound. Pilots shall board vessels, when practical, within the boarding area bounded by the following points: 2. Vessels bound to and from Long Island Sound ports may be boarded and disembarked at Point Judith Pilot Station, at Lat. 41°-17.0'N, Long. 71°-31.0'W, (199° - 4.9 miles from Point Judith Light), through prior arrangement with the vessel's agents or the pilots, weather permitting.3. The Rhode Island Pilot Approach Communications system shall maintain a watch of VHF Radio Channel #16 at least two (2) hours before the vessel's E.T.A.250 R.I. Code R. 250-RICR-80-00-9.14
Amended effective 11/13/2018
Amended effective 8/4/2019
Amended effective 6/1/2020
Amended effective 12/23/2021