S.C. Code Regs. § § 136-020

Current through Register Vol. 48, No. 10, October 25, 2024

Section 136-020 - Short Branch Qualification

A. The term of the apprentice training and qualification program shall be followed by a period of not less than three years for advanced qualification as a short branch pilot.

B. With the consent of the apprentice who has passed the term of apprenticeship, the period of short branch qualification may be suspended for a period of time to be approved by the Commissioners. Under such circumstances, the Commissioners shall assure that the passed apprentice has completed a sufficient number of refresher round trips prior to licensure.

C. The various tonnage and draft limitations for each short branch shall be:

(1) Initial (first) Short Branch (six months) ...Limited to the average Gross Registered Tons rounded up to the next highest thousand for the previous calendar year and limited to the average deep draft, rounded up to the next even number of feet, said tonnage and draft averages will be for the previous calendar year.

(2) Second Short Branch (six months) ...No tonnage limit, deep draft limit to be the deep draft limit applicable in subparagraph (1) above, plus two feet.

(3) Third Short Branch (one year) ...No tonnage limit, deep draft limit to be the deep draft limit applicable in subparagraph (1) above, plus five feet.

(4) Fourth Short Branch (one year) ...No tonnage limit, deep draft limit to be the deep draft limit applicable in subparagraph (1) above, plus twelve feet.

D. While undergoing advance qualification, short branch pilots may be observed by full branch pilots on board such vessels to which the short branch pilots may be assigned.

E. Records of short branch pilot assignments shall be maintained and made available upon request of the Commissioners for up to one year after the fourth short branch period terminates.

S.C. Code Regs. § 136-020

Added by State Register Volume 16, Issue No. 7, eff July 24, 1992. Amended by State Register Volume 23, Issue No. 5, eff May 28, 1999; State Register Volume 25, Issue No. 4, eff April 27, 2001; State Register Volume 32, Issue No. 5, eff May 23, 2008; State Register Volume 33, Issue No. 6, eff June 26, 2009; State Register Volume 47, Issue No. 05, eff. 5/26/2023.