For the purposes of this chapter, the following terms and phrases shall have the meanings stated below:
(a) Vessel.— Includes any description of sea craft or other manufactured equipment capable of being used as a means of transportation in water.
(b) Harbor pilot.— Means the licensed local harbor pilot or designated certified harbor pilot. A harbor pilot is an experienced trained and skilled person, who, through practice, acquires the knowledge of the place in which he navigates which qualifies him to direct and visually direct the course of the vessels, along the coast or within the port, respectively, as the case may be.
(c) Apprentice harbor pilot.— Harbor pilot apprentice who does not hold a harbor pilot license issued by the Puerto Rico Harbor Pilot Commission.
(d) Probationary harbor pilot.— Harbor pilot who holds a temporary or provisional license for a limited time as granted by the Puerto Rico Harbor Pilot Commission.
(e) Commission.— Means the Puerto Rico Harbor Pilot Commission.
(f) Port.— Place on the coast of Puerto Rico with natural protection from the winds and readied for the safety of the ships and to expedite the operations of seagoing traffic. At present the ports of San Juan, Ponce, Mayagüez, Arecibo, Fajardo, Vieques, Culebra, Guayama (Las Mareas), Guayanilla, Guánica, Yabucoa, Aguirre, Jobos, Aguadilla and Tallaboa are in operation.
(g) Waters subject to pilotage in Puerto Rico.— Means all navigable waters of Puerto Rico as provided by the Congress of the United States in Section 8 of the Federal Relations Act, 48 USC § 749.0, as amended.
(h) Pilot.— The officer who captains and directs a ship while navigating, including the one who knows how to navigate on high seas by observing the stars and/or by using electronic equipment. It is usually the first mate of a merchant ship.
(i) Pilotage.— Means to guide a ship, especially at the entrance, changes and exits of ports, bays, inlets, or through narrow channels and sounds, as well as in navigating from one port to another.
(j) Harbor pilotage or pilotage.— Means the act of pilotage. The science or art that teaches the pilotage profession. Pilotage is also the fee or stipend paid by the ship to the harbor pilot for his pilotage services.
(k) Uniform Administrative Procedures Act.— Means §§ 2101 et seq. of Title 3.
(l) License or certificate.— Means the document issued by the Commission to the harbor pilot and apprentice harbor pilots which authorizes them to perform pilotage in Puerto Rico.
History —Aug. 12, 1999, No. 226, § 2, eff. 30 days after Aug. 12, 1999.