11.703—Service requirements.
(a)
The minimum service required to qualify an applicant for an endorsement as first-class pilot is predicated upon the nature of the waters for which pilotage is desired.
(1) General routes (routes not restricted to rivers, canals and small lakes).
The applicant must have at least 36 months service in the deck department of steam or motor vessels navigating on oceans, coastwise, Great Lakes, or bays, sounds, and lakes other than the Great Lakes, as follows:
(i)
18 months of the 36 months service must be as quartermaster, wheelsman, able seaman, apprentice pilot, or in an equivalent capacity, standing regular watches at the wheel or in the pilothouse as part of routine duties.
(ii)
At least 12 months of the 18 months service required in paragraph (a)(1)(i) of this section must be on vessels operating on the class of waters for which pilotage is desired.
(2) River routes.
The applicant must have at least 36 months service in the deck department of any vessel including at least 12 months service on vessels operating on the waters of rivers while the applicant is serving in the capacity of quartermaster, wheelsman, apprentice pilot, or deckhand who stands watches at the wheel as part of routine duties.
(3) Canal and small lakes routes.
The applicant must have at least 24 months service in the deck department of any vessel including at least 8 months service on vessels operating on canals or small lakes.
(b)
A graduate of the Great Lakes Maritime Academy in the deck class meets the service requirements of this section for a license as first class pilot on the Great Lakes.
(c)
Completion of a course of pilot training approved by the National Maritime Center under subpart C of this part may be substituted for a portion of the service requirements of this section in accordance with § 11.304 of this part. Additionally, round trips made during this training may apply toward the route familiarization requirements of § 11.705 of this part. An individual using substituted service must have at least nine months of shipboard service.
(d)
An individual holding a license or MMC endorsement as master or mate of inspected steam or motor vessels of over 1,600 gross tons meets the service requirements of this section for an endorsement as first class pilot.
[CGD 81-059, 52 FR 38623, Oct. 16, 1987, as amended at 54 FR 144, Jan. 4, 1989; CGD 95-072, 60 FR 50460, Sept. 29, 1995; USCG-1998-4442, 63 FR 52189, Sept. 30, 1998; USCG-1999-6224, 64 FR 63235, Nov. 19, 1999; USCG-2006-24371, 74 FR 11252, Mar. 16, 2009]