Master or male licensed as pilotage authority, on the application of the master or mate, mid on payment of expenses, can examine him as to his capacity to pilot his particular ship, or any other ships belonging to the same owner, within any part of the district of the pilotage authority. If, on examination, the authority find that he is competent, they will grant him a certificate specifying (a) his name ; (6) the ship or ships in respect of which it is granted ; (c) the limits within which he is entitled to pilot the ship or ships ; and (d) the date on which it is granted. Such a certificated person is entitled, while master or mate in any of the ship; specified in the certificate, to pilot that ship within the specified limits, without incurring any penalty for not employing a qualified pilot. These certificates remain in force for a year only, but may be renewed annually. If it appears to the Board of Trade upon complaint matte to them (a) that a pilotage authority have without reasonable cause refused or neglected to examine a master or mate who has applied to them for the purpose ; or (b) that a pilotage authority have without reasonable cause refused or neglected to grant a pilotage certificate after examination ; or (c) that an examination of a master or mate has been unfairly or improperly conducted ; or (d) that a pilotage authority have imposed unfair or improper terms or conditions on the granting of a certificate ; or (c) that a pilotage certificate has been improperly withdrawn ftom the holder thereof ; the Board of Trade may appoint persons to examine the master or mate, and, if he is found competent, grant him a pilotage certificate upon such terms and con ditions as they think fit. Such a certificate contains the same particulars, is of the same effect and continues in force for the same period as a certificate granted by a pilotage authority, and may be renewed and indorsed either by the pilotage authority of the district or by the Board of Trade. The Board of Trade or a pilotage authority, as the case may be, may respectively withdraw any pilotage certificate granted by them in cases of misconduct or inconipetency. Masters and mates pay certain specified fees upon the granting or renewal of pilotage certificates.
Pilot boats and pilot boats and ships regularly employed in the pilotage service are approved and licensed by the authority of the district, who at their discretion appoint and remove the masters ; and every such boat is distinguished by the following characteristics, viz. : (a) On her stern the name of her owner and the port to which she belongs are painted in white letters at least one inch broad and three inches long, and on each bow appears the number of her licence ; (b) In all other parts a black colour is painted or tarred outside, or some other Lalour or colours consented to by the Board of' Trade ; (c) When afloat a flag of large dhnensions of two colours (the upper horizontal half white and the lower horizontal half red) is placed at the mast head, or on a sprit or staff in some equally conspicuous situation. The master takes care that his boat possesses these characteristics, and that the flag is kept clean and distinct ; also that the name and numbers are never concealed, for otherwise he may incur a penalty of £20. When a pilot is carried off in a vessel not in the pilotage service, he exhibits a pilot flag to show that he is on board ; for not doing this there is a penalty of £50, and when the master or mate of a ship holds a pilotage certificate, a pilot flag must be displayed on the ship whilst be is on board and the ship is within a pilotage district in which pilotage is compulsory ; here the penalty for default is £20. A pilot flag or a flag resembling one is not allowed to be displayed on a
ship or boat not having on board a licensed pilot or a master or mate holding a pilotage certificate. The master or owner of a vessel so displaying any such flag is liable for cach offence to a fine of ..C50, unless lie proves that be had no intention to deceive.
Offences, suspension, and dismissal of pilot is liable, in addi tion to damages (if any), to a fine of £100 if, either within or without his district, he commits any of the following offences :—(a) Keeps himself, or is interested in keeping by any agent, servant, or other person, any public-house or place of public entertainment, or sells, or is interested in selling any wine, spirituous liquors, tobacco, or tea ; (b) commits any fraud or offence against the revenues of customs, or against the excise or the laws relating thereto ; (c) is in any way directly or indirectly concerned in any corrupt practices relating to ships, their tackle, furniture, cargoes, crews, or passengers, or to persons in distress at sea, or by shipwreck, or to their monies, goods, or chattels ; (d) lends his licence ; (e) acts as pilot when suspended ; (f) acts as pilot when in a state of intoxi cation ; (g) employs, or causes to be employed on board any ship of which he has charge any boat, anchor, cable, or other store, matter or thing, beyond what is necessary for the service of that ship, with intent to enhance the expenses of pilotage for his own gain, or for the gain of any other person ; (h) refuses or wilfully delays, when not prevented by illness or other reasonable cause, to take charge of any ship within the limits of his licence, upon a signal for a pilot being made by that ship, or upon being required to do so by the master, owner, agent, or consignee thereof, or by any officer of the pilotage authority by whom the pilot is licensed, or by any chief officer of customs ; (i) unnecessarily cuts or slips, or causes to be cut or slipped, any cable belonging to any ship ; (k) refuses, when requested by the master, to conduct the ship of which he has charge into any port or place into which he is qualified to conduct the same, except on reasonable ground of danger to the ship ; or (1) quits the ship of which he has charge without the consent of the master, before the service for which he was hired has been performed. Those who aid or abet in the commission of any of these offences are liable to similar damages and penalty. A pilot so offending is, in addition, liable to be suspended or dismissed by the pilotage authority. And he is guilty of a misdemeanour if, when in charge of a ship, by wilful breach of duty or by neglect of duty, or by reason of drunkenness, he cither—(a) does any act tending to the immediate loss, destruction, or serious damage of the ship, or tending immediately to endanger the life or limb of any person on board the ship ; or (h) refuses or omits to do any lawful act proper and requisite to be done by him for preserving the ship from loss, destruction, or serious damage, or for preserving any person belonging to or on hoard the ship from danger to life or limb. And for so offending he is also liable to suspension or dismissal. See TRINITY HOUSE; SHIPS.