CHAPTER 62. NAVIGATION DISTRICT PILOT BOARDS

TRANSPORTATION CODE

TITLE 4. NAVIGATION

SUBTITLE B. PILOTS

CHAPTER 62. NAVIGATION DISTRICT PILOT BOARDS

SUBCHAPTER A. GENERAL PROVISIONS

Sec. 62.001. DEFINITION. In this chapter, "navigation district"

means a navigation district included in:

(1) Subchapters C, D, E, F, G, and H, Chapter 60, Water Code;

(2) Subchapter E, Chapter 61, Water Code; or

(3) Sections 62.154 through 62.159, Water Code.

Acts 1995, 74th Leg., ch. 165, Sec. 1, eff. Sept. 1, 1995.

SUBCHAPTER B. PILOT BOARDS OF NAVIGATION DISTRICTS

Sec. 62.021. PILOT BOARD; COMMISSIONERS OF PILOTS. (a) The

pilot board of a navigation district is composed of the

district's navigation and canal commissioners.

(b) A member of the pilot board is a commissioner of pilots.

Acts 1995, 74th Leg., ch. 165, Sec. 1, eff. Sept. 1, 1995.

Sec. 62.022. TERM OF OFFICE. The term of office of a

commissioner of pilots coincides with the person's term as a

navigation and canal commissioner.

Acts 1995, 74th Leg., ch. 165, Sec. 1, eff. Sept. 1, 1995.

Sec. 62.023. DISQUALIFICATION. A person who is engaged directly

or indirectly in a towing, pilot boat, or other business affected

by or connected with the performance of the duties of a

commissioner of pilots may not be a commissioner of pilots.

Acts 1995, 74th Leg., ch. 165, Sec. 1, eff. Sept. 1, 1995.

Sec. 62.024. JURISDICTION. The pilot board of a navigation

district has exclusive jurisdiction over the pilotage of a vessel

between the Gulf of Mexico and a port of the navigation district,

including an intermediate stop or landing place on a navigable

stream in the district.

Acts 1995, 74th Leg., ch. 165, Sec. 1, eff. Sept. 1, 1995.

Sec. 62.025. POWERS OF PILOT BOARDS. The pilot board of a

navigation district may:

(1) appoint, suspend, or dismiss a branch or deputy pilot of a

port in the district;

(2) establish pilotage rates for service in the board's

jurisdiction; or

(3) adopt and enforce rules consistent with this chapter about

the appointment, qualification, or regulation of branch or deputy

pilots that are needed to govern those pilots and for the proper

operation of the district's ports.

Acts 1995, 74th Leg., ch. 165, Sec. 1, eff. Sept. 1, 1995.

SUBCHAPTER C. REGULATION OF BRANCH AND DEPUTY PILOTS

Sec. 62.041. BRANCH OR DEPUTY PILOT QUALIFICATIONS. (a) The

pilot board of a navigation district shall examine and determine

the qualifications of each applicant for the position of branch

or deputy pilot before appointing a branch or deputy pilot.

(b) The pilot board shall specify a period that an applicant

must reside in this state immediately before the person's

appointment. The period may not exceed two years.

Acts 1995, 74th Leg., ch. 165, Sec. 1, eff. Sept. 1, 1995.

Sec. 62.042. OATH; BOND. (a) A branch pilot appointed under

this chapter or the rules of the pilot board of a navigation

district must take the official oath. The oath must be endorsed

on the bond required by Subsection (b).

(b) The branch pilot must enter into a bond in the amount of

$5,000 with one or more good and sufficient sureties. The bond

must be:

(1) payable to the governor;

(2) conditioned on the faithful performance of the branch

pilot's duties;

(3) approved by the pilot board; and

(4) deposited in the office of the secretary of state.

Acts 1995, 74th Leg., ch. 165, Sec. 1, eff. Sept. 1, 1995.

Sec. 62.043. ISSUANCE OF BRANCH PILOT LICENSE. (a) On the

filing of the bond and the taking of the oath required by Section

62.042, a commissioner of pilots shall certify to the governor

that the branch pilot has qualified.

(b) On receiving the certificate, the governor shall issue to

the branch pilot, in the name of the state and under the state

seal, a commission to serve as a branch pilot in the jurisdiction

of the pilot board of a navigation district.

Acts 1995, 74th Leg., ch. 165, Sec. 1, eff. Sept. 1, 1995.

Sec. 62.044. TERM OF BRANCH PILOT LICENSE. (a) The term of a

branch pilot commission is four years.

(b) If the pilot board of a navigation district dismisses a

branch pilot from service, the branch pilot's commission expires.

Acts 1995, 74th Leg., ch. 165, Sec. 1, eff. Sept. 1, 1995.

Sec. 62.045. APPOINTMENT OF DEPUTY PILOTS. (a) A branch pilot

may appoint two deputy pilots, subject to the examination by and

approval of the pilot board of a navigation district.

(b) The branch pilot may appoint an additional deputy pilot if

the pilot board considers the appointment advisable.

(c) The branch pilot is responsible for the acts of the deputy

pilots.

(d) The branch pilot's own appointment under this chapter is

forfeited if the branch pilot appoints a deputy pilot without the

pilot board's approval.

Acts 1995, 74th Leg., ch. 165, Sec. 1, eff. Sept. 1, 1995.

Sec. 62.046. SUSPENSION OR DISMISSAL OF PILOTS. The pilot board

of a navigation district may suspend or dismiss a branch or

deputy pilot only for misconduct, inefficiency, or intoxication

on duty and after a hearing on the accusation is held before the

pilot board at which there is opportunity for testimony and

defense.

Acts 1995, 74th Leg., ch. 165, Sec. 1, eff. Sept. 1, 1995.

SUBCHAPTER D. PILOTAGE CHARGES AND LIABILITY

Sec. 62.061. DEFINITION. In this subchapter, "pilot" means a

branch or deputy pilot appointed under this chapter.

Acts 1995, 74th Leg., ch. 165, Sec. 1, eff. Sept. 1, 1995.

Sec. 62.062. PILOTAGE CHARGES INAPPLICABLE. Pilotage charges

under this subchapter do not apply to a vessel of 20 tons or less

or to a vessel that is excepted by a federal statute or

regulation.

Acts 1995, 74th Leg., ch. 165, Sec. 1, eff. Sept. 1, 1995.

Sec. 62.063. PILOTAGE CHARGES. (a) A pilotage rate charged by

a pilot must be fair and just.

(b) A pilot shall furnish a schedule of pilotage rates that must

be on file at all times in the office of the navigation district

commissioners.

(c) Each time a change in the rates occurs, the pilot must file

a revised schedule.

(d) A pilot shall strictly follow the schedule of rates on file

in the commissioners' office.

Acts 1995, 74th Leg., ch. 165, Sec. 1, eff. Sept. 1, 1995.

Sec. 62.064. CONSIGNEE LIABILITY FOR PILOT SERVICES. The

consignee of a vessel is liable to a pilot for the pilotage of

the vessel.

Acts 1995, 74th Leg., ch. 165, Sec. 1, eff. Sept. 1, 1995.

Sec. 62.065. LIABILITY OF CERTAIN VESSELS DECLINING PILOT

SERVICES. (a) A vessel that, without the aid of a pilot, enters

any channel that is under the jurisdiction of a pilot board of a

navigation district and declines pilot services offered by the

pilot outside the bar, is liable for the payment of half pilotage

to the first pilot whose services the vessel declined.

(b) The consignee of a vessel is responsible for pilot services

offered and declined under Subsection (a).

Acts 1995, 74th Leg., ch. 165, Sec. 1, eff. Sept. 1, 1995.

Sec. 62.066. LIABILITY OF CERTAIN VESSELS TO OTHER PILOTS. (a)

A vessel that goes out of a channel under the jurisdiction of a

pilot board of a navigation district without the aid of a pilot

is liable for the payment of half pilotage to:

(1) the pilot who brought the vessel into the channel; or

(2) the pilot who first offered the vessel services outside the

bar, if the vessel did not employ a pilot to come in.

(b) The consignee of a vessel is responsible for pilot services

offered under Subsection (a).

Acts 1995, 74th Leg., ch. 165, Sec. 1, eff. Sept. 1, 1995.

Sec. 62.067. UNAUTHORIZED PILOT LIABILITY. A person, other than

a pilot, who pilots a vessel for which a pilot is required out of

or into a port, channel, or waterway under the exclusive

jurisdiction of the pilot board of a navigation district is

liable to a pilot authorized to provide pilot services in the

port, channel, or waterway who offers to pilot the vessel for a

payment of $50.

Acts 1995, 74th Leg., ch. 165, Sec. 1, eff. Sept. 1, 1995.

Sec. 62.068. RECOVERY OF PILOTAGE CHARGES. (a) A pilot may

recover in court compensation for pilotage or services offered.

(b) A pilot may bring suit to recover the payment under Section

62.067.

Acts 1995, 74th Leg., ch. 165, Sec. 1, eff. Sept. 1, 1995.