995 CMR 3.10 - Prior Maritime Experience

(1) Satisfactory maritime experience must be, in the case of an applicant for a Warrant Pilot Commission, either Merchant Marine experience or Pilot experience as set forth in 995 CMR 3.10.

(2) Merchant Marine experience must be:

(a) At least two years of service at sea during the five-year period immediately preceding the date of original application for which such Commission is made;

(b) During such two-year period, at least one year shall have been served aboard Appropriate commercial vessels as determined by the Commissioner.

(c) One year of service at sea shall mean 180 days service on an operating commercial merchant vessel documented or registered under the laws of the United States or owned by the United States Government;

(d) Service at sea on a foreign flag vessel may, in the sole discretion of the Commissioner, be determined after appropriate inquiry and receipt of documentary evidence, be treated as equivalent to service on a vessel documented under the laws of the United States;

(e) The Commissioner shall make an interpretation of sea service for merchant vessels in Reduced Operating Status (ROS) and Mobile Offshore Drilling Units (MODUs) in accordance with 46 CFR § 10.232 and relevant U.S. Coast Guard policy, but no more than ½ a day for every day of service;

(f) All service at sea shall be evidenced by duly authenticated discharges, service books, or other official documents. The originals shall be exhibited to the Commissioner and copies delivered to the Commissioner;

(g) Any document not in the English language shall be accompanied by a translation by a certified translator;

(h) In the event that the applicant certifies in writing under oath that any original documents have been lost or otherwise are not available, the Commissioner in their sole discretion may accept substitutes or an affidavit by the applicant under oath; and

(i) Any sea time acquired during the pilot training program may be acceptable as satisfactory maritime experience used toward the experience requirement

(3) Any applicant who is a member of any uniformed service of the United States of America may apply as sea time credit any time during which the applicant served on active duty, and the time shall be applied as experience toward the required experience in the following manner:

(a) Military service in command of a vessel in excess of 1600 Gross Tons shall be applied as credit toward any requirements for service as Master;

(b) Military services as second-in-command of a vessel in excess of 1600 Gross Tons shall be applied as credit toward any requirements for service in the capacity of chief mate; and;

(c) Military sea service in a capacity as an officer in charge of a navigational bridge watch of a vessel in excess of 1600 Gross Tons shall be applied as credit toward any sea service requirements other than those in the capacity of master or chief mate.

(4) No person's status as a veteran or as a military reservist, and no person's susceptibility to recall to military active duty, shall diminish the person's eligibility for selection for pilot apprentice training or for warrant or full branch pilot commission.

(5) Pilot experience must be:

(a) At least three years' service as a State Pilot holding a Commission;

(b) Such service must be performed within waters subject to the jurisdiction of the United States Coast Guard; and

(c) Such service must not have been interrupted because of suspension or revocation of Commission.

Notes

995 CMR 3.10

Adopted by Mass Register Issue 1488, eff. 2/3/2023.