Maritime and Port Authority of Singapore (Pilotage) Regulations 1997

No. S 185

Maritime and Port Authority of Singapore Act 1996
(Act 7 of 1996)

In exercise of the powers conferred by section 76(1) of the Maritime and Port Authority of Singapore Act 1996, the Maritime and Port Authority of Singapore, with the approval of the Minister for Communications, hereby makes the following Regulations:

Citation, commencement and application

1.—(1) These Regulations may be cited as the Maritime and Port Authority of Singapore (Pilotage) Regulations 1997 and shall come into operation on 9th April 1997.

(2) These Regulations shall apply to any pilotage district.

Definitions

2. In these Regulations —

“Collision Regulations” means the Merchant Shipping (Prevention of Collisions at Sea) Regulations (Cap. 179, Rg 10);

“dangerous cargoes” has the same meaning as in regulation 2 of the Maritime and Port Authority of Singapore (Port) Regulations 1997 (G.N. No. S 187/97);

“pilot” means an authorised pilot;

“Port Health Officer” has the same meaning as in the Infectious Diseases Act (Cap. 137).

Duty to exhibit required flags and lights

3.—(1) There shall be exhibited on a vessel engaged on pilotage duty —

(a)

during the hours between 0700 hours and 1900 hours, a red and white flag 1.8 metres by 1.2 metres in size —

(i)	showing the letter “P” coloured blue in the centre; and
(ii)	divided horizontally with the upper half of the flag coloured white and the lower half coloured red; and

(b)

during the hours between 1900 hours and 0700 hours, 2 all-round lights at or near the masthead and in a vertical line, the upper light being white and the lower red.

(2) There shall be exhibited on a vessel requiring the service of a pilot —

(a)

during the hours between 0700 hours and 1900 hours, the flag “G” of the International Code of Signals 1969; and

(b)

during the hours between 1900 hours and 0700 hours, 3 all-round lights in a vertical line —

(i)	the highest and middle lights to be white and the lowest light to be red; and
(ii)	the vertical spacings between the lights to be in accordance with the Collision Regulations.

(3) During the hours between 0700 hours and 1900 hours, there shall be exhibited on a vessel under pilotage the flag “H” of the International Code of Signals 1969.

(4) It is the duty of the master of a vessel engaged on pilotage duty to ensure that the flag and lights are appropriately exhibited.

Pilot’s duties in relation to vessel proceeding to Quarantine Anchorage

4.—(1) A pilot may board any vessel displaying an international quarantine signal for the purpose of piloting her to the Quarantine Anchorage.

(2) Where the master of a vessel has reported a suspected case of plague on board his vessel, the pilot —

(a)	shall not allow any other person in his launch to board the vessel;
(b)	shall not leave the vessel except with the permission of the Port Health Officer; and
(c)	shall submit himself to vaccination, or other quarantine precautions, as the nature of the case may require.

Pilot to carry licence and other documents

5. A pilot shall when on duty —

(a)	carry his licence with him and such other documents as the Port Master may direct; and
(b)	make the licence and documents referred to in paragraph (a) available for inspection by the master of any vessel employing him.

Pilot to be conversant with laws and duties

6. A pilot shall make himself conversant, and shall comply, with all written laws and the directives of the Authority relating to his duties.

Refusal to conduct vessels

7. A pilot who refuses the conduct of any vessel for any reason shall give his reasons in writing to the Port Master within 24 hours of the refusal.

Notification of conditions detrimental to safety

8. A pilot having the conduct of a vessel who discovers conditions which may be detrimental to the safe manoeuvring of the vessel shall notify the Port Master of those conditions.

Particulars to be ascertained by pilot

9.—(1) A pilot having the conduct of a vessel shall, prior to the movement of the vessel, obtain from the master of the vessel the particulars of the vessel including its type, draught, length, beam and height.

(2) If it is intended that the vessel enter, leave or manoeuvre within the East Johor Strait or a Height Restricted Area as defined in the Maritime and Port Authority of Singapore (Port) Regulations 1997 (G.N. No. S 187/97) the pilot shall ascertain the source of the information relating to the height of the vessel and, if necessary, require the master or person in charge of the vessel to verify the height by physical measurement.

Overloaded vessel

10. If a pilot finds that the vessel under his conduct appears to be overloaded, he —

(a)	shall immediately report the overloading to the Port Master; and
(b)	shall not undertake the conduct of the vessel unless instructed to do so by the Port Master.

Conduct of vessel with dangerous cargoes on board

11. A pilot having the conduct of a vessel with dangerous cargoes on board shall act in accordance with the Maritime and Port Authority of Singapore (Port) Regulations 1997 (G.N. No. S 187/97), or any other regulations made by the Authority from time to time relating to the carriage of dangerous cargoes.

Due care and diligence to be exercised

12.—(1) A pilot —

(a)	shall exercise care and diligence to prevent any accident, or damage, to the vessel he is piloting, to any vessel or to any kind of property; and
(b)	shall not cause obstruction or interference to the navigation of other vessels in any navigable channel.

(2) If an accident occurs whilst a vessel is being conducted by a pilot, he shall submit a report to the Port Master within 24 hours of the accident.

Defective or damaged buoys and beacons

13. If any pilot —

(a)	finds or has any reason to believe that a buoy is out of its proper position, has broken adrift, is damaged or is missing; or
(b)	notices anything wrong or defective in any beacon,

he shall as soon as is practicable make a report to the Port Master.

Impediments or alterations in channel or landmark

14. A pilot who observes —

(a)	any impediment or alteration in any channel; or
(b)	any change or apparent change in any landmark,

shall report the impediment, alteration or change to the Port Master.

Pilot to remain on board

15.—(1) A pilot having the conduct of an outward bound vessel shall remain on board the vessel until —

(a)	the service for which he has been engaged is completed; or
(b)	the vessel is at the nearest designated pilot disembarkation ground and the master has agreed to resume the conduct of the vessel.

(2) Unless otherwise arranged between the pilot and the master of a vessel, the pilot shall not disembark —

(a)	before the designated pilot disembarkation ground if the vessel is bound for sea; or
(b)	before the vessel is properly anchored, moored, or otherwise secured to the satisfaction of the master, if the vessel is in port.

(3) A pilot having the conduct of a vessel may, due to the exigencies of service, be directed by the Port Master to conduct the vessel to the nearest designated pilot disembarkation ground.

Pilot to obtain documents

16. A pilot having the conduct of a vessel shall, prior to leaving the vessel —

(a)	obtain from the master such documents, duly signed by the master, as may be prescribed by the Authority; and
(b)	deliver the documents to the Port Master within 24 hours of obtaining them.

Pilot to be medically fit

17. A pilot who, through sickness, accident or any defect in his eyesight, is unable to discharge his duties efficiently is liable to immediate suspension from duty by the Port Master until he is certified medically fit to resume duty.

Pilotage Committee

18. A pilot shall attend before the Pilotage Committee on being summoned to do so by the chairman of the Committee.

Compliance with Regulations and orders

19. A pilot shall —

(a)	comply with these Regulations; and
(b)	obey and execute all orders given by the Port Master.

Report on circumstances when master assumes conduct of vessel from pilot

20. A pilot on board a vessel the conduct of which has been assumed by the master for any reason shall give a written statement of the incident to the Port Master within 24 hours.

Care that vessel does not run aground

21. Notwithstanding regulations 8, 10 and 19, no pilot shall, without a written order from the owner or master of the vessel, place any vessel in a position where the vessel will be, or is likely to be, aground at any state of the tide.

Report for contravention of Port Regulations

22. A pilot shall, when making a report against a vessel for the contravention of any provision of the Maritime and Port Authority of Singapore (Port) Regulations 1997 (G.N. No. S 187/97), submit his report in such form as the Port Master may require.

Communication equipment to be in good working order

23. A pilot shall ensure that the communication equipment used by him is in a proper working condition and shall comply with the instructions given for the use of the equipment.

Unauthorised persons

24. No pilot shall knowingly permit any unauthorised person to accompany him when boarding a vessel.

Unauthorised goods

25. Unless otherwise authorised, no pilot shall —

(a)	permit any person or goods to be taken on board a vessel from a pilot launch; or
(b)	permit any person or goods to be brought ashore in a pilot launch from a vessel.

Annual medical examination

26. Every pilot shall submit himself for a medical examination, and an eyesight test, at least once every 12 months or whenever deemed necessary by the Port Master.

Revocation

27. The Port of Singapore Authority (Pilotage) Regulations (Cap. 236, Rg 4) are revoked.

Savings

28. Any provision, direction, order, notice, report or exemption given or made under the revoked Port of Singapore Authority (Pilotage) Regulations is deemed to have been given or made under the corresponding provisions of these Regulations.

Made this 5th day of March 1997.

PETER HO HAK EAN

Chairman,
Maritime and Port Authority of Singapore.

[MINCOM PS 396/1-006; PY/LD/1.02/LKS; AG/SL/59/95]

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