Florida Administrative Code
61 - DEPARTMENT OF BUSINESS AND PROFESSIONAL REGULATION
61G14 - Board of Pilot Commissioners
Chapter 61G14-15 - DUTIES, SAFETY GUIDELINES, BOARDING AND DISEMBARKING
Section 61G14-15.003 - Safety Guidelines

(1) If a pilot determines that circumstances render transit by a vessel unsafe, the pilot shall not be required to board or direct the movement of the vessel until conditions permit safe transit. He/she shall advise the vessel's master of his/her action, request that it be noted in the vessel's log, and document it in his/her records. If the pilot becomes aware that the master insists on moving the vessel without a pilot, the pilot shall attempt, by any appropriate means, to give notice of such movement, to other vessels in the area, tugs assigned to assist, the Coast Guard and a law enforcement officer of the Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission.

(2) If, after any pilot has boarded a vessel, circumstances change so as to render the proposed transit unsafe, he/she shall advise the master to postpone or halt the transit until it can be safely undertaken. If the master insists that the vessel continue as originally intended, the master shall thereby have assumed complete responsibility for the direction of the movement of the vessel. Thereupon, the pilot shall advise the master that the master has taken the conn and that the pilot is standing by and will, unless ordered otherwise, render advice to assist in attaining such level of safety as may be practicable under prevailing circumstances. He/she shall request that his/her action be noted in the vessel's log and shall document it in his/her records. The pilot shall attempt, by any appropriate means, to give notice of his/her action to other vessels in the area, tugs assigned to assist, the Coast Guard and a law enforcement officer of the Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission.

(3) If a pilot has boarded a vessel and circumstances change rendering docking or undocking of the vessel unsafe, he/she shall so advise the master. If the master insists that the vessel dock or undock in spite of advice to the contrary, the master shall thereby have assumed complete responsibility for the direction of the movement of the vessel. Thereupon, the pilot shall advise the master that the master has taken the conn and that the pilot is standing by and will, unless ordered otherwise, render advice to assist in attaining such level of safety as may be practicable under the prevailing circumstances. The pilot shall request that his/her action be noted in the vessel's log and shall document it in his/her records. The pilot shall attempt, by any appropriate means, to give notice of his/her action to other vessels in the area, tugs assigned to assist, the Coast Guard and a law enforcement officer of the Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission.

(4) Each association of pilots in each port where such association(s) exists, and the licensed state pilots in each port who are not members of such association shall submit to the Board for its review and approval or rejection, the normal maximum allowable draft of vessels calling at the port and restrictions on bottom clearance for each channel, as required by Sections 310.075(4) and 310.101(1)(d), F.S.