3Survey

3 Survey

3.1 A Pilot vessel must be, as a minimum, built, surveyed and maintained in accordance with the requirements of MSQ for vessels operating within Restricted Offshore Operations.

4 Manoeuvrability

4.1 A pilot vessel must:

(a) have adequate manoeuvrability and reserve power to safely manoeuvre alongside other vessels during pilot transfer; and
(b) have adequate sea-keeping qualities for operating in heavy sea, swell and wind conditions, which can reasonably be expected in the pilot area during continuous pilotage operations.

5. Manning

5.1 A pilot vessel must:

(a) be manned in accordance with its survey requirements but in any case must not have a complement of fewer than two persons;
(b) have a crew trained in all aspects of pilot transport, transfer and safety; and
(c) have a crew that hold appropriate qualifications as required by MSQ.

Part B

6. Pilot Vessel Construction and Design

6.1 Pilot vessels must be constructed in such a way so as to:

(a) adequately cope with the sea conditions which can reasonably be expected to exist in the pilotage area;
(b) be capable of effecting the transfer, embarkation and disembarkation of pilots safely, in reasonable comfort and without exposing either the pilots or the boats’ crew to undue stress or fatigue.

6.2 A pilot vessel must:

(a) be built with adequate strengthening to absorb heavy impacts when coming alongside ships whilst they are underway;
(b) have a continuous deck, clear and free of obstructions with adequate width between the gunwale and superstructure for safe pilot access; and
(c) have the pilot transfer position forward of the wheelhouse.

6.3 A pilot vessel must be so constructed as to provide:

(a) adequate visibility from the launch master’s normal conning position so that the pilot and deck hand can be seen when they are outside the cabin; and
(b) adequate visibility from the launch master’s normal conning position so that the pilot can be seen from the time of leaving the deck of the pilot vessel or ship and when ascending or descending the pilot ladder.

6.4 The helm, engine controls and all other ship handling controls of a pilot vessel must be located at the conning position.

6.5 The normal means of access from the open deck to accommodation space provided for use of pilots must not be a forward facing weathertight door.

6.6 A pilot vessel must not be fitted with a petrol engine.

6.7 A pilot vessel must be so constructed that when underway the back ground noise level inside the accommodation, except the engine space, must not exceed 78db. For pilot vessels built after 31 March 2007, the background noise level inside the accommodation space must not exceed 72db.