Subject to provision 122, this Division applies to a person operating, or involved in the operation of, a pilot launch at the time this Part commences.
Division 1.2 Pilot launch manning
1.2 Manning
A pilot launch must:
(a) be manned in accordance with its survey requirements; and
(b) be manned by at least 2 people; and
(c) have a crew trained in all aspects of pilot transport, transfer and safety; and
(d) have a crew that hold qualifications required for the launch.
Division 1.3 Pilot launches
1.3 Seaworthiness
A pilot launch must be constructed so that it:
(a) can facilitate the transfer, embarkation and disembarkation of pilots safely, in reasonable comfort and without exposing a pilot or crew to undue stress or fatigue; and
(b) provides for manoeuvrability and reserve power to safely manoeuvre alongside other vessels during pilot transfer; and
(c) provides for sea-keeping qualities for operating in heavy sea, swell and wind conditions, that can reasonably be expected in the pilotage area during continuous pilotage operations; and
(d) conforms with this Schedule.
1.4 Construction
A pilot launch must:
(a) be built with strengthening to absorb heavy impacts when coming alongside ships that are underway; and
(b) have the deck that is used for access to the pilot transfer position, clear and free of obstructions and with a width between the gunwale and superstructure of at least 750 mm; and
(c) have the pilot transfer position forward of the wheelhouse; and
(d) not have a petrol engine fitted.
1.5 Fittings
A pilot launch must be fitted with:
(a) for each crew on board the launch and for each pilot carried so that all people on board the launch may be seated simultaneously — 1 impact absorbing seat fitted with adjustable suspension and dampers to reduce shock loads and vibration; and
(b) seats allowing comfortable access to any controls and equipment required to be used by the launch master, crew or pilots; and
(c) a working air conditioner that can maintain a temperature in the range of 21°‑25°C inside the cabin in all ambient weather conditions in the area of operation; and
(d) sound proofing so that ambient noise levels inside the accommodation, except the engine space, do not exceed 85 db when measured:
(i) at the height approximately equal to the level of a person’s head while sitting in the impact absorbing seats provided; and
Division Div 1 - Marine Orders Part 54, Issue 5 - 1 Preliminary | Zoe
(ii) with the engines running at normal sea-going operating revolutions
(iii) with the doors closed; and
(iv) with the air conditioner running.
1.6 Design requirements
A pilot launch must be constructed to provide:
(a) visibility from the launch master’s normal driving position so that the pilot and deck hand can be seen when they are outside the cabin; and
(b) windows that are constructed so that at no stage a pilot or deck hand while moving from the cabin to the pilot transfer position, or while transferring the pilot’s bags to or from the ship, are hidden from the view of the launch master when in the normal driving position; and
(c) visibility from the launch master’s normal driving position to allow the pilot to be seen from the time of leaving the deck of the pilot launch and when ascending or descending the pilot ladder; and
(d) the helm, engine controls and all other launch handling controls to be at the normal driving position; and
(e) that normal access from the open deck to accommodation space provided for use of pilots not be through a forward facing weather tight door; and
(f) all external walkways with an efficient non-slip surface; and
(g) the external colour to be substantially a highly visible colour and clearly marked with the word ‘Pilot’ on both sides of the ship in letters not less than 300 mm high.
1.7 Equipment
A pilot launch must be fitted with all of the following equipment:
(a) fendering that:
(i) allows the pilot launch to come alongside ships underway in all normal operating conditions without sustaining damage; and
(ii) does not interfere, obstruct or hinder pilot transfer; and
(iii) is continuous along gunwales; and
(iv) is not constructed using tyres or equipment similar to tyres, which can become fouled on the pilot ladder or recovery line;
(b) on-board lighting;
(c) lighting that enables the sea, within 5 m of the ship, to be illuminated to assist with man overboard recovery;
(d) a searchlight of at least 1 million candela that is:
(i) operated from the launch master’s position; and
(ii) capable of illuminating the sea’s surface in all directions up to 100 m from the pilot launch;
(e) safety handrails on deck and inside the accommodation that are:
(i) capable of withstanding a load in either the vertical or horizontal direction of at least 1.2 kN; and
(ii) situated both inside and outside of the cabin so that a person can leave any of the impact absorbing seats provided in the cabin and move to the pilot transfer area with the continuous aid of the handrails;
(f) an uninterrupted, continuous safety rail system, onto which the lanyard or webbing strap mentioned in Division 1.8 may be attached, that:
(i) is located on each side of the accommodation to the pilot transfer area; and
(ii) is capable of withstanding a load in either the vertical or horizontal direction of at least 1.2 kN; and
(iii) allows a person in a safety harness to move freely along the safety rail without requiring the person to adjust his or her harness;
(g) windscreen wipers situated in front of the launch master that are effective in rough weather and a fixed system for applying fresh water to the area of the forward windows covered by the wipers;
(h) echo sounder, radar, GPS plotter for navigation and event marking, compass with current deviation card, horn, VHF radio, 406 MHz EPIRB, automatic identification system (AIS), 2 way external broadcast system, a Maritime Survivor Locating System (MSLS) operating on 121.5 MHz (AS/NZS 4869.1) or on frequencies other than 121.5 MHz (AS/NZS 4869.2) and appropriate current navigation publications and charts of the operating area;
(i) an efficient means of recovering an unconscious person from the water that:
(i) is capable of being operated by 1 person; and
(ii) is capable of lifting onboard a person with a mass of at least 150 kg; and
(iii) for a recovery system that is a power operated stern platform — has controls situated adjacent to the recovery position if the recovery platform is not visible from the launch master’s normal driving position; and
(iv) includes a boat hook or recovery crook to assist with the recovery.
1.8 Personal protective equipment
A pilot or crew member working on deck of a pilot launch must be provided with:
(a) a personal floatation device (PFD) that:
(i) is fitted with a self-activating light, whistle, strobe light, 406 MHz personal locator beacon with GPS capability, MSLS transmitter and a stainless steel ring or other arrangement, for clipping onto the safety rail system; and
(ii) meets the requirements of any of the following National Standards:
(A) Australian Standard AS 4758;
(B) ISO 12402-1;
(C) European Standard EN399-1993 Lifejackets-275N;
(D) European Standard EN396-1993 Lifejackets-150N;
(E) New Zealand Standards NZ5823:2005 Type 401; and
(b) a lanyard or webbing strap capable of withstanding a load of 1.2 kN and capable of securely clipping on to the PFD and the safety rail system.
Note 1 for par (a) A MSLS transmitter is a portable transmitting device that sends an alert signal to an MSLS receiver.
Note 2 for par (a) Pilots and pilot launch crew must wear additional personal protective equipment as specified in the Pilotage Provider Safety Management System.
1.9 Operation
1.9.1 A person operating or involved in the operation of a pilot launch (including the owner, charterer, launch master, pilot and crew members) must ensure that the ship is operated safely.
1.9.2 If a pilot launch is more than 8 m long, the following must be kept onboard the launch:
(a) the operational manual for the launch;
(b) the technical manual for the launch;
(c) the plans for the launch;
(d) the maintenance and service manual for the launch;
(e) the marine occupational health and safety manual for the launch;
(f) the safety management system for the launch.
1.9.3 Manuals and plans for the pilot launch must be available to the launch master, crew and pilots.
1.9.4 Every pilot launch crew member must have a working knowledge of the manuals and plans relevant to the member’s role.
1.9.5 The pilot launch must operate under an approved safety management system.
1.9.6 The pilot launch safety management system must:
(a) contain documented procedures detailing the training, induction and familiarisation that a pilot and pilot launch crew must undergo before commencing transfers by launch; and
(b) document the frequency of refresher training, induction and familiarisation; and
(c) include a schedule of emergency drills; and
(d) include a schedule of man overboard drills that must be conducted at intervals of no more than 3 months; and
(e) set out the weather or sea conditions and any other criteria that may affect safe operations of a pilot launch; and
(f) state the maintenance requirements that must be complied with; and
(g) state the method to report incidents involving the launch; and
(h) keep records and certificates relevant to the pilot launch in accordance with the safety management system.
Division 1.4 Transfers by helicopter
1.10 Helicopter standard
1.10.1 A helicopter used for pilot transfers to or from a ship must be licensed, manned and maintained in accordance with the relevant Civil Aviation Safety Authority regulations in force at the time of pilot transfer.
1.10.2 The pilotage provider’s safety management system must:
(a) contain documented procedures detailing the training, induction and familiarisation that a pilot must undergo before commencing transfers by helicopter; and
(b) document the frequency of refresher training, induction and familiarisation.
1.10.3 Each pilot carried by helicopter during pilot transfer must be provided with an inflatable lifejacket approved by CASA that is also fitted with a 406 MHz personal locator beacon with GPS capability.
1.10.4 A pilot must not be transferred by helicopter to or from a ship unless the pilot holds a current helicopter underwater escape training certificate issued by a person recognised by AMSA.
1.10.5 A pilot must undergo a safety briefing conducted by the helicopter pilot before each flight.