Duties of Pilots

California’s Harbors and Navigation Code in Division 5, Chapter 1, Article 7 deals with the duties of pilots in Monterey Bay and the Bays of San Francisco, San Pablo, and Suisun.

Section 1130 requires a majority of all of the pilots licensed by the board to appoint one pilot to act as port agent to carry out the orders of the board and other applicable laws, and to otherwise administer the affairs of the pilots. The appointment is subject to the confirmation of the board. And, the port agent is responsible for the general supervision and management of all matters related to the business and official duties of pilots licensed by the board.

Section 1131 requires pilots at all times to keep, for their exclusive use, vessels of such description and condition as the board may direct.

Section 1132 specifies that every pilot in charge of a vessel arriving in Monterey Bay and the Bay of San Francisco, San Pablo, or Suisun, to safely moor the vessel in place and position as directed by the master of the vessel, consistent with safe navigation and not contrary to law.

Section 1133 requires every pilot in charge of a vessel leaving the Bays of San Francisco, San Pablo, and Suisun to pilot it from its point of departure to a point beyond the San Francisco bar. Every pilot in charge of a vessel leaving Monterey Bay must pilot it from its point of departure to a point westward of the pilotage grounds.

Section 1134 states that, when a pilot goes aboard a vessel, the pilot becomes a servant of the vessel and its owner and operator. Nothing in this division exempts the vessel or its owner or operator from liability to persons or property for damage or loss caused by the vessel or its operation on grounds related to the pilot.

Section 1136 requires a pilot licensed under this division to take an oath of office and submit monthly to the board a verified account of all moneys or other compensation received by the pilot as a result of pilotage services.

Section 1137 requires the account to show seven specified items and the board is to record the accounts in full detail in a book prepared for that purpose. The account book is a public record.

Section 1138 requires, when cruising offshore or standing out to sea, pilots to go to the vessel nearest to shore or in the most distress, or incur a penalty. A pilot may be suspended or expelled by the board for a violation of this section.

Section 1139 requires every pilot boarding a vessel to exhibit his commission or license as pilot when requested by the master of the vessel. The board may suspend or revoke the commission or license of a pilot for refusal to exhibit the commission or license.