Section 387-1-A-2 - Training Trips Training Trips must consist of round trips on vessels of tonnage, as established by the Commission, by these regulations and should include trips made in all weather and seasonal conditions anticipated for the Pilotage Area. Additionally, twenty-five percent (25%) of trips shall be made during the hours of darkness where practicable. Such proof shall be a trip sheet showing for each round trip, the date, geographic point of the beginning and ending of the route, time at the beginning and end of the route, the name and gross tonnage of the vessel, the name and signature of the pilot, licensed by this Commission for that area, who was supervising the trip, a brief description from the supervising pilot of the activities of the applicant, and general weather conditions.
a.Kennebec River. 12 Round Trips on vessels of at least 1600 gross tons.b.Sheepscot River. 12 Round Trips on vessels of at least 1600 gross tons and license certification by the Maine Pilotage Commission in at least one other area. Pilotage in this area is restricted to Daytime Only.c.Boothbay Harbor. 12 Round Trips on vessels of at least 1600 gross tons and license certification by the Maine Pilotage Commission in at least one other area.d.Penobscot Bay. 30 Round Trips on vessels of at least 1600 gross tons, except that at least fifty percent (50%) of the trips must be on vessels of at least 5000 gross tons, with a minimum of 12 trips from each approach.e.Penobscot River (Fort Point to Bucksport). 20 Round Trips on vessels of at least 1600 gross tons, except that fifty percent (50%) of the trips must be on vessels of at least 3000 gross tons.f.Penobscot River (Bucksport to Bangor). 18 Round Trips on vessels of at least 1600 gross tons.g.Blue Hill Bay. 6 Round Trips on vessels of at least 1600 gross tons, and the applicant must possess a current license for Frenchman Bay. Pilotage in this area is restricted to Daytime Only.h.Eastern Way/Sommes Sound. 6 Round Trips on vessels of at least 1600 gross tons, and the applicant must possess a current license for Frenchman Bay. Pilotage in this area is restricted to Daytime Only.i.Frenchman Bay. 20 Round Trips on vessels of at least 1600 gross tons, except that fifty percent (50%) of the trips must be on vessels of at least 10,000 gross tons.j.Eastport Area (Passamaquoddy Bay, Cobscook Bay, Friar Roads, Head Harbor Passage). 20 Round Trips on vessels of at least 1600 gross tons, except that that fifty percent (50%) of the trips must be on vessels of at least 5000 gross tons.k.Other Areas. In areas not listed above, the Commission may establish provisional licensing requirements for pilots currently licensed for other areas within the specific coastal zone. Such requirements must be in writing and may be different from the initial requirements set forth above in this Section 2 in order to protect the public by developing an adequate initial pool of qualified professionals. These provisional requirements will remain in place until the Commission promulgates rules.l.Traffic Variations. The Commission reserves its right under 38 M.R.S. §91 to vary the number of Training Trips required for an initial license in any given area based on changes in traffic levels within that area. Such action by the Commission must be in consultation with those pilots licensed for the area and noticed on at least two regular meeting agendas with opportunity for the public to comment on the changes during each meeting. Changes to Training Trip requirements in any area will not be made more than once in any given three-year period.m.Low Volume Areas. The Maine Pilotage Commission has designated the following waters as Low Volume Areas: Sheepscot River, Boothbay Harbor, Penobscot River (Bucksport to Bangor), Blue Hill Bay, Eastern Way/Somes Sound. (1) For Initial License in Low Volume Areas: The pilot must hold a license certification by the Maine Pilotage Commission in at least one other area governed by the Commission; The pilot must appear before the Maine Pilotage Commission to review applicable qualifications; The pilot must complete a license application and pay licensure fees for an added route endorsement per 38 M.R.S. §93; The pilot must complete at least 12 round trips, except for the Penobscot River (Bucksport to Bangor to the Route 1A Bridge) which requires 18 round trips and Blue Hill Bay, Eastern Way/Somes Sound which require 6 round trips each. 25% of the required Training Trips must be completed during hours of darkness (although a daytime restriction may be issued if adequate Training Trips are not completed during hours of darkness); and The pilot must complete a comprehensive local area written examination upon the conclusion of pilotage training as proctored by the Administrator or a member of the Maine Pilotage Commission. The passing score must be at least 90%. Vessels below 1,600 gross tons may be used for initial Training Trips and Initial License as well as Recency (2) Pilotage waters cease to be Low Volume Areas when the number of ships requiring compulsory pilotage increase to at least the route's defined minimum number of Training Trips per Maine Pilotage Commission Rule 17-387 Chapter 1 Part A.2 (Training Trips) counted on a rolling average over 5 years. When the volume of vessels meeting the compulsory gross tonnage and draft thresholds achieves the frequency required for the normal Initial License requirements per Maine Pilotage Commission Rule 17-387 Chapter 1 Part A.2 (Training Trips), then paragraph 2m of this rule shall not apply.17- 387 C.M.R. ch. 1, § A-2