
From the U.S. Code Online via GPO Access
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[Laws in effect as of January 23, 2000]
[Document not affected by Public Laws enacted between
  January 23, 2000 and December 4, 2001]
[CITE: 46USC8501]

 
                           TITLE 46--SHIPPING
 
                     Subtitle II--Vessels and Seamen
 
                       Part F--Manning of Vessels
 
                           CHAPTER 85--PILOTS
 
Sec. 8501. State regulation of pilots

    (a) Except as otherwise provided in this subtitle, pilots in the 
bays, rivers, harbors, and ports of the United States shall be regulated 
only in conformity with the laws of the States.
    (b) The master of a vessel entering or leaving a port on waters that 
are a boundary between 2 States, and that is required to have a pilot 
under this section, may employ a pilot licensed or authorized by the 
laws of either of the 2 States.
    (c) A State may not adopt a regulation or provision that 
discriminates in the rate of pilotage or half-pilotage between vessels 
sailing between the ports of one State and vessels sailing between the 
ports of different States, or against vessels because of their means of 
propulsion, or against public vessels of the United States.
    (d) A State may not adopt a regulation or provision that requires a 
coastwise vessel to take a pilot licensed or authorized by the laws of a 
State if the vessel--
        (1) is propelled by machinery and subject to inspection under 
    part B of this subtitle; or
        (2) is subject to inspection under chapter 37 of this title.

    (e) Any regulation or provision violating this section is void.

(Pub. L. 98-89, Aug. 26, 1983, 97 Stat. 553; Pub. L. 98-557, Sec. 29(e), 
Oct. 30, 1984, 98 Stat. 2874.)

                      Historical and Revision Notes
------------------------------------------------------------------------
          Revised section                Source section (U.S. Code)
------------------------------------------------------------------------
8501(a)...........................  46:211
8501(b)...........................  46:212
8501(c), (e)......................  46:213
8501(d)...........................  46:215
------------------------------------------------------------------------

    Section 8501 establishes the general proposition that the States 
regulate pilots in the bays, rivers, harbors, and ports of the United 
States, unless otherwise specifically provided by law.
    Subsection (a) states this general proposition and uses the word 
``only'' for emphasis on this point. Further, except as specifically 
provided in law, the Committee intends that this chapter not be 
construed to annul or affect any regulation established by the laws of a 
State requiring a vessel entering or leaving a port in that State to 
employ a pilot licensed or authorized by the laws of that State. In at 
least two places in current law, this general proposition is stated in 
both a positive and negative manner. The Committee intends to 
consolidate those separate statements into one provision to avoid 
ambiguity and redundancy.
    Subsections (b) and (c) contain provisions regarding pilotage in 
waters between two States.
    Subsection (d) prohibits a State from requiring a State licensed 
pilot on certain coastwise vessels.
    Subsection (e) voids any regulation or provision violating this 
section.


                               Amendments

    1984--Subsec. (a). Pub. L. 98-557 substituted ``subtitle'' for 
``part''.
