OAR 856-015-0030: Applicant Examination and Ranking — Coos Bay Bar and Yaquina Bay Bar Pilotage Grounds

(1) Initial Application. Individuals applying for licensure as a trainee on the Coos Bay Bar and Yaquina Bay Bar pilotage grounds may submit an initial application in the first quarter of any year. Unless action is taken by the Board to reject or advance the application as described below, the application expires after two years. Applications submitted outside the first quarter of any year are untimely and will be automatically rejected. (2) Required Documents. Applicants must submit the following: (a) A completed application form prescribed by the Board; (b) All documentation required by OAR 856-015-0005; (c) Evidence satisfactory to the Board that the applicant holds the following: (A) A high school diploma or its equivalent; (B) A valid U.S. Coast Guard license as Master endorsed for Radar Observer Unlimited; and (C) A valid U.S. Coast Guard credential or endorsement entitling the individual to serve as Master of one or more of the following: (i) Self-propelled vessels "of Less Than 1600 Gross Register Tons (GRT)" or greater, on any waters; (ii) Towing vessels "Upon Near Coastal Waters;" or (iii) Towing vessels "Upon Oceans". (3) Only applicants who provide all the required documentation and meet all qualifications under section (2) of this rule are eligible to continue in the trainee license application process. Applications submitted without the documentation required by section (2) of this rule are incomplete and will be automatically rejected. (4) Examination. An applicant who has submitted a complete and qualifying initial application under subsections (1) and (2) of this rule must take the Fundamentals of State Pilotage Examination - Coos Bay Bar and Yaquina Bay Bar, administered by the Board. (a) The Fundamentals examination is an oral examination administered by the Board. In every case, at least one pilot from the Board's licensed training organization for the Coos Bay Bar and/or Yaquina Bay Bar pilotage ground shall be included as an examiner. (b) Each applicant examined shall be assigned from 0 to 35 points based on the applicant's knowledge of the fundamentals of state piloting, knowledge of maritime trade and commerce, poise, confidence, and such other factors as may be deemed relevant by the Board. (5) Optional Points. Documentation for additional points must be submitted to the Board within a week of completing the Fundamentals examination. An applicant may be awarded additional points, up to and including a maximum of 101 points, to be applied towards final ranking as set forth below by submitting evidence satisfactory to the Board of the following: (a) Academic. Maximum total points under this section is 20: (A) Four-year degree from an accredited maritime academy: 15 points. (B) Two years (90 semester credit hours) of course work, a two-year degree, or a four-year degree, from an accredited college or university program: 5 points. An applicant who receives points for a four-year maritime academy degree is not eligible for points under this paragraph. (C) Master's degree or PhD in a business or maritime program: 5 points. (b) Previous Maritime Experience and Licensure. Maximum total points under this section is 78: (A) Federal First Class Pilot License for the Coos Bay Bar: 15 points. (B) Federal First Class Pilot License for the Yaquina Bay Bar: 10 points. (C) Federal First Class Pilot License for a pilotage ground other than Coos Bay or Yaquina Bay: 5 points. (D) One of the following: (i) Three years as Master of towing vessels, with at least 730 working days: 5 points; (ii) Six years as Master of towing vessels, with at least 1460 working days: 10 points; or (iii) Nine years as Master of towing vessels, with at least 2190 working days: 15 points. (E) One of the following: (i) Three years as Master of Self-Propelled Vessels "of Less Than 1600 Gross Register Tons (GRT)" or greater with at least 730 working days: 5 points; (ii) Six years as Master of Self-Propelled Vessels "of Less Than 1600 Gross Register Tons (GRT)" or greater with at least 1460 working days: 10 points; or (iii) Nine years as Master of Self-Propelled Vessels "of Less Than 1600 Gross Register Tons (GRT)" or greater with at least 2190 working days: 15 points. (F) Fifty (50) or more crossings of the Coos Bay or Yaquina Bay Bar as Master of Towing Vessels or Master of Self-Propelled Vessels "of Less Than 1600 Gross Register Tons (GRT)" or greater: 15 points. (G) Additional certified training in any of the following categories - Bridge Resource Management for Pilots; Emergency Ship Handling; and Electronic Chart Display and Information System (ECDIS): 1 point each. (c) References. Each applicant may submit three maritime industry references that have knowledge of the applicant's professional skills and abilities to be a state licensed pilot. The references must have personal knowledge of such skills and abilities within the last six years; 3 point maximum if one of the references includes the most recent supervisor; 2 point maximum otherwise. (6) All applicants who complete the Fundamentals examination shall be placed on the Roll of Candidates - Coos Bay Bar and Yaquina Bay Bar, ranked numerically based on the results of the Fundamentals of State Pilotage Examination - Coos Bay Bar and Yaquina Bay Bar, plus any additional points earned under section (5) of this rule. (7) In accordance with ORS 776.115(2), at such times as vacancies may be forecast or occur within the register of pilots, the Board shall offer the highest ranked individual from the Roll of Candidates the opportunity to be issued a trainee license for the Coos Bay bar and Yaquina Bay bar pilotage grounds. The individual offered issuance of trainee licensure must accept or decline issuance of a trainee license within 30 days. By declining or failing to timely respond to an offer of issuance of trainee licensure, a candidate withdraws their application for trainee licensure, and thereby withdraws their name from the Roll of Candidates. (8) Once an applicant is issued a trainee license, the Board shall assign the trainee to the appropriate training organization. (9) The Roll of Candidates for trainees on the Coos Bay bar and Yaquina Bay bar pilotage grounds shall expire after five years.