PART IIPrincipal Pilotage Provisions

Offences by Pilots

54Offences by pilots

(1)

If a licensed pilot, either within or outside the district for which he is licensed.—

(a)

is in any way directly or indirectly concerned in any corrupt practices relating to ships, their tackle, furniture, cargoes, crews, or passengers, or to persons in distress at sea or by shipwreck, or to their moneys, goods, or chattels;

(b)

lends his licence;

(c)

acts as pilot when he knows he is suspended;

(d)

acts as pilot when in a state of intoxication;

(e)

employs, or causes to be employed, on board any ship which he is piloting any boat, anchor, cable, or other store, matter, or thing beyond what is necessary for the service of that ship, with intent to enhance the expenses of pilotage for his own gain or for the gain of any other person;

(f)

refuses, or wilfully delays, without reasonable cause, to pilot any ship within the district for which he is licensed, upon the signal for a pilot being made by that ship, or upon being required to do so by the master, owner, agent, or consignee thereof, or by any officer of the pilotage authority by whom the pilot is licensed, or by any chief officer of Customs and Excise;

(g)

unnecessarily cuts or slips, or causes to be cut or slipped, any cable belonging to any ship ;

(h)

refuses, otherwise than on reasonable ground of danger to the ship, when requested by the master, to conduct the ship which he is piloting into any port or place within the district for which he is licensed; or

(i)

quits the ship, which he is piloting, before the service for which he was engaged has been performed and without the consent of the master of the ship ;

that pilot shall, in addition to any liability for damages, be liable on summary conviction in respect of each offence to a fine not exceeding—

(i)

in England and Wales and in Scotland, level 4 on the standard scale,

(ii)

in Northern Ireland, £500.

(2)

If any person procures, aids, abets or connives at the commission of any offence under this section he shall, in addition to any liability for damages, be liable on summary conviction to a fine not exceeding—

(a)

in England and Wales and in Scotland, level 4 on the standard scale,

(b)

in Northern Ireland, £500.

(3)

The provisions of the law relating to customs or excise with respect to the recovery of penalties under that law, and the application of such penalties, shall apply in the case of any prosecution by any officer of Customs and Excise for the recovery of a fine in respect of any offence against this section.