1625-0086 Stat/Authority

46 CFR 401.110 (up to date as of 8/22/2025)
Definitions.

46 CFR 401.110 (Aug. 22, 2025)

This content is from the eCFR and is authoritative but unofficial.

Title 46 —Shipping
Chapter III —Coast Guard (Great Lakes Pilotage), Department of Homeland Security
Part 401 —Great Lakes Pilotage Regulations
Subpart A —General
Authority: 46 U.S.C. 2103, 2104(a), 6101, 7701, 8105, 9303, 9304; DHS Delegation No. 00170.1, Revision No. 01.4, paragraphs
(II)(92)(a), (d), (e), (f).

§ 401.110 Definitions.
As used in this chapter:
Act

means the Great Lakes Pilotage Act of 1960, as amended (Pub. L. 86-555, 74 Stat. 259-262; 46 U.S.C. 216
through 216i).

Applicant means a person who has submitted a Form CG-4509 to the Director of Great Lakes Pilotage
(“Director”), to be considered for placement in an approved U.S. Great Lakes pilot training and
qualification program at one of the established pilotage pools.
Applicant Trainee means a person approved by the Director who is participating in an approved U.S. Great Lakes
pilot training and qualification program. This individual meets the minimum requirements listed in 46 CFR
401.214 but does not have the necessary service or experience on their MMC in the Great Lakes to qualify
as an Apprentice Pilot. The Applicant Trainee is not eligible for a Limited or Temporary Registration.
Apprentice Pilot means a person approved by the Director who is participating in an approved U.S. Great Lakes
pilot training and qualification program. This individual meets all the minimum requirements listed in 46
CFR 401.211.
Association means any organization that holds a Certificate of Authorization issued by the Director to operate a
pilotage pool on the Great Lakes.
Canadian Registered Pilot means a person, other than a member of the regular complement of a vessel, who
holds an appropriate Canadian license issued by an agency of Canada, and is registered by a designated
agency of Canada on substantially the same basis as registration under the provisions of Subpart B of
this part.
Chemical test means a scientifically recognized test that analyzes an individual's breath, blood, urine, saliva,
bodily fluids, or tissues for evidence of dangerous drug or alcohol use.
Commandant means Commandant of the United States Coast Guard, Communications with the Commandant
may be sent to the following address: Attn: Commandant, U.S. Coast Guard Stop 7000, 2703 Martin
Luther King Jr. Avenue SE, Washington, DC 20593-7000.
Comparable experience means knowledge and previous performance that is similar to the knowledge and
technical skills obtained by serving as an officer on vessels of at least 4,000 gross tonnage. Training and
experience while participating in a pilot training program of an authorized pilot organization is considered
equivalent on a day for day basis to experience as an officer on a vessel. The training program of the
authorized pilot organization must, however, include regularly scheduled trips on vessels of at least 4,000
gross tonnage or over in the company of a United States Registered Pilot.
46 CFR 401.110 “Comparable experience” (enhanced display)

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46 CFR 401.110 (up to date as of 8/22/2025)
Definitions.

46 CFR 401.110 “Director”

Director means Director, Great Lakes Pilotage. Communications with the Director may be sent to the following
address: Director, Great Lakes Pilotage, U.S. Coast Guard Stop 7509, 2703 Martin Luther King Jr. Avenue
SE, Washington, DC 20593-7509.
Full Registration is the issuance of a Certificate of Registration, by the Director, to an Apprentice Pilot who meets
all the requirements in 46 CFR 401.210 and 401.211 and completes all the requirements in 46 CFR
402.210 and 402.220 and so becomes a United States Registered Pilot.
Great Lakes means Lakes Superior, Michigan, Huron, Erie, and Ontario, their connecting and tributary waters, the
St. Lawrence River as far east as Saint Regis, and adjacent port areas.
Gross Tonnage or GT means the gross tonnage measurement of the vessel under 46 U.S.C. chapter 143,
Convention Measurement.
Individual Training Plan is an outline of specific requirements reviewed and approved by the Director for an
Apprentice Pilot, including but not limited to the length of time to complete the training, the minimum
number of round trips required, the association's determination of proficiency, the officer endorsement on
the MMC, and the Apprentice Pilot's pilotage experience on the Great Lakes. The plan communicates the
qualifications and demonstrates skills the mariners must complete to meet the proficiency requirements
for which the mariner is training.
Limited Registration is an authorization issued by the Director, upon the request of the respective pilot
association, to an Apprentice Pilot to provide pilotage service without direct supervision from a United
States Registered Pilot or Temporary Registered Pilot in a specific area or waterway.
Marine accident is any of the following that occurs while a U.S. Registered Pilot, Apprentice Pilot, Apprentice
Pilot with Limited Registration, or Temporary Registered Pilot is providing pilotage services in U.S. or
Canadian waters:
(1) Any allision or collision;
(2) Any grounding;
(3) A loss of main propulsion, primary steering, or any associated component or control system that,
due to its duration or other circumstance, significantly impacts the maneuverability of the vessel;
(4) An occurrence, directly related to the provision of pilotage services, involving significant harm to the
environment as defined in 46 CFR 4.03-65 (including Canadian waters); or
(5) Any other incident, directly related to the provision of pilotage services, causing property damage in
excess of $75,000 U.S. dollars (including the cost of labor and material to restore the property to its
condition before the incident, but excluding the cost of such things as salvage, cleaning, gas-freeing,
drydocking, or demurrage).
Merchant Mariner Credential or MMC means the credential issued by the Coast Guard under 46 CFR part 10. It
combines the individual merchant mariner's document, license, and certificate of registry enumerated in
46 U.S.C. subtitle II part E as well as the STCW endorsement into a single credential that serves as the
mariner's qualification document, certificate of identification, and certificate of service.
Minimum number of round trips is the fewest number of successful round trips an Apprentice Pilot must perform
under the direct supervision of a fully registered United States Registered Pilot or Temporary Registered
Pilot, according to their individual training plan. 46 CFR 402.220 contains the minimum number of round
trips for certain officer endorsements.
46 CFR 401.110 “Minimum number of round trips” (enhanced display)

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46 CFR 401.110 (up to date as of 8/22/2025)
Definitions.

46 CFR 401.110 “Officer endorsement”

Officer endorsement means an annotation on an MMC that allows a mariner to serve in the capacities listed in
46 CFR 10.109.
Person means an individual, Registered Pilot, partnership, corporation, association, voluntary association,
authorized pilotage pool, or public or private organization, other than a government agency.
Pilotage pool means an organization holding a Certificate of Authorization issued by the Director to provide
pilotage services.
Rate computation definitions to determine Weighting Factors, as used in the chapter:
(1) Length means the distance between the forward and after extremities of the ship.
(2) Breadth means the maximum breadth to the outside of the shell plating of the ship.
(3) Depth means the vertical distance at amidships from the top of the keel plate to the uppermost
continuous deck, fore and aft, and which extends to the sides of the ship. The continuity of a deck is
not considered to be affected by the existence of tonnage openings, engine spaces, or a step in the
deck.
Round trip means providing pilotage service, in both directions, from one change point to another change point,
or inbound and outbound in a port designated by an authorized pilotage pool.
Secretary means the Secretary of the department in which the Coast Guard is operating.
Semi-annual Performance Evaluation Report is an assessment performed on an Apprentice Pilot twice a year, by
the association, to report the Apprentice Pilot's progress in the approved U.S. Great Lakes pilot training
and qualification program at the established pilotage pool.
Temporary Registered Pilot means a person who is issued a Temporary Registration by the Director in
accordance with 46 CFR 401.222. A Temporary Registered Pilot holds a valid MMC, meets the
requirements of § 401.222, has previously held a Full Registration, has been approved to provide pilotage
services by the Director, and has either:
(1) Reached the age of 70 and desires to continue providing pilotage services; or
(2) Retired from pilotage service and desires to provide pilotage services.
United States Registered Pilot or U.S. Registered Pilot means a person, other than a member of the regular
complement of a vessel, who holds an MMC with an officer endorsement authorizing navigation on the
Great Lakes and suitably endorsed for pilotage on areas and routes specified therein, issued under the
authority of the provisions of Title 46 of the United States Code, and who also currently holds a Certificate
of Registration ID Card under the provisions of Subpart B of this part.
[26 FR 951, Jan. 31, 1961]

Editorial Note: For FEDERAL REGISTER citations affecting § 401.110, see the List of CFR Sections Affected, which
appears in the Finding Aids section of the printed volume and at www.govinfo.gov.

46 CFR 401.110 “United States Registered Pilot or U.S. Registered Pilot” (enhanced display)

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