S*1288 Session 107 (1987-1988)
S*1288(Rat #0608, Act #0536 of 1988) General Bill, By W.W. Doar
A Bill to amend Sections 54-15-10 and 54-15-20, Code of Laws of South
Carolina, 1976, relating to the commissioners of pilotage for the ports of
Georgetown, Little River, and Port Royal, so as to delete the requirement that
they be appointed in February of odd-numbered years, to increase the
jurisdiction of the Commissioners of Pilotage of Port Royal to include
Calibogue Sound and the South Carolina side of the Savannah River, to provide
that the Executive Director of the Port of Georgetown is a member ex officio
of the Commissioners of Pilotage of Georgetown; to amend the 1976 Code by
adding Sections 54-15-350 and 54-15-360 so as to limit a licensed ship's
pilot's liability to five thousand dollars except for wilfullness or
recklessness and to provide that a pilot's liability does not exempt the
vessel's owner and operator from liability for the damages caused by the pilot
while aboard the vessel.-amended title
03/08/88 Senate Introduced, read first time, placed on calendar
without reference SJ-10
03/09/88 Senate Read second time SJ-38
03/10/88 Senate Read third time and sent to House SJ-35
03/14/88 House Introduced and read first time HJ-1945
03/14/88 House Referred to Committee on Labor, Commerce and
Industry HJ-1945
04/06/88 House Committee report: Favorable with amendment Labor,
Commerce and Industry HJ-2492
04/14/88 House Amended HJ-2937
04/14/88 House Read second time HJ-2938
04/14/88 House Unanimous consent for third reading on next
legislative day HJ-2971
04/15/88 House Read third time HJ-3005
04/15/88 House Returned HJ-3005
04/19/88 Senate House amendment amended SJ-11
04/19/88 Senate Returned SJ-11
05/04/88 House Concurred in Senate amendment and enrolled HJ-3543
05/12/88 Ratified R 608
05/18/88 Signed By Governor
05/18/88 Effective date 05/18/88
05/18/88 Act No. 536
06/06/88 Copies available
(A536, R608, S1288)
AN ACT TO AMEND SECTIONS 54-15-10 AND 54-15-20, CODE OF LAWS OF SOUTH CAROLINA,
1976, RELATING TO THE COMMISSIONERS OF PILOTAGE FOR THE PORTS OF GEORGETOWN,
LITTLE RIVER, AND PORT ROYAL, SO AS TO DELETE THE REQUIREMENT THAT THEY BE
APPOINTED IN FEBRUARY OF ODD-NUMBERED YEARS, TO INCREASE THE JURISDICTION OF THE
COMMISSIONERS OF PILOTAGE OF PORT ROYAL TO INCLUDE CALIBOGUE SOUND AND THE SOUTH
CAROLINA SIDE OF THE SAVANNAH RIVER, TO PROVIDE THAT THE EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR OF
THE PORT OF GEORGETOWN IS A MEMBER EX OFFICIO OF THE COMMISSIONERS OF PILOTAGE
OF GEORGETOWN; TO AMEND THE 1976 CODE BY ADDING SECTIONS 54-15-350 AND 54-15-360
SO AS TO LIMIT A LICENSED SHIP'S PILOT'S LIABILITY TO FIVE THOUSAND DOLLARS
EXCEPT FOR WILFULLNESS OR RECKLESSNESS AND TO PROVIDE THAT A PILOT'S LIABILITY
DOES NOT EXEMPT THE VESSEL'S OWNER AND OPERATOR FROM LIABILITY FOR THE DAMAGES
CAUSED BY THE PILOT WHILE ABOARD THE VESSEL.
Be it enacted by the General Assembly of the State of South Carolina:
Commissioners of pilotage; appointment
SECTION 1. Section 54-15-10 of the 1976 Code is amended to read:
"Section 54-15-10. The commissioners of pilotage for the ports of
Georgetown, Little River in Horry County, and Port Royal must be appointed by the
Governor, upon the recommendation of a majority of the legislative delegation of
the county in which the port is located and shall serve for two years and until
their successors are appointed and qualify. Vacancies must be filled in the
manner of the original appointment for the unexpired term."
Commissioners of pilotage; membership
SECTION 2. Section 54-15-20 of the 1976 Code is amended to read:
"Section 54-15-20. The commissioners of pilotage of Little River consist
of three persons, two of whom are or have been seafaring men and one of whom is
a full branch pilot of the port of Little River.
The commissioners of pilotage of Georgetown consist of six persons appointed
as provided by Section 54-15-10, two of whom are or have been seafaring men. The
director of the port of Georgetown is a member ex officio.
The commissioners of pilotage of Port Royal consist of five persons. They have
jurisdiction over St. Helena, Port Royal, Calibogue Sound, and the South Carolina
side of the Savannah River."
Limit on liability for damages caused by pilots;
owners and operators also liable
SECTION 3. The 1976 Code is amended by adding:
"Section 54-15-350. A licensed ship's pilot is not liable for damages in
excess of five thousand dollars for damages or loss occasioned by the pilot's
errors, omissions, fault, or neglect in the performance of pilotage services,
except for wilful misconduct or reckless disregard for safety by the pilot.
Section 54-15-360. When a pilot boards a vessel he becomes a servant of the
vessel and its owner and operator. Nothing in this chapter exempts the vessel,
its owner, or operator from liability for damage or loss occasioned by the ship
to a person or property on the ground that (1) the ship was piloted by a pilot
licensed by the State, or (2) the damage or loss was occasioned by the error,
omission, fault, or neglect of a pilot licensed by the State."
Time effective
SECTION 4. This act takes effect upon approval by the Governor. |