§ 46-9-2 - Vessels required to employ state licensed pilot – "Vessel" defined. - Rhode Island Statutes

SECTION 46-9-2

   § 46-9-2  Vessels required to employ statelicensed pilot – "Vessel" defined. – (a) Every foreign vessel, regardless of gross tonnage or draft, and everyAmerican vessel under register, regardless of gross tonnage or draft, and everyother vessel not exempted by § 46-9-3, or the laws of the United States,entering or departing from any port of the state or traversing the waters ofthe state north of a line drawn from Point Judith to Sakonnet Point, shall takeand employ a pilot licensed under this chapter and shall be subject to theprovisions of this chapter; and the vessel, its master, owner, agent, orconsignee shall be liable for any pay pilotage rates in accordance with thepilotage rates established by the pilotage commission or which may beestablished under the provisions of this chapter; and the vessels shall besubject to regulations established by the pilotage commission, which commissionis established under § 46-9-5.

   (b) Unless otherwise provided, as used in this chapter, theword "vessel" means every description of watercraft or other artificialcontraption used or capable of being used as a means of transportation on waterand measuring one thousand (1,000) gross tons or more, and capable of loadingto a draft of twelve feet (12') or more, and every foreign ship, boat, barge,vessel, and watercraft, regardless of gross tonnage or draft, and everyAmerican ship, boat, barge, vessel, and watercraft under register, regardlessof gross tonnage or draft.

   (c) Notwithstanding any of the above provisions, any vesselcarrying or towing a barge or similar conveyance carrying more than onethousand (1,000) gross tons of any oil, petroleum, petroleum distillate, or anyby-product thereof, shall be defined as a vessel and shall be subject to theprovisions of this chapter.