Encl. (1) to COMDTINST 16637.5
GUIDANCE REGARDING ISSUES INVOLVING
GREAT LAKES REGISTERED PILOTS
BACKGROUND
The Great Lakes Pilotage Act (46 U.S.C. 9301-9308) applies to foreign merchant vessels and to
U.S. vessels operating on a registry endorsement. Pilots required by this law are referred to as
"registered" pilots. The qualification requirements for registered pilots are considered to be more
stringent than the requirements for Federal First Class Pilots (see 46 CFR 401.210, 402.210, and
402.220).
Foreign merchant vessels and U.S. vessels operating on a registry endorsement are required to take
a U.S. or Canadian registered pilot when underway on the Great Lakes (46 U.S.C. 9302). In the
undesignated waters of the Great Lakes a member of the complement of a U.S. registered vessel or
a Canadian vessel may direct the navigation of the vessel as long as the member is licensed under
46 U.S.C. 7101 or equivalent provisions of Canadian law. If a U.S. vessel traversing the Great
Lakes is operating on a Great Lakes or coastwise endorsement, it is subject to the pilotage
requirements contained in 46 CFR 15.812, not the Great Lakes Pilotage Act.
The pilotage requirements for a U.S. vessel operating on a Great Lakes or coastwise endorsement
under 46 CFR 15.812 may be satisfied by either an individual holding an appropriate first class
pilot's license, or if the vessel is not more than 1,600 gross tons, by the master or mate ("acting as"
pilot) if the individual satisfies the requirements contained in 46 CFR 15.812, including 4 round
trips over the route to be traversed. Reciprocity with Canada on the Great Lakes has its basis in the
Boundary Water Treaty of 1909. Reciprocity applies to the lakes, rivers, and connecting waters of
the Great Lakes pursuant to the treaty. For U.S. vessels traversing Canadian waters of the Great
Lakes, Canada accepts U.S. pilotage requirements. For Canadian vessels traversing U.S. waters of
the Great Lakes, the U.S. accepts Canadian pilotage requirements (46 U.S.C. 9302).
The U.S. pilotage requirements for the Great Lakes outlined above can be summarized in the table
which follows:
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