46 CFR 401.320 – Requirements and qualifications for authorization to establish pools
No voluntary association shall be authorized to establish a pool unless:
(a) The Director determines that a pool is necessary for the efficient dispatching of vessels and the providing of pilotage services in the area concerned.
(b) The stock, equity, or other financial interests coupled with voting rights or exercise of any right of control in the management of the voluntary association is held only by member Registered Pilots registered pursuant to § 401.200, § 401.210, or § 401.220(e), excluding Applicant Pilots.
(c) The voluntary association establishes that it possesses the ability, experience, financial resources, and other qualifications necessary to enable it to operate and maintain an efficient and effective pilotage service.
(d) The voluntary association agrees that:
(1) Pilotage services will be provided on a first-come, first-serve basis to vessels giving proper notice of arrival time or pilotage service requirements, to the pilotage station, except that pilots will not be required to board vessels which do not provide safe boarding facilities;
(2) It will submit working rules for approval of the Commandant;
(3) It will adopt and use the Uniform System of Accounts, part 403 of this chapter, and such other accounting procedures and reports as may be prescribed by the Commandant;
(4) It will be subject to audit and inspection by the U.S. Coast Guard and will submit by April 1 of each year an unqualified long form audit report for the preceding year prepared by an Independent Certified Public Accountant, performed in accordance with Generally Accepted Auditing Standards promulgated by the American Institute of Certified Public Accountants.
(5) It will be subject to such other provisions as may be prescribed by the Director governing the operation of and the costs which may be charged in connection with the pools;
(6) It will coordinate on a reciprocal basis its pool operations with similar pool arrangements established by the Canadian Government and pursuant to the provisions of the United States-Canada Memorandum of Arrangements, Great Lakes Pilotage, or any other arrangements established by the United States and Canadian Governments.