Every person who applies for a license to act as a pilot in the waters covered in this subchapter must be a citizen of the United States and the State of Maine. If applicable, the applicant must possess a federal first class pilot’s endorsement, issued by a duly constituted authority of the United States, covering areas for which the applicant is making application. The commission shall set standards for application, testing and granting of a state license. In those areas where no federal endorsement is available, the commission may set additional standards for a state license. An applicant for a license must satisfy the commission that the applicant has or will have proper means available for boarding and leaving vessels which the applicant may be called upon to pilot. [PL 1999, c. 355, §14 (AMD).]

An applicant must complete a training trip in the area for which that person is making application under the direction of a licensed pilot actively piloting in that area. These training trips must be on vessels of at least 1600 gross tons. The commission shall establish standards for proof of such training and the minimum number of trips required. Once those standards are established, they may be amended only upon a 2/3 vote of the commission. [PL 1999, c. 355, §14 (NEW).]

Notwithstanding the training trip requirements under this section, the commission may establish alternative requirements for pilots under the jurisdiction of the commission who are seeking route endorsements in areas of low traffic volume as defined by the commission. The commission shall adopt rules implementing any alternative initial license criteria for pilots seeking route endorsements in areas of low traffic volume that are established by the commission. Rules adopted pursuant to this paragraph are routine technical rules as defined in Title 5, chapter 375, subchapter 2?A. [PL 2019, c. 663, §1 (NEW).]