12:8-14. The commission, before granting to an applicant a license to serve as a deputy maritime pilot, shall require the applicant to pass a qualifying examination approved by the commission for such service, examining in particular, the applicant’s knowledge of the tides, soundings, bearings and distances of the several shoals, rocks, bars and points of land, and such other matters deemed by the commission as relevant to the safe navigation of vessels in the navigation for which the applicant applies for a license. Only an applicant certified by the New Jersey or New York Sandy Hook Pilots’ Benevolent Association as having successfully completed the apprenticeship shall be eligible to apply for a license to serve as a maritime deputy pilot.

The examination shall be prescribed, administered and graded under the supervision of the commission and may be conducted in the presence of one or more full maritime branch pilots of this State. The commission shall by regulation establish grades of maritime pilots. For each grade, the commission shall specify the draft and tonnage of vessels a maritime pilot in that grade is authorized to pilot and the time in grade required to advance to the next highest grade. Maritime pilots achieving the highest grade shall be full branch maritime pilots.

Amended 2004, c.72, s.18.