| INSTRUCTION
AND BACKGROUND INFORMATION
FOR SOUTHEAST ALASKA PILOTS’ ASSOCIATION
TRAINEE APPLICANTS Please
make $50 application fee check out to SEA PILOTS, INC. The
information contained herein is provided to assist potential Trainee Applicants
in their understanding of the Southeast Alaska Pilots’ Association (SEAPA)
and the requirements for becoming a State of Alaska licensed marine pilot in Southeast
Alaska. This information was last updated on October 17, 2007.
The Southeast Alaska Pilot’s Association, established in 1971, is located
in Ketchikan, Alaska. Presently, there are 41 fully-licensed Marine Pilots, 5
Deputy Marine Pilots, and 10 Trainees. SEAPA’s mission is to provide superior
professional pilotage in order to increase maritime safety and efficiency while
protecting the Southeast Alaska environment and providing increased vigilance
for maritime security.
In the course of our duties, we pilot a wide variety of ships; including the largest
cruise ships on the United States west coast (113,000 gross tons and 951 feet
length overall), miscellaneous cargo vessels (primarily log and ore ships –
mostly in the 500 to 600 feet overall length), US Military vessels (including
various Navy and Coast Guard ships), specialized vessels (such as cable layers,
research vessels, survey ships) and large yachts (the size of small ships). By
State of Alaska statute, SEAPA’s pilots are independent contractors who operate
in association to facilitate dispatch, safety, and efficiency in the provision
of pilotage services. As independent contractors, individual Pilots are responsible
for their own business licensing, retirement program and medical insurance. The
area of responsibility for SEAPA pilots includes Southeast Alaska from Dixon Entrance
to Cape Spencer and Yakutat. Of the 23 maritime states, Alaska has the most extensive
coastline with over 14,000 miles of shoreline in Southeast Alaska, and many environmentally
sensitive areas; including National Parks, National Forest, National Monuments,
critical habitat areas, etc. Southeast Alaska is considered one of the most challenging
operating areas for pilotage in the country, with regularly occurring extreme
tides (over 25’ range), currents (up to 10 knots) and winds (well over 40
knots). The vastness and remoteness of our area is like none other in the nation,
with limited communications and standby resources; therefore pilots in this area
must be even more self-reliant than in the Lower 48. In 2007, Southeast Alaska
Pilots were responsible for safely moving more than 853,654 passengers safely
throughout Southeast’s waters. This included the safe movement of over 35
million gross tons of passenger ships, across 291,529 miles of Southeast waterways,
and over 1 million gross tons of cargo ships. We
have an extensive training program for new Pilots. The training program is unfunded,
each Trainee is responsible for meeting their own costs in order to complete the
training requirements. Depending on the category that a Trainee qualifies for
entry, training takes an average of 5 to 7 years for completion to become a fully
licensed Marine Pilot. In
general, Trainees will be required to complete: (1) United States Coast Guard
Federal Pilotage requirements, (2) State of Alaska State Pilotage requirements,
and (3) the Southeast Alaska Pilots’ Association’s Training Program.
To become a State
of Alaska licensed Deputy Marine Pilot or Marine Pilot, an individual must first
earn an endorsement of First Class Pilotage (Federal Pilotage) without tonnage
restrictions for Southeast Alaska. The specific requirements for First Class Pilotage
in Southeast Alaska can be found in the United States Coast Guard Officer in Charge
of Marine Inspection for Southeast Alaska Application for Southeast Alaska Pilotage
Package. A copy of the current requirements is available on the SEAPA website.
Applicants are encouraged to review and familiarize themselves with the First
Class Pilotage requirements, without tonnage restrictions, for Southeast Alaska.
The specific
requirements of State of Alaska Marine Pilots are contained in the State Marine
Pilot Statutes; AS 08.62 and the State Marine Pilot Regulations 12 AAC 56. Applicants
are encouraged to review and familiarize themselves with the State requirements
to become a State licensed Pilot. The
Southeast Alaska Pilot’s Association Training Program, integrates the Federal
and State requirements with Association requirements to into an over-encompassing
Association Training Program. Prospective Applicants should ensure familiarity
with all sources prior to making application. In
completing the application, Applicants should pay particular attention to the
initial qualifying criteria and documentation requirements. Incomplete applications
will be returned with a letter explaining the deficiencies and the individual
will not be permitted to compete for a Training Position within the current advertised
solicitation period. Applications will be accepted only on the SEAPA application
form, including all required documentation and the application fee. All applications
must be post-marked on or before the February 8, 2008. Applications post-marked
after that date will not be considered. Applications may be sent electronically,
and must be sent on or before February 8, 2008 to pilots@seapa.com.
Applicants are responsible for all costs associated with completion and submission
of applications. An investigation of Applicant background history will be conducted.
The application fee of $50.00 is for processing of applications, background checks,
experience verification, etc. and is non-refundable. If
an Applicant meets the qualifying criteria, the Applicant will receive a letter
from the Southeast Alaska Pilots’ Association informing them of their status
as a Trainee Candidate and of the specific requirements; including individual
exam date, location and cost for each Candidate. All Candidate agility tests,
written examinations and bridge simulations will be conducted during the week
of March 10-14, 2008 in Seattle, Washington. Potential Candidates must be available
during that time period, there are no exceptions. All costs incurred in the Trainee
Candidate evaluation and selection process will be borne by the Trainee Candidate.
The typical costs for Trainee selection may include, but not be limited to, applicable
lodging and transportation to Seattle Washington (the location of the testing
facilities), the cost of the physical agility test, the written examination and
the bridge simulation. The total expected costs of the three examinations are
expected to be about $1,995, and will vary, depending on the number of candidates.
The actual costs will be identified in the letter to Applicants informing them
of their status as Candidates. The
application
form, United States Coast Guard Southeast
Federal Pilotage Package and State
of Alaska Marine Pilot Statutes and Regulations are available in PDF format.
A free Adobe Reader is required and can be safely downloaded at http://www.adobe.com/products/acrobat/readstep2.html. Questions
should be directed in writing to pilots@seapa.com.
Responses will be posted on the SEAPA website under frequently
asked questions (faq), available for all applicants to view. In accordance
with AS 08.62.175(c)(4) and 12 AAC 56.310(c)(2), the Association’s policy
is to follow a uniform, fair, open and nondiscriminatory process of Trainee selection. | 
