Title TN, Transportation Code

Sec. 71.053. DISQUALIFICATION. A person may not be a commissioner of pilots of the pilot board of a navigation district in Cameron County if the person is engaged directly or indirectly in: (1) a towing business; (2) a pilot boat business; or (3) another business affected by or c…

Sec. 71.054. JURISDICTION. The pilot board of a navigation district in Cameron County has exclusive jurisdiction over the pilotage of a vessel between the Gulf of Mexico and a port of that navigation district, including an intermediate stop or landing place on a navigable stream …

Sec. 71.055. POWERS OF PILOT BOARDS. The pilot board of a navigation district in Cameron County may: (1) appoint, suspend, or dismiss a branch pilot or deputy branch pilot of a port in that navigation district; (2) establish pilotage rates for service in that board's jurisdiction…

Sec. 71.101. PILOT QUALIFICATIONS. The pilot board of a navigation district in Cameron County shall examine and determine the qualifications of each applicant for the position of branch pilot or deputy branch pilot in that navigation district before licensing the branch pilot or …

Sec. 71.102. QUALIFICATIONS FOR LICENSE AS BRANCH PILOT. To be eligible for a license as a branch pilot in the jurisdiction of the pilot board of a navigation district in Cameron County, a person must: (1) be at least 25 years of age; (2) be a United States citizen; (3) as of the…

Sec. 71.103. QUALIFICATIONS FOR CERTIFICATE AS DEPUTY BRANCH PILOT. To be eligible for a certificate as a deputy branch pilot in the jurisdiction of the pilot board of a navigation district in Cameron County, a person must: (1) be at least 25 years of age; (2) be a United States …

Sec. 71.104. OATH; BOND. (a) A person appointed as a pilot in the jurisdiction of the pilot board of a navigation district in Cameron County must take the official oath before entering service as a pilot under that board's jurisdiction. The oath shall be endorsed on the bond requ…

Sec. 71.105. ISSUANCE OF BRANCH PILOT LICENSE. (a) On the filing of the bond and the taking of the oath required by Section 71.104, a commissioner of pilots of the applicable pilot board shall certify to the governor that the branch pilot has qualified. (b) On receiving the certi…

Sec. 71.106. TERM OF BRANCH PILOT'S COMMISSION. (a) The term of a branch pilot commission is four years. (b) If the pilot board of a navigation district dismisses a branch pilot from service in that board's jurisdiction, the branch pilot's commission expires. Added by Acts 2025, …

Sec. 71.107. APPOINTMENT OF DEPUTY BRANCH PILOT. (a) Only a branch pilot licensed for water in the jurisdiction of the pilot board of a navigation district in Cameron County may appoint a deputy branch pilot to serve in that board's jurisdiction. (b) A branch pilot serving in the…

Sec. 71.108. SUSPENSION OR DISMISSAL OF PILOT. The pilot board of a navigation district in Cameron County may suspend or dismiss a pilot only: (1) for misconduct, inefficiency, or intoxication on duty; and (2) after a hearing on the accusation is held before the pilot board at wh…

Sec. 71.151. APPLICABILITY OF PILOTAGE CHARGES TO CERTAIN VESSELS. (a) Pilotage charges under this chapter do not apply to: (1) a vessel of 20 tons or less; or (2) a vessel that is excepted by a federal statute or regulation. (b) Notwithstanding Subsection (a), pilotage charges u…

Sec. 71.152. PILOTAGE CHARGES. (a) A pilotage rate charged by a pilot under this chapter must be fair and just. (b) A pilot shall furnish a schedule of pilotage rates under this chapter that must be on file at all times in the office of the navigation district's commissioners. (c…

Sec. 71.153. CONSIGNEE LIABILITY FOR PILOT SERVICES. The consignee of a vessel is liable to a pilot for the pilotage of the vessel under this chapter. Added by Acts 2025, 89th Leg., R.S., Ch. 821 (S.B. 1353), Sec. 2, eff. September 1, 2025.

Sec. 71.154. LIABILITY OF CERTAIN VESSELS DECLINING PILOT SERVICES. (a) A vessel that, without the aid of a pilot serving in the jurisdiction of the pilot board of a navigation district in Cameron County, moves or is otherwise under way on any channel or waterway in that board's …

Sec. 71.155. UNAUTHORIZED PILOT LIABILITY. A person, other than a pilot, who provides pilot services to a vessel under way or otherwise moving for which a pilot is required out of or into a port, channel, or waterway under the exclusive jurisdiction of the pilot board of a naviga…

Sec. 71.156. RECOVERY OF PILOTAGE CHARGES. (a) A pilot may bring an action to recover compensation for pilotage or services offered, including: (1) pilot services rendered in accordance with Section 71.152 to a vessel in the jurisdiction of the pilot board of a navigation distric…

Sec. 71.201. PURPOSE. The purpose of this subchapter is to: (1) in the public interest, stimulate and preserve maritime commerce on the pilotage grounds of this state by limiting and regulating the liability of pilots; and (2) maintain pilotage fees at reasonable amounts. Added b…

Sec. 71.202. PILOT LIABILITY. A pilot serving in the jurisdiction of the pilot board of a navigation district in Cameron County is not liable directly or as a member of an organization of pilots for any claim that: (1) arises from an act or omission of another pilot or organizati…

Sec. 71.203. PILOT LIABILITY LIMITED. (a) A pilot providing pilot services in the jurisdiction of the pilot board of a navigation district in Cameron County is not liable for more than $1,000 for damage or loss caused by the pilot's error, omission, fault, or neglect in the perfo…