Terms Used In Texas Transportation Code 66.033

  • Jurisdiction: (1) The legal authority of a court to hear and decide a case. Concurrent jurisdiction exists when two courts have simultaneous responsibility for the same case. (2) The geographic area over which the court has authority to decide cases.
  • Person: includes corporation, organization, government or governmental subdivision or agency, business trust, estate, trust, partnership, association, and any other legal entity. See Texas Government Code 311.005
  • United States: includes a department, bureau, or other agency of the United States of America. See Texas Government Code 311.005
  • Year: means 12 consecutive months. See Texas Government Code 311.005

To be eligible for a license as a branch pilot, a person must:
(1) be at least 25 years of age and less than 68 years of age;
(2) be a United States citizen;
(3) as of the date the license is issued, have resided continuously in this state for at least one year;
(4) be licensed under federal law to act as a pilot on vessels that navigate water on which the applicant will furnish pilot services;
(5) have at least three years’ service as a deputy branch pilot or equivalent service piloting vessels of at least 5,000 gross tons within the board’s jurisdiction;
(6) have commanded or controlled the navigation of vessels such as the person would pilot;
(7) have extensive experience in the docking and undocking of vessels;
(8) be in good mental and physical health;
(9) have good moral character; and
(10) possess the requisite skill as a navigator and pilot to perform competently and safely the duties of a branch pilot.