Chap. 452.—An ACT to amend and re-enact Section 3623 of the Code relating to
taking of pilots by vessels entering and traveling in the Virginia waters of
Chesapeake Bay, Hampton Roads, and in the navigable rivers which flow into
said waters, and by seagoing vessels traveling in and leaving said waters; and
to repeal Section 3624 of the Code relating to the requirements of vessels taking
pilots at certain points or ports in said waters. [H B 504]

Approved April 6, 1942

1. Be it enacted by the General Assembly of Virginia, That section
thirty-six hundred and twenty-three of the Code of Virginia, as hereto-
fore amended, is hereby amended and re-enacted so as to read as follows:

Section 3623. The master of every vessel, other than vessels ex-
clusively engaged in the coastwise trade and those made exempt by
United States statutes, inward bound from sea to any port in Virginia or
any intermediate or other point in Hampton Roads, the Virginia waters
of Chesapeake Bay, or in any navigable river in Virginia which flows
into Chesapeake Bay or Hampton Roads, shall take the first Virginia
pilot that offers his services, and any such vessel outward bound, or bound
from one port or point in Virginia to another port or point, shall take the
first Virginia pilot that offers his services at the port, point, or place of
departure or sailing, and any master refusing to do so shall immediately
pay to the said pilot full pilotage from the point where said services are
offered to the point of destination of said vessel. After a licensed Virginia
pilot shall have offered his services pursuant to the provisions of this
section or of chapter one hundred and forty-two of the Code of Virginia,
or after the services of any such pilot shall have been voluntarily required
or engaged, such pilot shall have full discretion as to when such vessel
shall be piloted to or from sea, or to or from any port or place within the
State or situated within any of the waters hereinabove referred to, and
shall not be interfered with by the master or any other person, but such
pilot’s discretion shall be exercised in a reasonable way, with a view to
the vessel’s safety as well as with a view to the safety of the State’s waters
and ports therein situated.

In all cases where pilotage is optional, none but licensed Virginia
pilots shall be locally employed, under the penalty prescribed in section
thirty-six hundred and twenty-one of this chapter.

Any pilot, master, or other person violating the provisions of this
section shall be subject to the penalties prescribed in chapter one hun-
dred and forty-two of the Code.
2. Beit further enacted by the General Assembly of Virginia, That
section thirty-six hundred and twenty-four of the Code of Virginia is
repealed.

3. All acts or sections of the Code in conflict with the provisions
of this act and Code section thirty-six hundred and twenty-three, as
amended, are hereby repealed to.the extent of any such inconsistency.

4, An emergency existing, this act is in force from its passage.