---
title: O.C.G.A. § 52-6-45. Vessels to be under direction and control of licensed pilots; exemptions; use of docking pilots.
collection: code
id: 52-6-45
cite_as: O.C.G.A. § 52-6-45 (2025)
canonical_url: https://georgiacommons.org/code/52-6-45
md_url: https://georgiacommons.org/code/52-6-45.md
text_url: https://georgiacommons.org/code/52-6-45/text
source_url: https://www.legis.ga.gov/api/document/docs/default-source/joint-features-document-library/t52-t53-(v40)-2021-pdf.pdf?sfvrsn=d23ba203_0#page=90
date: 2025
status: active
corpus_version: 2025-supplement-89aa39ab3c68
license: CC0-1.0
publisher: Georgia Commons, an independent project of Georgia Civic Data. Not the State of Georgia. Not legal advice.
up: https://georgiacommons.org/code/52-6.md
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version: the only printed version
in_force: true
current_through: Including Acts of the 2025 Regular Session of the General Assembly
heading_path: WATERS OF THE STATE, PORTS, AND WATERCRAFT / PILOTS AND PILOTAGE / PILOTS GENERALLY
---

# O.C.G.A. § 52-6-45. Vessels to be under direction and control of licensed pilots; exemptions; use of docking pilots.

(a) Except as otherwise provided in this Code section, every vessel shall be under the direction and control of a pilot licensed by this state when underway in the bays, rivers, harbors, and ports of this state and the approaches thereto.

(b) The requirement of subsection (a) of this Code section shall not apply to the following vessels:

(1) Vessels exempted by the laws of the United States;

(2) Vessels under 200 gross tons; and

(3) Vessels in distress or jeopardy, except that any such vessel shall take a state licensed pilot as soon as one arrives at the vessel.

(c) Nothing in this Code section shall be construed to prohibit a vessel from utilizing the services of a docking pilot in addition to the state licensed pilot required under this chapter during docking and undocking maneuvers with the assistance of one or more tugboats. The commissioners are authorized, consistent with all other requirements of this chapter, to establish by regulation or otherwise the duties, responsibilities, and fees of state licensed pilots when operating with a docking pilot aboard a vessel.

## History

Ga. L. 1886, p. 38, §§ 5, 6, 8; Civil Code 1895, §§ 1657, 1658, 1660; Civil Code 1910, §§ 1903, 1904, 1906; Code 1933, §§ 80-303, 80-304, 80-310; Ga. L. 1945, p. 279, § 9; Ga. L. 1986, p. 482, § 1; Ga. L. 1995, p. 846, § 8.