S.L. 499.26 Art. 9Requisites and qualifications for the grant of a licence.

(1) No person shall be licensed to serve as a pilot unless such person -

(a) (deleted by Legal Notice 240 of 2004);

(b) is not less than twenty-three years of age and not over forty years of age on the closing date for the submission of applications;

(c) produces satisfactory evidence of good character and sobriety of conduct;

(d) has been declared to be physically and mentally fit to serve as a pilot by a medical board appointed by the Authority and in accordance with appropriate standards of medical fitness established by the Authority to ensure that a pilot does not have a condition that could jeopardize or hinder the safe conduct of pilotage operations;

(e) possesses one of the following qualifications in the following order of priority:

(i) a certificate of competency of Master of a ship of 3000 GT or more without limitations (STCW Regulation II/2) issued by the Authority in terms of the Merchant Shipping (Training and Certification) Regulations, as amended;

(ii) an equivalent certificate to (i) issued by the relevant Authority of a flag state that is party to the International Convention on Standards of Training, Certification and Watchkeeping for Seafarers, 1978 as amended;

(iii) a certificate of competency of Chief Mate of a ship of 3000 GT or more without limitations (STCW Regulation II/2) issued by the Authority in terms of the Merchant Shipping (Training and Certification) Regulations, as amended;

(iv) an equivalent certificate to (iii) issued by the relevant Authority of a flag state that is party to the International Convention on Standards of Training, Certification and Watchkeeping for Seafarers, 1978 as amended;

(v) a certificate of competency for grades not lower than officer in charge of a Navigational Watch of an ocean going ship issued in accordance with the provisions of the Merchant Shipping Act or an equivalent certificate issued by a foreign competent authority acceptable to the Authority;

(vi) a certificate of competency of commercial vessel master issued by the Authority in terms of the Commercial Vessels Regulations, as amended.

(f) produces satisfactory evidence that he has served as an officer for not less than three years on ships of 2000 gross tons and over;

(g) has passed the appropriate examination prescribed in regulation 10;

(h) is able to read, write and speak Maltese and English fluently;

(i) has served as a trainee pilot in accordance with the provisions of these regulations.

(2) No person shall be licensed to serve as a pilot if he has been found guilty of any criminal offence which in the opinion of the Authority is deemed to be detrimental to the provision of pilotage services as a whole.