King's Lynn: Pilotage Act 1772
| Jurisdiction | UK Non-devolved |
| Citation | 1772 c. 30 |
| Year | 1772 |
(13 Geo. 3) C A P. XXX.
'W H E R E A S the Borough ofLenne Regis , commonly called King's Lynn , in the County of Norfolk , is a very ancient Borough, within the Liberties whereof there are a Port and Harbour of the Sea for importing and exporting Merchandise; and the Mayor and Burgesses of the said Borough have, by Royal Charter, been a Corporation for Two hundred Years last past and upwards, and by certain Letters Patent, granted them by King James the First, dated the Nineteenth Day of November , in the Second Year of His Reign, were constituted (and now are) Admirals within the said Borough, and the Port, Limits, and Bounds thereof; and, by virtue of the same Letters, Patent, and others since granted to them by the Crown, and by long Usage have erected and put down proper Buoys and Beacons in the Channel of the said Port, and appointed Pilots for conducting Ships and Vessels into and out of the said Borough and Port, from and to a certain Place called Saint Edmund's Ness , otherwise Gore End , and from thence North and by West to another Place or Sand called Longsand , being the utmost Bounds Northwards of the said Admiralty Jurisdiction, and have also appointed other Persons, commonly called Bridgemen , to conduct Gangs of Lighters or Barges into and out of the said Borough and Port, from and to a certain Place called Staple Weere , being the utmost Bounds Southwards of the said Admiralty Jurisdiction: And whereas the Channel from Gore End and the Longsand aforesaid to the said Port or Habour of King's Lynn , and from thence to Staple Weere aforesaid, is become a more difficult and dangerous Navigation than heretofore for Ships, Vessel, and Lighters, respectively using the same, and many Ships have been wrecked, and Lighters and Barges sunk, by Means of the large Bodies of Sand which often first from Place to Place, and by Means of the double-fluked Anchors now used in the said Harbour, and divers unskilful Persons, without the Licence or Authority of the said Mayor and Burgesses, have often taken upon themselves to act as Pilots and Bridgemen for the Conducting and Guidance of Ships, Vessels, and Lighters, to and from the said Port, to the great Hazard of such Snips, Vessels, and Lighters, and their Cargoes, and the Lives of the Persons on Board the same, and to the Obstruction of Navigation: And whereas the Flood and Ebb Tides in the said Harbour run very rapid and strong, and the Harbour opposite the Town of late Years is become much wider towards the South-west, so that when the Ebb runs strong, and the Wind blows hard at the same Time, Ships and Vessels lying there, are often driven from their Moorings, and sunk in the said Harbour: And whereas Losses by Fire have happened to Merchants and Owners of Ships and trading Vessels, lying in the said Harbour, occasioned by the heating of Pitch, Tar, Rosin, Oil, or other combustible Matters on board such Ships and Vessels: And whereas the Powers and Authorities vested in the said Mayor and Burgesses are found not sufficient or effectual to regulate and govern the said Pilots and Bridgemen, and to remedy and prevent the ill Practices and Mischiefs before mentioned: And whereas the Damages sustained in the Harbour might, in a great Measure be prevented by laying down substantial Anchors for publick Use, furnished with proper Rings, Chains, and Floats, commonly called Harbour Moorings, for the more effectual securing the Ships and Vessels riding in the said Harbour from driving on Shore by voilent Storms of Wind, by raging Tides, by great Land Floods, or otherwise; but as the laying down such Moorings will be attended with great Expence, the same cannot be carried into Execution without the Aid of Parliament;' therefore, and for the Benefit and Improvement of Trade and Navigation, and promoting the Safety of His Majesty's Subjects, may it please Your Majesty that it may be enacted; and be it enacted by the King's most Excellent Majesty, by and with the Advice and Consent of the Lords Spiritual and Temporal, and Commons, in this present Parliamentassembled, and by the Authority of the same, That from and after the Twenty-fourth Day ofJune , One thousand seven hundred and seventy-three, if any Person or Persons shall take upon him or themselves to conduct or pilot any Ship or Vessel, or any Gang of Lighters or Barges, into or out of the said Port of King's Lynn , or between Saint Edmund's Ness , otherwise Gore End , and Steeple Weere aforesaid, without being licensed so to do by the said Mayor and Burgesses for the Time being, which Licences the said Mayor and Burgesses are hereby impowered to grant under their CommonSeal; every Person so offending shall, for every such Offence, forfeit and pay any Sum not exceeding Three Pounds, nor less than Twenty Shillings.
II No Pilot to be licensed, unless approved by 12 Ship-masters;
II. Provided nevertheless, That the said Mayor and Burgesses shall not license or authorise any Person or Persons to be Pilots of the said Borough and Port as aforesaid, unless such Person or Persons shall have first obtained the Recommendation in Writing of Twelve Masters or Commanders of Ships of the Burthen of One hundred Tons and upwards, trading to and from the said Port, (not more than Two of such Masters or Commanders being Masters or Commanders of Ships belonging to One Merchant or Owner), certifying the Ability and Skill of such Person or Persons to pilot or conduct Ships and Vessels to and from the said Port; nor shall they license or authorise any Person or Persons to be Bridgemen of the said Borough and Port, as aforesaid, unless such Person or Personsshall in like Manner have first obtained the Recommendation in Writing of Six Masters of Gangs of Lighters, certifying the Ability and Skill of such Person or Persons to conduct and pilot Gangs of Lighters and Barges to and from the same Port.
III Master of a Ship of not more than 30 Chaldrons Burthen, or of a Gang of Lighters unladen, may conduct the Ship and Lighters, and any Person may assist Ships and Lighters in Distress.
III. Provided also, That this Act shall not extend to hinder or to subject to the said Penalty the Master or Commander for the Time being of any Ship or Vessel, not exceeding the Burthen of Thirty Chaldrons of Coals,Lynn Measure, or Thirty Tons, Builders Admeasurement, from piloting or conducting such Ship or Vessel to and from the said Port; nor the Master or Commander for the Time being of any Gang of Lighters or Barges coming unladen to or going unladen from the said Port from piloting or conducting such Gang of Lighters or Barges to or from the said Port, nor any Person or Persons from assisting any Ship or Vessel, or Gang of Lighters or Barges in Distress; any Thing herein contained to the Contrary thereof in any-wise notwithstanding.
IV Rates of Pilots ascertained,
IV. And, for the preventing any exorbitant Demands being made by any Pilot or Pilots, licensed or authorised as aforesaid, for the conducting or piloting any Ship or Vessel into or out of the said Port and Limits aforesaid; be it enacted by the Authority aforesaid, That the following and no greater or other Rates or Prices shall be demanded or taken by such Pilot or Pilots than what are herein-after mentioned; (that is to say), For piloting or conducting into or out of the said Port any Shipor Vessel belonging to His Majesty's Subjects, drawing when loaded not more than Ten Feet of Water, the Sum of One Shilling and Sixpence a Foot for every Foot of Water such Ship or Vessel shall then draw; and for piloting or conducting into or out of the said Port, any Ship or Vessel belonging to His Majesty's Subjects, drawing when loaded more than Ten Feet, but not more than Twelve Feet of Water, the Sum of One Shilling and Ninepence a Foot for every Foot of Water such Ship or Vessel shall then draw; and for piloting or conducting into or out of the said Port any Ship or Vessel belonging to His Majesty's Subjects, drawing when loaded more than Twelve Feet, but not more than Fourteen Feet and an Half of Water, the Sum of Two Shillings a Foot for every Foot of Water such Ship or Vessel shall then draw; and for piloting or conducting into or out of the said Port any Ship or Vessel belonging to His Majesty's Subjects, drawing when loaded more than Fourteen Feet and an Half of Water, the Sum of Two Shillings and Sixpence a Foot, for every Foot of Water such Ship or Vessel shall then draw, and so in proportion for Half a Foot of Water in all and every of the Cases aforesaid; but no Allowance shall be made for any Number of Inches not amounting to Half a Foot; and for piloting or conducting into or out of the said Port, any Ship or Vesselbelonging to the Subjects of any foreign Nation, double the Rate or Price above limited for piloting or conducting the like Ship or Vessel belonging to His Majesty's Subjects.
V If the Ship cannot be got to her Delivery the same Tide she arrives at the Dolphins, the Pilot is to conduct her there, and be paid 2 s. 6 d. per Tide.
V. And be it further enacted by the Authority aforesaid, That in case any Ship or Vessel, which shall be piloted or conducted by any of the said Pilots...
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