LA interview

Question 1

what are the requirements for a vessel to have a pilot in LA

Answer 1

All vessels over 300 gross tons require a pilot.

when a local pilot is not used the master must have a pilots license and receive approval from the COPT

Question 2

What equipment failures must be reported

Answer 2

• Navigational equipment
• steering
• propulsion
• any other vital system failures

Question 3

vessels with failures may be required to ?

Answer 3

• go to an outside anchorage until verification of repairs
• proceed into port at safest slow speed with suitable tugs
• have a second licensed officer radar plotting
• sea trials performed to the satisfaction of the master, pilot, and COTP

Question 4

3 branches of VTS?

Answer 4

1. VTS on ch 14 for outside the breakwater within 25nm of point fermin
2. LA pilots on ch 73 for inside harbor on the LA side. call sign KEB 260

3.LB pilots on ch 74 for inside on the LB side
call sign KMA 372

Question 5

what is a mandatory full participant?

Answer 5

• every power driven vessel over 40m
• towing vessels over 8m and towing
• every vessel certified to carry 50+ passengers

Question 6

what is a passive participant?

Answer 6

• every power driven vessel over 20m

- every vessel 100 gross tons or more carrying 1 passenger for hire

Question 7

who do you call to check in?

Answer 7

when departing from LA call LA pilots on ch 73 prior to getting underway. call san pedro traffic on ch 14 around ports o call

Question 8

what charts are used for LA harbor

Answer 8

• 18746 and 18749

- BA 1063 and 1082

Question 9

what are the speed limits?

Answer 9

• precautionary area is 12 knots
• tankers greater than 60,000 tons is 6 knots
• tankers less than 60,000 tons is 8 knots
• LA outer harbor is 10 knots
• inner harbor 6 knots
• fish harbor, west channel, marinas and yacht anchorages are 4.4 knots
• No wake zones are 5 knots

Question 10

Excessive smoke

Answer 10

Section 41700 provides that no person shall discharge from any source whatsoever such quantities of air contaminant or other material which cause injury detriment nuisance or annoyance to any considerable number of persons or to the public

Question 11

what does section 41701 state in the california health and safety code?

Answer 11

It shall be unlawful for any person from any source whatsoever to discharge into the atmosphere any contaminant other than uncombined water vapor for a period or periods equaling more than 3 minutes in any one hour which is darker than shade number 2 on the ringelmann chart

Question 12

Ballast water

Answer 12

California state law requires open ocean exchange of ballast water for ships that will be discharging ballast water into california waters after operating outside the exclusive economic zone unless safety considerations do not permit.

Question 13

Low sulfur regulations

Answer 13

Beginning January 2014 the California air resource board (CARB) requires vessels to use less than or equal to 0.1% suffer fuel within 24nm of the California coastline

Question 14

Shore power

Answer 14

All vessels must be plugged into shore power while at the dock

Question 15

Vessel speed reduction program

Answer 15

established in 2001, general 20nm from point Fermin but some participants have extended that to 40nm

Question 16

What is your greatest weakness and strength ?

Answer 16

• My greatest weakness would be myself. I tend to set really big goals and have high expectations for myself and if i every fall short of those expectations i tend to be real hard on myself which in return i end up learning something from it to improve.
• I think my greatest strengths are that I am very safe, responsible, reliable, adaptable, and work very well in a team. I get along with everyone and am willing to learn from everyone.

Question 17

how do you take negative criticism?

Answer 17

I believe I have something to learn from everyone so i am open to all criticism. I will take the negative criticism and turn into into a positive by learning from it and making myself better

Question 18

How do to handle positive criticism?

Answer 18

I dont let it get to my head, I will take it as a compliment but will still try to find a way to improve.

Question 19

What separates you from the other candidates?

Answer 19

2 parts to the question, my personal story and my work experience.
on a personal level this has been a life long goal of mine even as a child i wanted to follow in the footsteps of my grandfather, I knew this had to be a great career because every time he talked about it his face lit up with excitement. Also all the food on my table and roof over my head while growing up was all a result of my family working in the Port of LA. Every job I've done, class I've attended, or issue I've had to deal with has all been planned to accomplish my goal of becoming and LA pilot. I have become a leader and a mentor who follows all rules an regulations and works well while under pressure. I get the jobs done with my ultimate concern being safety. I really believe it would be an honor and a privilege to serve the LA community in such a professional and respectful manner. 
I believe my work experience sets me aside from the others because I get to see these ship jobs done everyday and am paying attention to things like where you guys meet other ships, how fast your going in certain areas, and how you are using tugs. Also all the barge work I do gives me a chance to actually plan and make passing arrangements with you guys but it also gives me the chance to land barges and taught me how to understand things like wind and momentum during docking and how to use them in my favor. I also volunteer to do our offshore towing because that gives me the opportunity to lead a larger crew and set up a more detailed tow plan and make adjustments as needed during the trip.

Question 20

Describe the wind in LA/LB

Answer 20

• Winds are variable in the fall and winter and also strongest when the Santa Ana winds pick up. this is a strong off shore desert wind which in infrequent but violent. Aside from weather forecast there is little warning of the winds, in may be very clear for some hours before and about 10-30 minutes before Santa Ana winds arrive you will see a large dust cloud approaching.
• Winter storms are also responsible for strong winds over SP bay, particularly from the southwest to northwest. Winds of 17 knots or greater occur 1 to 2 percent of the time from November through May.
• Southwest through West winds begin to prevail in the spring and last through the summer
• March, April, and May are the windiest months and December the most calm.

Question 21

Describe fog in the harbor

Answer 21

• Fog is most likely from October through February. and is Radiation fog
• Visibility drops below 0.5 miles about 11 days per month during this period
• Smoke from nearby industrial areas often add to the thickness of the fog.
• Along the shores, visibility drops to less than 0.5 miles about 3 to 8 days per month from August to April; December being the worst.