Pilotage Act 1983

42 Limitation of liability of pilots, and of pilotage authorities as employers

(1) A licensed pilot, a person authorised to act as the assistant of a licensed pilot by the authority who licensed the pilot and the pilotage authority who employ a licensed pilot or such an assistant shall not be liable—

(a) in the case of a pilot or assistant, for neglect or want of skill; and

(b) in the case of a pilotage authority, for neglect or want of skill by the pilot or assistant or by the authority in employing the pilot or assistant,

beyond the amount of £100 and the amount of the pilotage charges in respect of the voyage during which the liability arose.

(2) Where any proceedings are taken against a pilot, assistant or pilotage authority for any neglect or want of skill in respect of which liability is limited as provided by this section, and other claims are made or apprehended in respect of the same neglect or want of skill, the court in which the proceedings are taken may—

(a) determine the amount of the liability,

(b) upon payment by the pilot, assistant or pilotage authority of that amount into court, distribute that amount rateably among the several claimants,

(c) stay or, in Scotland, sist any proceedings pending in any other court in relation to the same matter,

(d) proceed in such manner and subject to such requirements—

(i) as to making persons interested parties to the proceedings,

(ii) as to the exclusion of any claimants who do not come in within a certain time,

(iii) as to requiring security from the pilot, assistant or pilotage authority,

(iv) as to payment of any costs, as the court thinks just.