For the purpose of the present Law, the expression of "Pilotage" shall mean to direct vessels to navigate on the water passages in ports, coastal waters, inland rivers or lakes. For the purpose of the present Law, the term “Pilotage”shall mean to pilot vessels to navigate on the channels in ports, coastal waters, inland rivers or lakes.

The term “Pilot" used in the present Law means the person who performs the services of piloting vessels in the ports, coastal waters, inland rivers or lakes of the Republic of China (ROC).
The term "Apprentice pilot" mentioned herein means the person who accompanies the pilot on board to learn to pilot vessels.

The term "Competent authority of pilotage" shall be the Ministry of Transportation and Communications (MOTC) of ROC in the Central Government, and the local shipping administration authority in localities.

The division and alteration of the pilotage districts shall be stipulated by MOTC.

For the purpose of the safety of channels and the navigation, the enforcement of pilotage systems is classified into two types: the compulsory pilotage and the non-compulsory pilotage. The enforcement of compulsory pilotage shall be stipulated by MOTC by order.

The compulsory pilotage shall not apply to the following ROC flag vessels 1.work ship; 2.ships engaged only on governmental non-commercial service; 3.pilot boats; 4. vessels of under 1,000 gross tonnage; 5.ferries; 6.yachts and pleasure boats; and 7.other vessels navigating domestic shipping routes or engaged in the engineering works of ports as approved by local shipping administration authorities. Rules to approve the provision set forth in item 7 in the previous paragraph shall be drawn by respective local port shipping administration authorities and submitted to MOTC for ratification.
Provisions in the first paragraph shall also be applicable to non-ROC flag vessels under 500 gross tonnage.

The minimum number of pilots required for each pilotage district and approved by MOTC shall be stipulated by the local shipping administration authority. The same procedure shall apply to any alteration of such number of pilots.

Pilot boats exclusively provided for pilotage services shall be registered in and numbered by the local shipping administration authority for issuance of licenses.

The pilot boats referred to in the previous article shall have following marks and signs: 1. The bow of the boat shall be marked with its name and distinctive number by white paint; the stern shall be marked with the name and the port of registry by white paint.
2.During providing service, the boat shall fly the pilot flag on the top of the mainmast as international code or specified by ROC government authority.

Tariffs for each pilotage district shall be determined by the local shipping administration authority and submitted to MOTC and be ratified. The same procedure shall apply to any alteration of such tariffs.