SAN FRANCISCO, CA--(Marketwired - Apr 4, 2013) - Today's action by the Board of Pilot Commissioners enables San Francisco Bar Pilot Guy Kleess, the pilot involved in the January 7, 2013 Overseas Reymar allision with the Bay Bridge, the opportunity to present his case in court, said Rex Clack, the attorney for Captain Kleess.
"We obviously are disappointed by the BOPC's decision," said Clack. "These are not findings but only allegations by the BOPC. And, we look forward to presenting our case at trial."
Captain Kleess became a bar pilot after a very competitive process in which only highly qualified mariners are selected as pilots from a large number of very qualified candidates that apply.
Captain Kleess graduated cum laude from the United States Merchant Marine Academy in New York in 1976. This is one of the premier maritime schools in the country. He graduated with dual majors in both the engine and deck departments. At graduation he was issued a Third Mate's Unlimited License and a Third Engineer's License.
From that time through 1991 he sailed mostly on oil tankers. He went up through the ranks as a Third Engineer, then Third Mate, Second Mate, Chief Mate, and then sailed as a Captain on tankers. From 1991 until 2003 he was employed at Louisiana Offshore Oil Port as a docking pilot mooring and un-mooring tankers ranging in size from 80,000 to 560,000 tons. Over this 12-year period he performed approximately 1500 moorings and un-moorings.
In October 2003 Captain Kleess was admitted to the San Francisco Bar Pilots training program. He successfully completed this program in October 2005. He has been a pilot in the San Francisco Bay from 2005 to the present. Captain Kleess also performs the duties of a river pilot. Of the 58 bar pilots, he is one of only 10 who are licensed to do this. It takes extraordinary skill and experience to perform this task. He pilots ships that are up to 600 to 700 feet long on the San Joaquin and Sacramento Rivers in channels that can be as narrow as 200 feet, and many of these ships are up to 110 feet wide. These ships are piloted to and from Stockton and Sacramento during the day and nighttime hours. Since becoming a bar pilot in 2005 he has piloted 1160 ships in and out of the Bay and rivers.
"The Overseas Reymar allision was an unfortunate incident, which the Coast Guard and NTSB continue to investigate," said Clack. "Captain Kleess continues to provide his full assistance and cooperation with these investigations."
Contact Information:
For more information:
Rex M. Clack, Esq.
(415) 543-5300