Page 8: of Maritime Reporter Magazine (February 2017)

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Pilot Wars

In Texas, two challenges to a local pilot system are in play.

Across the U.S. Gulf

Coast, stakeholders are watching closely.

© dbvirago / Adobe Stock o hear the stakeholders tell it, an ing in any event. I can’t think of a single major port in didn’t hear about it, then the world has ongoing challenge to the rate in- the United States where more than one truly turned upside down.

T crease requested by the Gal-Tex Safety & Low Rates local organization splits the work in a Turning back to the hopeful federal pi- pilots in Galveston, Texas and another At irregular intervals, state pilot orga- competitive fashion. To be fair, it’s been lots in Galveston, I can only think of one effort which involves a direct challenge nizations ask for rate increases, often tried in other places. Take Long Island place where an organization has com- to the legality of the state pilot monopoly couched in terms of what “everyone else Sound, for example: a Balkanized, poor- peted for any time at all with an estab- in the same jurisdiction are both happen- is making elsewhere” and usually, but ly regulated group at one time formed lished state pilot group. It was in Tampa ing independent of one another. Attor- not always, those increases are rubber- the basis of a local pilot system that Bay, Florida, in the early 1980’s. Setting neys representing the challenging parties stamped and approved. It isn’t unusual predictably had pilots unilaterally com- the stage, I was sailing Second Mate on in both cases say the timing is purely to see individual pilots make $500,000 peting against one another, sometimes a grimy, 43-year old Jones Act coastal coincidental. Nevertheless, the fact that annually, but I haven’t actually looked at as the vessel was within sight of the sea chemical carrier. A ‘maverick’ pilot from both disputes are happening at the same that number closely in quite a few years. buoy. No one wants that. the local group formed his own little time and in the same place bring (per- Suf? ce it to say that it is good, secure group, complete with an apprentice pilot haps unwanted) attention to an otherwise work, if you can get it. History (with a federal license) and was intent typical situation that exists at every deep It is also dif? cult work in most, but Stakeholders have tried to get rates on competing in the same harbor. A lo- draft port in America. not all places. Those who defend the at rolled back in other places. It wasn’t too cal newspaper – I sure wish I could ? nd

The tenet that states have the right to least outwardly fat salaries point to the long ago in Florida (2014, actually) that the clip – I think had a political cartoon control commerce on their own water- enormous responsibilities involved and the Board of Pilots Commissioners Rate of two ‘pilots’ having a ? st? ght on the ways is and has been a given, for a long, usually ask, “What price can you put Review Committee voted (remarkably) bridge of a ship. Funny.

long time. State pilot associations handle on safety?” It is a compelling argument. to approve an application to decrease the I was very young at the time and found all registered traf? c and usually, in the The usual mantra is that competition pilotage fees for cruise ships at the Port the entire thing to be rather amusing. absence of a robust and/or well-known typically invites bargain basement pric- of Miami by 25 percent. Subsequent to I also found out that (in most places) federal pilot presence, all the enrolled ing which then skimps on safety and that, however, a stay from the District you couldn’t actually form a competing traf? c, as well. And, in most places, the encourages less-quali? ed mariners to do Court of Appeals was granted. I haven’t group – unless you ? rst had a state is- crumbs represented by Jones Act deep the work at a discount, endangering pub- heard a word since. If pilot rates in Flor- sued license – and this guy was one of draft traf? c aren’t enough to make a liv- lic safety. ida have since been rolled back and I the ? rst, if not the very ? rst to do it. 8 Maritime Reporter & Engineering News • FEBRUARY 2017

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