Department of Business and Professional Regulation, Board of Pilot Commissioners  

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    DEPARTMENT OF BUSINESS AND PROFESSIONAL REGULATION

    Board of Pilot Commissioners Pilotage Rate Review Committee

    The Board of Pilot Commissioners announces that a petition for a change in the rates of pilotage charged by the licensed state pilots and certified deputy pilots at the combined port areas of Jacksonville, Florida and Fernandina, Florida has been filed with the Pilotage Rate Review Committee, pursuant to Section 310.151, Florida Statutes and Chapter 61G14, Florida Administrative Code.

    The last rate change (increase) granted the Port of Jacksonville was January 1, 2004.  The last rate change (increase) granted the Port of Fernandina was January 1, 2011. The committee intends to consider the requested rate changes submitted by the St. Johns Bar Pilot Association on the dates and times noticed.

    The petition filed by the St. Johns Bar Pilot Association on October 1, 2019 requests the following changes:

    The formula for calculating pilotage rates shall be modified from a base rate of [Draft Rate x Draft + GT Rate x GT]

    To a base pilotage rate of: [LOA Rate x LOA + Beam Rate x Beam +Draft Rate x Draft + GT Rate x GT]

    LOA = Length overall, Beam = Extreme beam, Draft = Deepest draft, and GT = Gross Tonnage (1969 IMO Conv.)

    All linear dimensions shall be in feet and computed in half foot increments, or fraction thereof.  Gross Tonnage rate is per 1000 gross tons, or fraction thereof.

    The initial rates in dollars per foot or per 1000 gross tons for Arrivals or Sailings shall be:

    Vessels of GT:

    Up to 10,000 GT

    10,001 to 40,000 GT

    Over 40,000 GT

    Over 40ft draft & over 80,000 GT

    LOA Rate

      $0.75

    $1.00

    $1.25

    $1.50

    Beam Rate

      $3.75

    $5.00

    $8.50

    $12.00

    Draft Rate

    $22.50

    $25.00

    $30.00

    $40.00

    GRT Rate

    $12.50

    $15.00

    $22.50

    $27.50

    Minimum pilotage charge of $880 is based on minimums of:  LOA = 300ft, Beam = 50ft, Draft = 18ft, GT = 5,000

    The pilotage rate for a barge towed on a hawser, towed alongside or pushed (not a composite unit) is based on the sum of the LOA, Beam, Draft and GT attributes of the towing tug and barge(s).

    The pilotage rate for a tug pushing a barge in the notch as a composite unit is based on the barge’s LOA, Beam, GT and deepest Draft of the combined unit.

    Pilotage Rates for shifting vessels between berths and/or anchorages within the port landward of the COLREGS line:

    Zone A (up to 1 mile) = ¼ Standard Pilotage ($450 minimum)

    Zone B (over 1 mile and up to 4 miles) = ½ Standard Pilotage ($600 minimum)

    Zone C (over 4 miles and up to 8 miles) = ¾ Standard Pilotage ($750 minimum)

    Zone D (over 8 miles) = Standard Pilotage rate; regular LOA, Beam, Draft and GT rates apply

    Zone E (Fuller Warren Bridge to Shands Bridge); in or out of Green Cove Springs, FL = Standard Pilotage

    Detention, Delay, Standby or Cancellation of pilot not caused by local weather, medical emergency or force majeure:

    Detention of pilot = $150 per half hour or fraction thereof after first half hour, no maximum.

    Delayed arrival or sailing = $150 per half hour or fraction thereof after first half hour, no maximum.

    Standby charge when pilot is on the bridge part of the bridge team as in, but not limited to, holding a vessel in stream, tending a vessel at anchor, making up a tow or breaking tow = $150 per half hour or fraction thereof, no maximum.

    Cancellation of pilot; if cancelled, detention rate of $150 per half hour will be charged from the pilot call out, (2 hours before the ordered arrival time or 1.5 hours before the ordered sailing time), until notice of cancellation is received by the pilot dispatched to the vessel or by the pilot office.

    Port Control Fee = $100 per vessel handle per inbound or outbound transit

    Training and Technology Fee = $15 per vessel handle per inbound or outbound transit

    In Fernandina a docking and undocking rate based on a vessel’s LOA.

    LOA less than 330 ft = No Charge

    LOA 330 ft to less than 550 ft = $0.50 per ft LOA

    LOA 550 ft and over = $0.75 per ft LOA

    At the discretion of the pilots covering the ports of Fernandina and Jacksonville, an additional pilot may be assigned to any neo-panamax vessel, dead ship tow, or special circumstance vessel.  The commensurate result being that said vessel will be charged two standard pilotage fees.

    Pilot kept on board vessel when vessel departs the port area = $250 per day plus First-class return transportation.

    Payment is due upon invoicing.  Balances beyond 45 days shall be considered in-arrears. Lines and Agencies in arrears may be placed on a cash basis for future departures.

    All rates and fees shall increase by 2.5% each year for 10 years starting on the anniversary date one year following the effective date of this order.

    All interested parties may file an answer, an additional or alternative application, or any other applicable pleading or response, including all documentation in support thereof within thirty (30) days of this publication by December 23, 2019.

    The Committee's site visit to the combined ports of Jacksonville and Fernandina and the hearing of the Pilotage Rate Review Committee will be announced at a later date.

    A copy of the applications for the rate change and for a copy of the investigative committee’s report (when available) may be obtained by contacting: The Board of Pilot Commissioners/Pilotage Rate Review Committee, 2601 Blair Stone Road, Tallahassee, FL 32399, (850)717-1982.

    For more information, you may contact: The Board of Pilot Commissioners/Pilotage Rate Review Committee, 2601 Blair Stone Road, Tallahassee, FL 32399, (850)717-1982.

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