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 port of Panama City has been filed with the Pilotage Rate Review Committee, pursuant to Section 310.151, Florida Statutes and Rule 61G14, Florida Administrative Code.
The last rate change (increase) granted the Port of Panama City was July 10, 2001. The committee intends to consider the requested rate changes submitted by the St. Andrews Bay Pilot Association on the dates and times noticed.
The petition filed by the St. Andrew Bay Pilots Association on July 31, 2018 requests the following changes.
Draft charge increase from $25.00 per draft foot with a 16 foot minimum to $28.75 per draft foot with a 16 foot minimum. (15% increase).
Pilotage Unit Charge increase from $2.30 per unit with a minimum of 175 units to $2.65 per unit with a minimum of 175 units (15% increase). The Pilotage Unit Charge is calculated as the Length Overall (LOA) times the vessel’s extreme Beam divided by 100 equaling the Pilotage Units which is then multiplied by the Unit Rate (UR) to derive the Pilotage Unit Charge.
There will be a charge for Docking or Undocking. This fee was discontinued on January 1, 1991. The last time a docking/undocking fee was charged was $75.00 per movement. This tariff was in place from 1963 to 1990. A docking or undocking fee of $0.25 foot of Length Overall (LOA) for vessels greater than 350 feet will now be charged. There will be no charge for vessels less than 350 feet calling on the Port of Panama City on a weekly basis.
There will be a charge for Bow Out or Passing a Vessel Berthed in a Narrow Channel. The fee was discontinued on January 1, 1991. Prior to that date, the fee was double the docking charge. A Bow Out or Passing a Vessel Berthed in a Narrow Channel Fee of $100.00 Bow Out/$100.00 Passing will now be charged.
The Shifting Charge for a Long Shift (PPC West Terminal to PPC East Terminal/Berth to Anchorage) will be increased from the Pilotage Unit Charge (PUC) plus Draft Charge to Pilotage Unit Charge (PUC) plus Draft Charge plus the Docking/Undocking Fee.
The Shifting Charge for a Short Shift (Shift within terminal) will be increased from the Pilotage Unit Charge (PUC) to the Pilotage Unit Charge (PUC) plus the Docking/Undocking Fee.
The Shifting Charge for a Dead Shift will increase from double all long or short shift charges to Double Full Pilotage and Detention charges after two (2) hours.
The Anchoring or Heaving Anchor Charge will increase from $100.00 to $200.00.
Detention will increase from $50.00 per half hour to $150.00 per half hour. There will continue to be no charge for less than a half hour.
Cancellation after the pilot has been dispatched will increase from $100.00 to $200.00.
A charge of $200.00 per movement for the Capital Boat Replacement and Maintenance Fund will be added.
All trips to and from Port St. Joe for vessel movements will be charged one (1) hour detention.
For years two through six after the rate increase is approved, there will be a two percent (2%) increase on draft charges and a two percent (2%) increase on unit charges per year for five (5) years.
All other charges currently in place at the Port of Panama City would remain the same.
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 April 1, 2019.
The Committee's site visit to the Port of Panama City 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.
