Pilotage on Puget Sound

There’s a fascinating and informative read in today’s Seattle Times about Puget Sound pilots, the 52 men who guide commercial vessels through local waters. If you’re at all interested in learning more about the pilotage profession, I commend it to your attention. It's very well done.

Under Washington law, all non-exempt vessels are required to employ a licensed pilot while navigating the Puget Sound and Grays Harbor pilotage districts. RCW 88.16.070. Most vessels under 200 feet in length are exempt from the pilotage requirement.

Pilotage rates are established annually by the Washington Board of Pilotage Commissioners, which was created by the legislature in 1935 to oversee the state’s pilotage program. The Board’s mission is to ensure against the loss of lives, loss of or damage to property and vessels, and to protect the marine environment by maintaining efficient and competent pilotage service on the state’s inland waters. The Board’s annual report, available at its web site, is well worth reading and gives insight into the business aspects of the pilotage operation.

Pilotage rates are based primarily on ship length overall (LOA) and tonnage, with add-on charges for certain additional services. WAC 363-116-300. Tonnage charges alone are substantial, amounting to $0.1012 per gross ton for vessels in excess of 50,000 gross tons. For example, the tonnage charge for Savannah Express, referenced in our March 23 post, would have amounted to more than $10,000, based on this tariff and the ship’s 94,483 gross tonnage as reported on the web site of its owner, Hapag-Lloyd. Presumably this tariff applies each direction, both inbound and outbound.