Pilotage Requirements

Just transited the Delaware and C&D to Annapolis, was seen and talked to by the pilots with no problems.

So what are the specs on your boat and what was discussed in the conversation that made the difference between you and your friend two weeks ago?

I think the difference was he went above the C&D to Philly. My conversation with the pilot had to with overtaking instructions and general traffic. Once I got out of the C&D I passed a Maryland Pilot on another yacht heading for the canal and no contact was initiated either.

I think pilotage to an extent, is where politics meets the water, so to speak. Just look how long and hard it is to become a pilot. Seems like your family better have been one for 3 generations or so.

The state pilots authority is going to do everything they can to force as much revenue their way as possible. If it involves a large, private motoryacht that somehow fits in the commercial pilotage guidelines, by all means they are going to bill you for their services.

In Virginia it's all about profit.

When we bought the boat in 2009 I called the Virginia pilots and spoke to the president. I told him the boat was 130 feet, CI flagged and 340 tons and that I hold a 1600 ton masters along with master of towing vessels and had 10 years experience working tugs in Norfolk. He told me that if we were only transiting from the ICW to sea or vice versa they would not require us to take a pilot. That worked fine including going north this spring.

On my return trip last week I got a call from them the morning after filling my ANOA, asking for my eta to the pilot station. I explained the situation and was told they would check with the president. He called me later that day and had no recollection of our conversation and said I was just lucky they hadn't spotted me the last 3 years. I asked how they spotted me this year and he volunteered that they are checking ANOAs. When I asked why they didn't see my ANOAs the last 3 years he grumbled a little and didn't answer.

I was told I needed a Virginia pilot on board in Virgina waters by Virgina law and they were only doing what was required. After about ten minutes of me explaining my qualifications he actually stated " If you want to transit without a pilot, which I don't recommend, then you just need to pay the bill". Could it be any more clear what the intent of the enforcement is?

I had a young pilot, mid 20's who I am sure was an apprentice bring me in from the pilot station to Bluewater in Hampton. The next morning another pilot boarded at Bluewater to take us through the harbor and down the Elizabeth River. He planned to get off at the Gilmerton bridge but they didn't have a boat available to pick him up so he rode to the lock where he would be picked up by car.

During the trip I questioned him about getting off in the lock. I reminded him that there was 20 miles more of Virgina waters beyond the lock and "Virgina law requires" me to have a pilot aboard. He said they always get off in the lock. I protested and clearly stated that I did not want to violate the law so he needed to ride to the NC boarder. He called the office and then told me he got "approval" for me to proceed without him as they always do.

Interestingly, when he got off in the lock, the lock guys stopped him and asked where he was going. He told them a car was picking him up and they told him there was no way that would happen. The lock is a secure facility and no one comes or leaves except approved employees. He told them he was a Virginia pilot and they always do this. The lock master told him he didn't care if he was Santa Claus he wasn't leaving the premises. When the pilot again stated they do this all the time, the lock master said he has been there 8 years and this is the first time he has ever seen it. The pilot office called the Army Corps office and got permission for the pilot to leave this time but in the future they will have to arrange to get off somewhere else.

So is it about the law or the pilot's profit and convince??????

Excellent story of the way the system works. Kind of a shame, but how else are they going to support that 300k/yr+ pilot job?

Found this tidbit from Naval Science 302: Lesson 14 regarding pilot requirements in Virginia.

"Pilotage.--The Commonwealth of Virginia requires foreign vessels, or U.S. registered vessels departing on or returning from a foreign voyage, to engage the services of a State pilot (pilot). The Federal government requires a Coast Guard licensed pilot on a U.S. commercial vessel of 1,600 gross tons or more on a coastwise voyage while the vessel is in U.S. "pilotage waters." The master of a U.S. commercial vessel on a coastwise voyage can satisfy this requirement by employing a State pilot with a Federal license or independent federally-licensed pilot or by utilizing a member of the vessel's crew who has been issued a Coast Guard pilot's license for those waters. Federal law excludes military and other public vessels from State or Federal pilot requirements."

I was in and out of there 3 years ago with out any pilotage problems, I have not heard of anyone being harrassed. Not sure what the rules are though. The only thing is to make sure you do your ANOA.
Hope you have fair winds crossing the pond!

Not quite so on the left coast:
when I last checked, Washington state required a pilot for all foreign flagged pleasure boats, and Alaska for all larger 65ft loa, with a possibility for a very costly and regionally limited excemption.

lobo

Understood. We will not have any trouble at 80 ft non commercial up to Chicago. Some poor human being will then have to hit the books and get all the info needed for this trip. The boat will be kicked off a cargo ship in the vicinity of Quebec, where the trip will start at the beginning of the Indian Summer.

Please let me ask one more (maybe stupid) question I have with the infos at my hands at the moment.

Is there a water way connection between the Chicago area (Lake Michigan) and the Mississipi, usable for a boat (and if yes up to what size of boat)

Cheers

Yes, the Illinois waterway connects Lake Michigan to the Mississippi. Length is not a problem at 80'. Height is as there is a bridge around 19' on it that you have to get underneath.

Are they really going to notice the extra .5 meters? I'd just tell them it's 35M