Watching
big ships move up and down the Bay is a fun pastime for those of us who spend
our time on the Bay fishing or sun bathing. Each large vessel you see is
required, by law, to hire a licensed Chesapeake Bay Pilot. The cost of a Bay
Pilot can be up to $268/hour, with a two hour minimum. But the cost is well
worth the benefit of avoiding an accident. The largest commercial ships can
draw 47 feet in a 50 foot channel. Without the assistance of a licensed
Chesapeake Bay Pilot the largest vessels might ground, or dump materials that
would harm the delicate balance of aquatic life in the Bay.
But
the law required large pleasure boats to engage a Bay Pilot, too. Any
movement within the navigable waters of the Bay required a Bay Pilot, including
a shift from a berth to a fueling pier. And as you might imagine, this cost has
kept many large pleasure boats away from the Chesapeake region. “These vessels
spend tens of thousands of dollars alone on one fuel bill, plus money on
provisioning, local entertainment, tourism and repairs,” said Jessie Bowling of
Baltimore Marine Centers, which operates five marinas in the harbor, according
to an April 16, 2015 article in the Baltimore Sun. Many speculated that the old
law was an economic anchor to be cut away.
State
Delegate Peter Hammen, of Baltimore’s 46th District, which covers
the entire waterfront for the Port of Baltimore, recently introduced an
emergency bill to exempt large pleasure boats from the Bay Pilot requirement. Governor
Hogan signed the measure into law on Wednesday, April 15, 2015.
This
means that certain large pleasure boats are no longer required to hire a Bay
Pilot. Specifically, this exemption covers:
1.
Recreational vessels less than 200 feet long,
and those with less than a 12 foot draft.
2.
If they possess a valid federally issued cruising
license; and
3.
If they are not engaged in commercial service;
and
4.
If they are not carrying passengers for hire.
A
“recreational vessel” is defined by federal law and means a vessel being
manufactured or operated primarily for pleasure or leased, rented, or chartered
to another for the latter’s pleasure. “Commercial service” includes any type of
trade or business involving the transportation of goods or individuals, except
for service performed by a combatant vessel. “Passenger for hire” means a passenger
for whom money is collected and paid to any person having an interest in the
vessel. Federal cruising licenses exempt pleasure boats of certain countries
from having to undergo formal entry and clearance procedures such as filing
manifests and obtaining permits to proceed as well as from the payment of
tonnage tax and entry and clearance fees at all but the first port of entry.
These licenses can be obtained from the U.S. Customs and Border Protection Port
Director at the first port of arrival in the United States. Cruising licenses
are normally valid for up to a year.
Now,
for those of use spending our time on boats well under the 200 foot limits of
this exemption, what does all this mean?
Hopefully, it means more traffic on the Bay. By lessening the cost to travel up the
Chesapeake to Baltimore and Annapolis, the exemption may well generate
additional gross revenues for those businesses servicing large vessels and
their guests.
It
also means we must be much more aware of our surroundings while out on the open
water of the Bay. If the new law has its intended effect, we will be joined by
larger vessels moving without the assistance of trained Bay Pilots. These
larger vessels will be in close proximity as we move in and around the Bay’s
larger harbors and shipping channels. We all remain responsible for our own
safety, so keep a sharp lookout, and wave to our new visitors!
