New Pilotage Rules: Public Comment Window is open

On the heels of my recent trip to Port Angeles to speak to their Chamber (full story here:
 (http://www.peninsuladailynews.com/apps/pbcs.dll/article?AID=2012308219993 ), there remains a chance to add your input on the new changes to the Pilotage Rules in Washington state. As you may know, any yachts that are foreign flag need to either take a pilot or get an exemption if they sail east of 122-24W.

The Pilotage Commission is in the process of changing the Washington Administrative Code (WAC) as a result of the recent change to the RCW allowing larger yachts to get exemptions.  If you have not seen that yet, you will find the announcement about it on the Pilotage Commission's website:  www.pilotage.wa.gov  .  Go to the tab:  Public Hearing - WAC 363-116-360: Exempt Vessels  WSR 12-16-079  for details.

The Commission is contemplating changing the drafted language in the new Section 6 to allow renewal of either the full-year or three-month exemptions to any time within one year of the expiration of the last exemption.  If you have comments on that idea, feel free to attend the public hearing on September 13 or submit written comments in advance.

 

If vessels that exceed the 750-ton limit that are coming in as a group, we have worked with Puget Sound Pilots in the past to make the pilotage issues for those vessels as "painless" as possible, so let Chair Harry Dudley (captaindudley@cablespeed.com) know if that is going to be the case during any of the World Series events (as far in advance as possible).

--Peter Schrappen