Harbors and ports: Monterey Bay and the Bays of San Francisco, San Pablo, and Suisun: pilotage.

Existing law provides for the regulation and licensing of pilots for Monterey Bay and the Bays of San Francisco, San Pablo, and Suisun by the Board of Pilot Commissioners for the Bays of San Francisco, San Pablo, and Suisun. The board consists of 7 members, appointed by the Governor, with the consent of the Senate, with specified staggered terms. This bill would revise the terms for members of the board who are licensed pilots and members who represent the industry. Existing law specifies the rates of bar pilotage for vessels inward or outward bound through the Golden Gate and into or out of the Bays of San Francisco, San Pablo, and Suisun and also imposes certain movement fees and surcharges. This bill would exempt from those pilotage fees and surcharges noncommercial vessels that are maritime academy training vessels and vessels owned and operated by nonprofit museums or foundations. These vessels would be subject to the board operations surcharge. Existing law exempts from pilotage fees a vessel sailing under a coastwise license or appropriately endorsed registry and engaged in the coasting trade, as described, unless a pilot or inland pilot is actually used. A foreign vessel, a vessel bound to or from a foreign port, or a vessel sailing under a register is required to use a pilot or inland pilot. These provisions do not apply to a vessel that is less than 300 gross tons and is manufactured and used for private recreation. This bill would instead state that those provisions do not apply to a vessel that is less than 750 gross tons and is manufactured and used for private recreation.