State and federal regulation of pilots, piloting, and pilotage : a study in contrasts and conflict

The navigation of merchant ships within ports and harbors is an activity with important implications for the health of coastal inhabitants, the economic welfare of ports and their hinterlands, the quality of the natural environment, the safety of vessel passengers and crew members, and the interests of shippers and carriers. This paper assesses the comparative strengths and weaknesses of two systems of pilot oversight: the federal approach, as administered by the U.S. Coast Guard, and the standards and methods employed by the state of Florida, as implemented by the Florida Department of Professional Regulation. This research addresses several dimensions of pilot regulation: (1) the establishment of standards for entry into the piloting profession, (2) the licensing and certification of pilots, (3) performance monitoring of pilots and disciplinary action against pilots who violate rules and regulations, and (4) the setting of pilotage rates and the regulation of competition among pilots.