Assembly Approves Sen. Dodd’s Shipping Safety Bill

SACRAMENTO – The California Assembly today approved a measure from Sen. Bill Dodd, D-Napa, that would bolster merchant shipping industry safety while saving money by encouraging investment in new, state-of-the-art pilot vessels.

“Today we take an important step toward protecting the thousands of cargo ships that ply California waters each year,” Sen. Dodd said. “By upgrading the fleet charged with guiding these vessels through sometimes dangerous or congested ports, when can safeguard this essential industry as well as the environment in our cherished harbors and rivers. At the same time, this proposal eliminates the need for costly financing, saving money.”

Shipping is a major industry in California with more than 40% of all cargo entering the United States coming through one of the state’s dozen ports. A cadre of expert mariners called pilots are responsible for navigating the massive ships into often challenging waterways such as the San Francisco Bay, with its changing weather and dangerous sand bar just outside the Golden Gate.

Under California law, the pilot boat fleet is continually updated with funds from a surcharge on merchant vessels, based on pilot miles. Current law caps the amount of that money that can be invested each year, adding delays and costly finance charges. With Sen. Dodd’s bill, Senate Bill 295, that cap would be lifted, allowing a faster purchase of newer, safer boats without incurring loan payments.

SB 295 is supported by Pacific Merchant Shipping Association and San Francisco Bar Pilots. The bill was approved by unanimous Assembly vote. It heads to Gov. Gavin Newsom for a signature following a Senate concurrence vote.

“It is imperative that we both invest in our pilotage system and keep our California ports competitive, and that means upgrading pilot boats when it is feasible and cost-effective to meet the strictest air quality regulations in North America,” said Mike Jacob, president of the Pacific Merchant Shipping Association.  “SB 295 will ensure that we can responsibly modernize our pilot boat infrastructure while also ensuring that the surcharges imposed on commercial vessels are as fair and reasonable as possible.”

“On behalf of the San Francisco Bar Pilots, we want to thank Sen. Dodd for authoring the bill, and our industry partners for their collaboration and support,” said San Francisco Bar Pilots President Captain John Carlier. “Clarifying the administration of funding the construction of new CARB compliant pilot vessels is a critical step on our pathway to a greener pilot vessel fleet.”

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Senator Bill Dodd represents the 3rd Senate District, which includes all or portions of Napa, Yolo, Sonoma, Solano, Sacramento and Contra Costa counties. More information on Senator Bill Dodd can be found at www.senate.ca.gov/dodd.