The U.S. Coast Guard's Marine Safety, Security and Stewardship Directorate announced that the Federal Register has published a notice of proposed rulemaking to amend the Great Lakes pilotage rates for 2009.
The proposed new rule is effective August 1, 2009, and would increase the pilotage rates on the Great Lakes by 9.41 percent in an effort to generate sufficient revenue to cover allowable expenses, target pilot compensation and returns on investment. This proposed rule would reflect an increase in benchmark contractual wages and benefits, as well as an increase in the ratio of pilots to bridge hours.
The notice of proposed rulemaking, related materials and information on submitting comments can be found at http://www.regulations.gov, docket number: USCG-2008-1126.