About Pilotage Tariff Authority
In 2018, the Washington State Legislature passed, and Governor Jay Inslee signed, Senate Bill 6519 [PDF]. The law moved the authority for setting marine pilotage rates from the Washington State Board of Pilotage Commissioners (BPC) to the Utilities and Transportation Commission (UTC). This change took effect on July 1, 2019.
The law allows marine pilots and shippers to submit proposed rates to the commission. It also transferred the authority to review the Port of Grays Harbor pilotage rate suggestions from the BPC to the UTC.
The UTC manages marine pilotage rate cases using its standard process, which is fair, transparent, and unbiased. It gives all interested persons a chance to be involved and share their views.