Delaware General Assembly


CHAPTER 385

FORMERLY

SENATE BILL NO. 594

AN ACT TO AMEND CHAPTER 1, TITLE 23, DELAWARE CODE, RELATING TO NAVIGATION AND WATERS, AND PROVIDING PILOTAGE RATES FOR DULY LICENSED PILOTS.

Be it enacted by the General Assembly of the State of Delaware:

Section 1. Amend §131, Subchapter IV, Chapter 1, Title 23, Delaware Code, by striking §131 in its entirety and substituting in lieu thereof a new §131 to read as follows:

§131. Pilotage Rates

For services rendered on and after July 1, 1974, the rates of pilotage for conducting a vessel from the Capes of the Delaware to a point on the Delaware River no further upriver than the Delair Railroad Bridge between Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, and Delair, New Jersey, or from a point on the River Delaware no further upriver than the Delair Railroad Bridge between Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, and Delair, New Jersey, to the Capes of the Delaware, shall be in either case, the total of the charges resulting from the two following computations:

(a) (1) A charge, to be known as a unit charge, will be made for each pilotage, determined by length overall (in feet) multiplied by the extreme breadth (in feet) of the vessel, divided by 100.

(2) For the purposes of this Act, the following definitions shall be applied:

"Length Overall" shall be the distance between the forward and after extremities of the vessel.

"Extreme Breadth" shall be the maximum breadth between the outside of the shell platings of the vessel.

All measurements shall be in feet and in inches (U.S.).

Inches shall be converted as follows:

1"

= .1

4"

=

.3

7"

=

.6

10"

= .8

2"

= .2

5"

=

.4

8"

=

.7

11"

= .9

9

3"

= .3

6"

=

.6

9"

=

.8

   

(3) The charges per unit shall be as follows:

Vessels not in excess of 300 units: $.60 per unit.

Vessels in excess of 300 units, but not in excess of 600 units: $180 plus $.50 per unit in excess of 300 units.

Vessels in excess of 600 units: $330 plus $.40 per unit in excess ot 600 units.

There shall be a minimum unit charge of 200 units ($120.).

(b) A charge, related to length and draft, shall be determined as follows:

Vessels with a length overall not in excess of 550 feet: $5.00 per half foot of draft.

Vessels with a length overall in excess of 550 feet. but not i n excess of 800 feet: $5.50 per half foot of draft.

Vessels with a length overall in excess of 800 feet: $6.00 per half foot of draft.

All charges related to draft shall be based upon the charge of the nearest one-half foot of draft; thus there shall be no charge for the first three inches above any foot draft; above three inches, up to and including nine inches, the charge shall be for one-half foot of draft; above nine inches, the charge shall be for the next higher foot. Provided, however, that any vessel with a draft of less than twelve feet shall pay pilotage under this computation as though the draft of the vessel were twelve feet.

Every such vessel bound to the Breakwater for orders shall pay pilotage fees as follows: a sum equal to one-half of the inward rates of pilotage to the Port of Philadelphia, and the same fees when outwardbound from the Breakwater; provided, however, if the pilot bringing such ship or vessel to the Breakwater be there discharged, and the ship or vessel afterward proceed to Philadelphia or any other port or place on the Bay or River Delaware, she shall make the usual signal for a pilot, and continue to make such signal till reaching Brandywine Light, and if spoken by, or offered the services of, a duly licensed Delaware pilot before reaching Brandywine Light, shall be obliged to employ such pilot and pay him for services rendered as follows: On and after July 1, 1974, the rates of pilotage for conducting a vessel from the Capes of the Delaware to a point on the Delaware River no further upriver than the Delair Railroad Bridge between Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, and Delair, New Jersey, or from a point on the Delaware River no further upriver than the Delair Railroad Bridge between Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, and Delair, New Jersey, to the Capes of the Delaware, shall be in either case, the total of the charges resulting from the two following computations:

(c) (1) A charge, to be known as a unit charge, will be made for each pilotage, determined by length overall (in feet) multiplied by the extreme breadth (in feet) of the vessel, divided by 100.

(2) For the purposes of this Act, the following definitions shall be applied:

"Length Overall" shall be the distance between the forward and after extremities of the vessel.

"Extreme Breadth" shall be the maximum breadth between the outside of the shell platings of the vessel.

All measurements shall be in feet and in • inches (U.S.). Inches shall be coverted as follows:

1"

=

.1

4"

=

.3

7"

=

.6

10"

=

.8

2"

=

.2

5"

=

.4

8"

=

.7

11"

=

.9

3"

=

.3

6"

=

.5

9"

=

.8

     

(3) The charges per unit shall be as follows: Vessels not in excess of 300 units: $.60 per unit.

Vessels in excess of 300 units, but not in excess of 600 units: $180 plus $.50 per unit in excess of 300 units.

Vessels in excess of 600 units: $330 plus $.40 per unit in excess of 600 units.

There shall be minimum unit charge of 200 units (120.).

(d) A charge, related to length and draft, shall be determined as follows:

Vessels with a length overall not in excess of 550 feet: $5.00 per half foot of draft.

Vessels with a length overall in excess of 550 feet, but not in excess of 800 feet: $5.50 per half foot of draft.

Vessels with a length overall in excess of 800 feet: $6.00 per half foot of draft.

All charges related to draft shall be based upon the charge of the nearest one-half foot of draft; thus there shall be no charge for the first three inches above any foot draft; above three inches, up to and including nine inches, the charge shall be for one-half foot of draft; above nine inches, the charge shall be for the next higher foot. Provided, however, that any vessel with a draft of less than twelve feet shall pay pilotage under this computation as though the draft of the vessel were twelve feet.

Approved June 25, 1974.