The previous legislation required foreign-flagged vessels between 80-feet and 200-feet to hire a bay pilot for navigating in Bay waters, even if it was just for a short jaunt around the Harbor or to refuel at a nearby pier. This had been a huge deterrent to yacht captains in recent years, who began to bypass the Bay altogether rather than deal with the inconvenience of a bay pilot.
On the East coast, ‘mega-yachts’ often summer in New York, Newport, and New England and winter in Florida, with stops for resupplying along the way. On these stopovers, these yachts may spend tens of thousands of dollars on fuel, maintenance, provisioning, and tourism; money that the Chesapeake Bay had been missing out on because of the previous law.
U.S.-flagged yachts that remain in U.S. waters, even those up to 200-feet, were already able to traverse Maryland waters without a bay pilot. But for the foreign-flagged vessels, they were required to spend $268 an hour for a licensed bay pilot, even if only entering the harbor for a quick refuel.
The bill passed unanimously in the State Senate and the House, and legislative analysts predicted it would not cost the state anything to institute. For Governor Hogan, this bill is the first step of many “to help get Maryland open for business once again.”
The passage of the bill was welcomed by marina operators from Annapolis to Baltimore, that while recognizing a change will not occur overnight, hope to see yachts chartered by the “well-heeled” eventually make that turn into the Chesapeake Bay.
Even the association of Maryland Pilots, who would be losing business from this bill, supports its intentions. Bay pilots work primarily on guiding large cargo ships into the harbor, and while a 200-foot yacht may seem large, it pales in comparison to a cargo freighter. If desired, however, these yachts can still hire a bay pilot, though the law no longer requires it.
As of Wednesday, the new legislation is in effect and just in time for boating season! The Bay has a lot to offer these outside yachts so perhaps this new law will begin drawing them back to our waters. You can read the full story online at baltimoresun.com/business/bs-bz-yachts-20150415-story.html#page=1.
~KJ
Thursday, April 16, 2015 - 12:09
Governor Larry Hogan signed a law on Tuesday, which went into effect on Wednesday, and could potentially bring foreign-flagged ‘mega-yachts’ back to the Chesapeake Bay. Flagging a yacht in a foreign country reduces overhead costs, and so the law applies to these foreign-flagged vessels or U.S.-flagged vessels that engage in foreign trade. These vessels account for the vast majority of the yachts that travel along the Eastern seaboard.
The previous legislation required foreign-flagged vessels between 80-feet and 200-feet to hire a bay pilot for navigating in Bay waters, even if it was just for a short jaunt around the Harbor or to refuel at a nearby pier. This had been a huge deterrent to yacht captains in recent years, who began to bypass the Bay altogether rather than deal with the inconvenience of a bay pilot.
On the East coast, ‘mega-yachts’ often summer in New York, Newport, and New England and winter in Florida, with stops for resupplying along the way. On these stopovers, these yachts may spend tens of thousands of dollars on fuel, maintenance, provisioning, and tourism; money that the Chesapeake Bay had been missing out on because of the previous law.
U.S.-flagged yachts that remain in U.S. waters, even those up to 200-feet, were already able to traverse Maryland waters without a bay pilot. But for the foreign-flagged vessels, they were required to spend $268 an hour for a licensed bay pilot, even if only entering the harbor for a quick refuel.
The bill passed unanimously in the State Senate and the House, and legislative analysts predicted it would not cost the state anything to institute. For Governor Hogan, this bill is the first step of many “to help get Maryland open for business once again.”
The passage of the bill was welcomed by marina operators from Annapolis to Baltimore, that while recognizing a change will not occur overnight, hope to see yachts chartered by the “well-heeled” eventually make that turn into the Chesapeake Bay.
Even the association of Maryland Pilots, who would be losing business from this bill, supports its intentions. Bay pilots work primarily on guiding large cargo ships into the harbor, and while a 200-foot yacht may seem large, it pales in comparison to a cargo freighter. If desired, however, these yachts can still hire a bay pilot, though the law no longer requires it.
As of Wednesday, the new legislation is in effect and just in time for boating season! The Bay has a lot to offer these outside yachts so perhaps this new law will begin drawing them back to our waters. You can read the full story online at baltimoresun.com/business/bs-bz-yachts-20150415-story.html#page=1.
~KJ
The previous legislation required foreign-flagged vessels between 80-feet and 200-feet to hire a bay pilot for navigating in Bay waters, even if it was just for a short jaunt around the Harbor or to refuel at a nearby pier. This had been a huge deterrent to yacht captains in recent years, who began to bypass the Bay altogether rather than deal with the inconvenience of a bay pilot.
On the East coast, ‘mega-yachts’ often summer in New York, Newport, and New England and winter in Florida, with stops for resupplying along the way. On these stopovers, these yachts may spend tens of thousands of dollars on fuel, maintenance, provisioning, and tourism; money that the Chesapeake Bay had been missing out on because of the previous law.
U.S.-flagged yachts that remain in U.S. waters, even those up to 200-feet, were already able to traverse Maryland waters without a bay pilot. But for the foreign-flagged vessels, they were required to spend $268 an hour for a licensed bay pilot, even if only entering the harbor for a quick refuel.
The bill passed unanimously in the State Senate and the House, and legislative analysts predicted it would not cost the state anything to institute. For Governor Hogan, this bill is the first step of many “to help get Maryland open for business once again.”
The passage of the bill was welcomed by marina operators from Annapolis to Baltimore, that while recognizing a change will not occur overnight, hope to see yachts chartered by the “well-heeled” eventually make that turn into the Chesapeake Bay.
Even the association of Maryland Pilots, who would be losing business from this bill, supports its intentions. Bay pilots work primarily on guiding large cargo ships into the harbor, and while a 200-foot yacht may seem large, it pales in comparison to a cargo freighter. If desired, however, these yachts can still hire a bay pilot, though the law no longer requires it.
As of Wednesday, the new legislation is in effect and just in time for boating season! The Bay has a lot to offer these outside yachts so perhaps this new law will begin drawing them back to our waters. You can read the full story online at baltimoresun.com/business/bs-bz-yachts-20150415-story.html#page=1.
~KJ