Bill > S641

This bill aims to modify maritime pilotage regulations in Massachusetts, specifically for District 3, which includes the Port of New Bedford. The bill requires the district commissioner to update regulations (995 CMR 4.19) by removing the current requirement that maritime pilots must be members of Northeast Marine Pilots, a private organization. Instead, the bill mandates that qualified pilots can operate independently and that state pilotage work should be distributed among all qualified pilots, regardless of their organizational affiliations. The commissioner is instructed to make these regulatory changes within 180 days of the bill's passage. The key objectives are to increase competition among maritime pilots, remove barriers to entry in the pilotage profession, and ensure fair work allocation in the maritime industry, which could potentially support economic development in the Port of New Bedford by creating a more open and competitive environment for maritime professionals.

Agriculture and Natural Resources

https://malegislature.gov/Bills/194/S641