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Hearing set for ship pilot rate increases
By Laura Elder
The Daily News
Published June 5, 2009
A hearing that will decide whether pilots who steer passenger liners, oil tankers and other vessels into island and Texas City ports will be awarded a rate increase is set for Monday.
The Board of Pilot Commissioners, a governing board of five volunteers appointed by Gov. Rick Perry, will hear testimony from the 16-member Galveston-Texas City Pilot Association and also parties who object to the rate increases.
The pilot group last month filed for multiyear increases beginning with an 8 percent hike this year.
The filing also calls for an 8 percent increase the following year and 7 percent hikes each of the next three years.
Industry groups say the requested increases are more profound when other proposed fee hikes and surcharges are imposed.
The ship pilots also are requesting increases in draft, unit, transportation, education and communication charges, among others.
In its filing for the rate increase, pilot association asserted that failure to adjust rates in nine years had created an “illegal subsidy” of pilotage costs to the group.
Cruise lines Carnival Corp. and Royal Caribbean Cruises, the Port of Galveston and the Port of Texas City along with industry trade groups have formally objected to the increases.
The meeting, at County Commissioners Court, 722 21st St. in Galveston, begins at 9 a.m.
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At A Glance
WHO: Board of Pilot Commissioners meeting on a rate increase request by Galveston-Texas City Pilot Association.
WHEN: 9 a.m. Monday
WHERE: County Commissioner’s Court, 722 21st St., Galveston
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