The Port Everglades Pilots Association is an elite group of carefully chosen mariners who have demonstrated exceptional qualities of skill, dedication, and commitment to service in the maritime industry.

All pilots in the Port Everglades Pilots Association are dual licensed by both the State of Florida and the United States Coast Guard to provide compulsory marine pilotage to all seagoing vessels calling at Port Everglades or Port Dania.  The type of pilot required falls into these two general categories, state and federal.  

In general, all foreign flag and certain U.S. flag ships with a draft of 7 feet or greater require a state licensed pilot when entering or leaving port or when underway upon the navigable waters of the bays, rivers, harbors, and ports of Florida.  Detailed state pilot requirements for vessels may be found in F.S. 310.    

Federal pilot requirements differ from those of the state of Florida.  Specific federal requirements apply to U.S. flag vessels operating on domestic voyages.  Federal pilot requirements for pilots may be found in 46 USC 8501 and 8502.  Additional detailed requirements may be found in 46 CFR Part 15.812.

The pilots at Port Everglades provide complete service to and from the berth to the point of embarkation/disembarkation, including docking and un-docking the vessel.  Although under certain circumstances Florida law provides the option of the Master performing the docking and un-docking maneuvers, it is strongly recommended the Pilot perform these maneuvers.