Vessels Requiring a Florida State Pilot

All vessels shall have a licensed state pilot or certificated deputy pilot on board to direct the movements of the vessel when entering or leaving ports of this state or when underway upon the navigable waters of the bays, rivers, harbors, and ports of this state, except:

A vessel is docking or undocking when a tug or tugs are assisting the vessel, or the vessel is making use of a bow thruster or other lateral thrust devices incorporated into the vessel itself, in close proximity to the dock, with the vessel under the direction or control of the master, docking master, licensed state pilot, or certificated deputy pilot. If the vessel that is docking or undocking is under the direction or control of the master or docking master, such direction or control must have been delivered from the licensed state pilot or be in the process of being delivered to the licensed state pilot.

In Port Everglades, "close proximity" of the dock is generally defined as less than one ship length away when approaching or departing the berth from a fore-and-aft direction and/or less than two beam widths when breasting the ship to or from the dock.  In addition the ship should be roughly parallel and in the correct orientation to it's final moored position.

The pilots at Port Everglades are licensed and qualified to perform all docking and un-docking maneuvers.  They are experienced with local conditions and familiar with local assistance, i.e., tug boats.  Therefore, even though state law provides the option for the master to perform the docking and un-docking maneuvers, it is strongly recommended the pilot perform these maneuvers.