Coast Guard proposes Great Lakes pilotage rate adjustment

Coast Guard proposes Great Lakes pilotage rate adjustment    The U.S. Coast Guard proposes to adjust the Great Lakes pilotage rate by an average of 6 percent for the 2006 shipping season.
   The 1960 Great Lakes Pilotage Act requires both foreign-flag and U.S.-flag vessels in international trades to use federal Great Lakes registered pilots while transiting the St. Lawrence Seaway and the Great Lakes system.
   The Coast Guard is responsible for administering the pilotage program, which includes setting rates for pilotage services. The U.S.-controlled waters of the St. Lawrence Seaway and Great Lakes system are divided into three pilotage districts.
   Comments regarding the proposed rate adjustment are due to the Coast Guard by no later than Aug. 14. For more information, contact Michael Sakaio of the Coast Guard’s Office of Great Lakes Pilotage in Washington at (202) 493-0402.