One of the year's fiercest lobbying battles - pitting ocean freighter companies against San Francisco Bay harbor pilots - has been postponed, at least for the time being.
San Francisco Bar Pilots, the union-like organization that represents men and women who direct ships in and out of San Francisco and other Northern California ports, announced Tuesday that it would delay legislation to require additional pilots on some large ships, characterizing it as a safety issue.
Shippers had stoutly opposed Assembly Bill 2287 by Assemblyman Sandré Swanson, D-Oakland, saying it was aimed at raising pilots' incomes, already averaging more than $400,000 a year. Current practice is that some ships require two pilots, but without additional pilot fees, which are assessed on a ship based on its size and other factors.
This year's battle was an echo of a duel last year over raising overall pilot fees between the pilots and the Pacific Merchant Shipping Association.
AB 2287 cleared the Assembly Transportation Committee but has been stalled in the Assembly Appropriations Committee.
PHOTO CREDIT: The MSC Fabiola is guided by a tugboat on Wednesday, March 21, 2012, in San Francisco. Jane Tyska/ Oakland Tribune
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