Marine and Ports Services Amendment Act

What this bill does

This bill updates Bermuda's marine laws to set clear rules and fees for ship pilots - the licensed professionals who guide large vessels safely in and out of Bermuda's waters. It establishes how much ship owners must pay for pilot services and what happens when pilots get delayed or stranded on ships.

If passed (voted YES)

• Ship owners will pay standardized pilotage fees when using pilot services, with extra charges if pilots are delayed on board for more than 3 hours
• Only licensed pilots will be allowed to guide ships in Bermuda's territorial waters (except for small pleasure boats under 50 meters)
• Ships must cover costs for pilots who get quarantined or accidentally carried out to sea, including food, accommodation, and return travel expenses

If rejected (voted NO)

• Current pilotage fee structure remains unclear, potentially leading to inconsistent charges for ship owners
• Rules about who can pilot ships and compensation for stranded pilots stay undefined
• The marine authority continues operating under the existing 2021 law without these specific pilotage provisions

Who it affects

This primarily affects commercial shipping companies, cruise lines, and cargo vessels that use Bermuda's ports, as well as licensed marine pilots who guide these ships. Pleasure craft owners with boats under 50 meters are specifically exempted from most requirements.