Alabama State Pilotage Commission

Created by Statute in 1852, the State Pilotage Commission regulates state pilotage in the State of Alabama. The State Pilotage Commission is unique among state agencies. Created by statute in 1852, it regulates certain aspects of the occupation known as "bar pilot," that is, those locally-based ship captains who guide ships between the "bar" at the mouth of Mobile Bay and the Port of Mobile, up and down the ship channel(s). The Port of Mobile has "compulsory pilotage," meaning that a ship (unless exempt) is required by statute to take aboard a bar pilot if it expects to enter or leave Mobile. Compulsory pilotage is obviously designed to provide local expertise to help prevent ship collision, stranding and damage, with attendant loss of life and property, and perhaps even environmental damage. The Commission's role is to decide how many pilots there should be, and to manage the application and apprenticeship process and, ultimately, the granting or denial (and if necessary, the suspension or even revocation) of a bar pilot's license or "branch."