Here’s why Tampa Bay Harbor Pilots Need a New Home

About 18 months ago, I saw for myself why pilots at Tampa Bay Harbor are essential to our entire region. Today they need our help.

I have visited their modest facility at Egmontkey, a Harbor Pilot base, over a century. I took one of their boats out west of the Sunshine Skyway, climbed up on a harbor pilot and made a 4 hour trip to Port Tampa Bay. Maneuvering these huge ships through channels, an essential task to maintaining the safety and economy of our region, requires incredible skills.

The destruction caused by Hurricanes Helen and Milton is at a crossroads in its important mission. The Hurricane destroyed the pier with Egmont keys, significantly damaging or destroying the cottages and other facilities used by the port pilots. They are temporarily operated from the commercial marina in Tierra Verde. This is not a safe or sustainable long-term solution.

To protect security and the economy, Harbor Pilots need new permanent facilities along the north side of the Sunshine Skyway. I am looking for $5 million in modest state money from Congress, ensuring Harbor pilots have the new headquarters they need to continue their vital work.

As a military veteran who also worked in law enforcement, I understand the need to provide resilient facilities to do important work around the clock. Federal and state laws require Harbor pilots to pilot the ship from southwest of the Sunshine Skyway to Port Tampa Bay. In other ports of Florida, Harbor Pilots usually pilot the ship for just a few miles.

The pilot at 22 Tampa Bay Harbor works on two weeks of shifts, calling for piloting the ships to Port Tampa Bay and Port Manatee. The largest vessel can fill approximately half the width of the channel, and the hull can only clean up three feet of the bottom of the channel. There is little margin of error and relies on the cargo these pilots deliver to the port every day and night.

Port Tampa Bay continues to expand its container ship business, near the Interstate 4 Corridor, with hundreds of distribution centers sending goods to Tampa Bay and Central Florida. Also, while other states receive fuel through pipelines, Florida does not have a pipeline that brings gasoline, diesel or aviation fuels.

Conclusion: Vehicle and aviation fuels regional fuels at Tampa Bay and Orlando airports arrive at Port Tampa Bay. If Harbor pilots are unable to bring in a vessel carrying fuel, gas stations and airports will be closed. We all stop.

Even before the hurricane, Harbor pilots had planned to move several businesses along the Sunshine Skyway to new facilities. Customs duties approved by the State Commission and paid by the ship operator cover up costs of up to $8 million. The $5 million state funding covers hurricane damage to Egmont Key and additional costs to expand the project to accommodate all businesses in order to mitigate and rehabilitate Egmont Keysite.

The new building meets the stringent building requirements for coastal construction and can quickly return to service after a major storm. It is adjacent to I-275, reducing recovery time. Fuel supply stations are also used by first responders in emergencies, such as the Coast Guard, fire departments, and law enforcement agencies.

Tampa Bay Harbor pilots provide essential services to Tampa Bay’s economy and security. This important project will allow them to continue to provide services that benefit us all in an efficient way.

Danny Alvarez is a member of the Florida House of Representatives and represents District 69 in Southeast Hillsboro County.