Tampa Bay Pilots

[Snook]

The Tampa Bay Pilots Association is asking for a 27 per cent raise. Their justification is the 90 nautical miles of channels in Tampa Bay that they must be familiar with. Their average pay now is estimated to be $262,392. A public meeting was held yesterday by an investigator from the Pilotage Rate Review Board. Many representatives spoke against the request including a vice president from Holland American Mr. Matthew Sams. Mr. Sams pointed out that "the cruise industry is facing unprecedented times as we are facing historical fuel prices". He further stated "as in any business, the cruise lines look at the bottom line and the cost of business port to port". Look at the complete article in the Tampa Tribune at TBO.com.

[kakalina]

That's insane! If these big major ports start getting too greedy with the money they are going to find all the big cruise companies finding new cities to dock in.
I wouldn't be surprised if something like this didn't factor in to the decision to leave the port of NY.
From the amounts of salary listed it would seem to me they are making an obscene amount of money and a raise of that magnitude would be preposterous.

[Krazy Kruizers]

Boy -- wouldn't we all like to get pay raises like that.

Should it pass -- HAL will be gone from Tampa.

[Snook]

You are right kakalina. This could very well be the reason they left New York. In this case however, the Tampa Port Authority is very much against this raise. They know as well as anyone that the lines look at the bottom line and make port changes as they see fit. I would hate to see Tampa lose any of their cruise business. Tampa has so much to offer passengers for pre cruise and post cruise activities.

[JLC@SD]

The Tampa Bay Pilots Association is asking for a 27 per cent raise. Their justification is the 90 nautical miles of channels in Tampa Bay that they must be familiar with. Their average pay now is estimated to be $262,392. A public meeting was held yesterday by an investigator from the Pilotage Rate Review Board. Many representatives spoke against the request including a vice president from Holland American Mr. Matthew Sams. Mr. Sams pointed out that "the cruise industry is facing unprecedented times as we are facing historical fuel prices". He further stated "as in any business, the cruise lines look at the bottom line and the cost of business port to port". Look at the complete article in the Tampa Tribune at TBO.com.

insane......27% raise equals a new average of $333,238.....:eek: ........and they rip us off coming and going.....:rolleyes:

....does anyone know if this is consistent with other ports...

[jtl513]

scratched

[mafig]

This was also on the Carnival board.

I believe Carnival has told Tampa they would be leaving if this pay raise goes through.

[MI-DI]

What would the per passenger increase be ??

[TCF]

I am not sure of everything the port pilot' job entails....but it seems to me that being responsible for a $100 million ship and the lives of 3000 people as that ship moves in and out a busy port is a pretty important job! No?

Whether they are worthy of earning $300,000+ a year I'll leave to others who know the jobs they do.

[jtl513]

... and the lives of 3000 people as that ship moves in and out a busy port is a pretty important job!Lives? Unless a collision or grounding resulted in a fire, I don't think lives are really very much in danger.

[woodofpine]

That's insane! If these big major ports start getting too greedy with the money they are going to find all the big cruise companies finding new cities to dock in.
I wouldn't be surprised if something like this didn't factor in to the decision to leave the port of NY.
From the amounts of salary listed it would seem to me they are making an obscene amount of money and a raise of that magnitude would be preposterous.


Well the reason they need the raise (according to the union) is that their average pay has declined from $366,000 per year a couple years ago...

Why did I go to law school?

Considering that small regional airlines are starting jet pilots at $20,000 - $30,000 and VERY senior jumbo pilots at major airlines are making <$200,000 (down from $300K a decade or two ago) I'd say those bay pilots are doing a big time OK - to steer a ship crawling along just above idle speed along a well marked channel.

The pilots are making more than twice what a cruise ship Captain makes.

[sail7seas]

We enjoyed Tampa the few times we sailed from there. It's a great embarkation port IMO and I'd be sorry if greed forced HAL to leave.

When is enough, enough?

[cruzincurt]

Today's paper stated that the current pilot fee in Tampa is twice what it is in other ports in Florida. Of course the pilot is on the bridge leaving Tampa for about 2 1/2 to 3 hours versus say Ft Lauderdale which is probably 45 to 60 minutes at most. The shipping lane is very narrow and twisting and then there's the Skyway bridge at the end. A lot more driving involved.

Interesting the the Port Authority is complaining, they recently raised the per person port fee and parking fees.

[leoandhugh]

the relatively few cruise ships that use Tampa as a port are a drop in the bucket as far as which companies will be paying for most of that increase; that would be the tankers, the container ships, and the general cargo ships. They probably outnumber the cruise ships at least 10 to 1. But I agree that an increase that size is ridiculous:(

[Sundagger]

Boy -- wouldn't we all like to get pay raises like that.

Should it pass -- HAL will be gone from Tampa.


It wouldn't take much - the Veendam is the only HAL ship cruising from Tampa.

[Tampa Girl]

I agree that the Pilots' Association has tremendous nerve, in these economic times, to seek such a raise. From what I read, the pilots are sort of by themselves on this one, but who knows what the State of Florida is apt to do when it comes down to a decision. But . . as far as the pilots having a relatively easy job - not in Tampa Bay! Have we forgotten the Skyway Bridge disaster, or the Blackthorn disaster? For those of us who live in the Tampa Bay area (and I include Englewood, BTW), perhaps we need to start pressuring the appropriate authorities. Does anyone know what Department or Agency considers these requests?

[woodofpine]

I agree that the Pilots' Association has tremendous nerve, in these economic times, to seek such a raise. From what I read, the pilots are sort of by themselves on this one, but who knows what the State of Florida is apt to do when it comes down to a decision. But . . as far as the pilots having a relatively easy job - not in Tampa Bay! Have we forgotten the Skyway Bridge disaster, or the Blackthorn disaster? For those of us who live in the Tampa Bay area (and I include Englewood, BTW), perhaps we need to start pressuring the appropriate authorities. Does anyone know what Department or Agency considers these requests?

God Bless them if they can get that sort of raise in the present environment.

With all due respect, Tampa Bay Pilots were involved in both the Blackthorn and the bridge disaster so I'm not sure anyone got their money's worth those days... No wrongdoing was found mind you, but still...

The fact the TB pilots are paid handsomely more than the pilots in Mobile and Houston/Galvston Bay that navigate similar difficulties sort of weighs me against them... Heck, at double the money of cruise ship captains - that negotiate the Dardenelles in Turkey and similar stretches... TP pilots are doing more than OK.

[Copper10-8]

Well the reason they need the raise (according to the union) is that their average pay has declined from $366,000 per year a couple years ago...

Why did I go to law school?

Considering that small regional airlines are starting jet pilots at $20,000 - $30,000 and VERY senior jumbo pilots at major airlines are making <$200,000 (down from $300K a decade or two ago) I'd say those bay pilots are doing a big time OK - to steer a ship crawling along just above idle speed along a well marked channel.

The pilots are making more than twice what a cruise ship Captain makes.

Well, I don't know this for a fact but me thinks if this goes through, those TB pilots will be making more than a cruise ship captain:eek:

[JimVrhovac]

Insn't this the pilots association that one of its members ran a ship into the skyline bridge and knocked the centyer section out. It killed several peolple and cost the taxpayers of this state millions to rebuild the bridge.....


Maybe they should decrease their pay by 27%.

Wonder what their pay is like when it is compared to the pilots for the Panama Canal or any of the Carribean ports.

Ruth & Jim

[Tampa Girl]

God Bless them if they can get that sort of raise in the present environment.

With all due respect, Tampa Bay Pilots were involved in both the Blackthorn and the bridge disaster so I'm not sure anyone got their money's worth those days... No wrongdoing was found mind you, but still...

The fact the TB pilots are paid handsomely more than the pilots in Mobile and Houston/Galvston Bay that navigate similar difficulties sort of weighs me against them... Heck, at double the money of cruise ship captains - that negotiate the Dardenelles in Turkey and similar stretches... TP pilots are doing more than OK.

Precisely my point: It is not an easy job to maneuver that channel, particularly in stormy weather. But, gentlemen, doesn't anyone have any ideas how to build a grass-roots opposition to this ridiculous proposal? This is going to hurting all ship traffic, not just cruise ships. And that means the consumers' pocketbooks, as well. What state entity votes on this proposal?

[Snook]

Yes. It is called the Pilotage Rate Review Board (http://www.myflorida.com/dbpr/pro/pilotrb/documents/pilotage_rate_review_board_board_member_list_4_10_ 08.pdf). Type that in Google and read all about it!! It consist of seven members and hopefully will listen to the public. They did have a public hearing last week but I saw no notice of it. That's not to say the notice wasn't published however.

[richwmn]

I am not sure of everything the port pilot' job entails....but it seems to me that being responsible for a $100 million ship and the lives of 3000 people as that ship moves in and out a busy port is a pretty important job! No?

Whether they are worthy of earning $300,000+ a year I'll leave to others who know the jobs they do.

As a comparison, in the United States our leaders receive — President $400,000 Vice President $198,600 Cabinet Members $171,900 senator $169,300, President pro tempore and party leaders receive $188,100.

Rich

[sail7seas]

And A-Rod earns how much?

Manny ? $20 million?

Huh!!!!

[richwmn]

And A-Rod earns how much?

Manny ? $20 million?

Huh!!!!



Kinda shows our priorities doesn't it??
Rich

[sail7seas]

There's is something wrong with this whole picture IMO

A heart surgeon earns what?
A Ship's Captain?
A Teacher?

And the Pilots in Tampa think they're undervalued.

[Tampa Girl]

Yes. It is called the Pilotage Rate Review Board (http://www.myflorida.com/dbpr/pro/pilotrb/documents/pilotage_rate_review_board_board_member_list_4_10_ 08.pdf). Type that in Google and read all about it!! It consist of seven members and hopefully will listen to the public. They did have a public hearing last week but I saw no notice of it. That's not to say the notice wasn't published however.

It was in the paper- at least the St.Pete Times. The hearing produced a very negatively, vociferous turnout, with the Pilots' representative saying nothing. In his words, this hearing was to let the public have its say. The pilot would have theirs when the Board convenes "later this year." Now where do we go from here?

Virginia

[Snook]

I would like to attend the next hearing, if I know about it. I'm not sure the Trib puts every article in all of their editions. Maybe someone could alert us when they hear of the next meeting? Has anyone ever calculated the true economic impact of just one cruise ship sailing in and out of a port? Seems that the Port Authority maybe should have given the board those figures. On the other hand this Pilotage Board may not care. If the cruise line moves to another port in Florida, would they care which one, as long as it is in Florida?

[richwmn]

I would like to attend the next hearing, if I know about it. I'm not sure the Trib puts every article in all of their editions. Maybe someone could alert us when they hear of the next meeting? Has anyone ever calculated the true economic impact of just one cruise ship sailing in and out of a port? Seems that the Port Authority maybe should have given the board those figures. On the other hand this Pilotage Board may not care. If the cruise line moves to another port in Florida, would they care which one, as long as it is in Florida?

If it were only the cruise ships it would not be as much of a problem. However, from the ports website --
CARGO
Tampa is by far the largest Port in the state of Florida when measured by cargo tonnage throughput, handling approximately 50 million tons of cargo per year. The Port of Tampa is capable of handling such a large volume partly due to its vast real estate holding totaling approximately 2500 acres (1012 hectares). Such spacious land provides the Tampa Port Authority with the ability to develop a multitude of facilities capable of handling diverse cargoes.

CRUISE
Tampa now homeports four vessels from three cruise lines: Carnival Cruise Lines, Holland America, and Royal Caribbean, offering the variety of 4, 5, 7, and 14-day cruise itineraries.

So if the pilots get this pay increase, it would raise the price of all goods going thru the Port of Tampa, or cause them to move to another port.

Rich

[FredS]

What the pilots see coming in the future is the loss of their jobs. Modern technology; i.e. GPS, sonar mapping, etc. are going to do away with needing pilots. Prior to these modern devices you needed someone that was familiar with the changes in harbors and channels. Today is not so much. Just like using tugs coming into port. Ports require cruise ships to use them, income for the port, but they are rarely used. The claim is that they are there in case of an emergency, such as ships engines quit working.

[Tampa Girl]

Every cruise I have been on, there are always pilot boats if we are going into a harbor. Is that not so in the California ports?

[Tampa Girl]

If it were only the cruise ships it would not be as much of a problem. However, from the ports website --
CARGO
Tampa is by far the largest Port in the state of Florida when measured by cargo tonnage throughput, handling approximately 50 million tons of cargo per year. The Port of Tampa is capable of handling such a large volume partly due to its vast real estate holding totaling approximately 2500 acres (1012 hectares). Such spacious land provides the Tampa Port Authority with the ability to develop a multitude of facilities capable of handling diverse cargoes.

CRUISE
Tampa now homeports four vessels from three cruise lines: Carnival Cruise Lines, Holland America, and Royal Caribbean, offering the variety of 4, 5, 7, and 14-day cruise itineraries.

So if the pilots get this pay increase, it would raise the price of all goods going thru the Port of Tampa, or cause them to move to another port.

Rich

And therein lies the problem. The shipping lines were also vehemently opposed to these proposed increases at the hearing. It was not just the cruise lines and the public in general. According to the paper, the only ones not opposed to it were the pilots. Surprise,surprise. Losing even these three cruise lines would mean a substantial loss to the tourist industry in the Tampa Bay area; and the increased cost of freight from the shipping lines, or the pulling out by the shipping lines, would probably mean higher prices for the consumers. Perhaps sufficient adverse public opinion would put pressure on the Board to pass this request by?

[Cruzman]

We were on a Carnival ship a couple of years ago in Cozumel after Wilma had destroyed most of the piers there. Of course, we were tendered ashore. When the time came for the ship to sail, a pilot boat pulled along side and the pilot boarded on the port side aft. About 10 minutes later, the pilot boat moved forward on the port side and I watched the pilot get off the ship onto the pilot boat. We then sailed away. I have often wondered how much the pilot was paid for this little maneuver.

[cruzincurt]

On the National Geographic show about the Port in LA, it was the captain of the RCL cruise ship that took control back from the harbor pilot when he did not account properly for the wind while going through the channel. She (yes she) saved the cruise ship from colliding with the freighter docked along the channel. The ship came within 30 meters of hitting.

Who knows the ship better than the captain?

Regarding news reporting, generally the St. Petersburg Times prints the negative stories about Tampa that the Tampa Tribune seems to avoid.

The ones who should be making the big bucks are the engineers that designed and built the ship.

[Cruisin' Ron VA]

Yes the amount of money seems high. But what some of you may not know is that the pilot is not getting all of that money.

He or she has to pay for office space, fuel to run his pilot boat, staff salaries etc. So the amount of money he earns is not what he is getting after paying over head. So the 233,000 he is she is making now isn't so much after he pays the bills.

A pilot has to spend a lot of time on a ship coming and going from Tampa. Upwards of 7 hours. This is unique compared to other ports. The more time he or she spends on on ship is less time he or she can spend on other ships hence not making as much money. They have to make it up some how.

Nobody can force you to sail from Tampa. So don't.

Just another point of view.

[cruzincurt]

H
A pilot has to spend a lot of time on a ship coming and going from Tampa. Upwards of 7 hours.

Yep, and I also spend 8 to 9 hours a day in my office. I wonder how much of the fee is just going to insurance?

[sail7seas]

Yes the amount of money seems high. But what some of you may not know is that the pilot is not getting all of that money.

He or she has to pay for office space, fuel to run his pilot boat, staff salaries etc. So the amount of money he earns is not what he is getting after paying over head. So the 233,000 he is she is making now isn't so much after he pays the bills.

A pilot has to spend a lot of time on a ship coming and going from Tampa. Upwards of 7 hours. This is unique compared to other ports. The more time he or she spends on on ship is less time he or she can spend on other ships hence not making as much money. They have to make it up some how.

Nobody can force you to sail from Tampa. So don't.

Just another point of view.


[B]Seven hours? Short days work by my DH's schedule. When DH is working for one client, he can't be working for another. Most positions only allow for the worker to be devoting their attention to one customer/client/patient at a time. I hope my heart surgeon was only working on me and I had his undivided attention :eek: until my surgery was completed. :D[/

[Grumpy1]

While a 27% increase sounds like a lot, especially when applied to a base of $233,000.00, let's break down the numbers a bit and see if the impact will affect the cruise lines. We'll have to make some assumptions, which may or may not be accurrate, but I'll try to make them "worst case" assumptions.

Let's assume that the pilot only works 200 days per year. At current pay, that's $1165 per day. Let's assume that the pilot makes one trip out and one trip back on each of those days. That's $582.50 per trip. The total cost to the cruise line for the service for a roundtrip would be $1165. Increase that by 27% and it will be $1479.55. For the ships that sail from Tampa, that's $1.00 or less per passenger. The increase is about 25 cents per passenger. Do you really think the cruise lines will pull out for a fee increase that amounts to 25 cents per passenger? Of course, by the time Tampa Port Authority passes the increase along, it will probably be 50 cents per passenger, but still, it's not that big of an increase.

I have not addressed whether or not the increase is justified... only how it would affect the amount you pay for your cruise.

[richwmn]

Yes the amount of money seems high. But what some of you may not know is that the pilot is not getting all of that money.
From the article in the Tampa paper --
This year, the projected average net income of each of Tampa's 18 certified harbor pilots is $262,392. Although that sounds like a healthy salary, it's $100,000 less since 2006 because of lighter harbor traffic amid the slumping economy.
Looks to me like (s)he is getting all the money

He or she has to pay for office space, fuel to run his pilot boat, staff salaries etc. So the amount of money he earns is not what he is getting after paying over head. So the 233,000 he is she is making now isn't so much after he pays the bills.
I admit that I don't know how the pilots association works, but it seems to me that those expenses should be for a central office that handles scheduling.

A pilot has to spend a lot of time on a ship coming and going from Tampa. Upwards of 7 hours. This is unique compared to other ports. The more time he or she spends on on ship is less time he or she can spend on other ships hence not making as much money. They have to make it up some how.
It seems to me that this would be taken into consideration already. I would like to see a comparison with other ports taking into consideration the time needed. In other words, a fee per hour type of thing. Also from the newspaper --
The cruise operators said pilotage rates at the Port of Tampa are as much as 50 percent higher than comparable ports in Florida and on the Gulf of Mexico, making operating in the port prohibitively expensive.
Nobody can force you to sail from Tampa. So don't.

[/quote]Just another point of view.[/quote]

Also from the newspaper article --
Tampa port director Richard Wainio said the port projects business to pick up again in the next three years. If business rebounds as expected, pilot salaries consequently would increase without requiring a higher salary now.
So it seems that they are asking for more pay for less work. They should be working toward getting more business into the port of Tampa.

Rich

[sail7seas]

While a 27% increase sounds like a lot, especially when applied to a base of $233,000.00, let's break down the numbers a bit and see if the impact will affect the cruise lines. We'll have to make some assumptions, which may or may not be accurrate, but I'll try to make them "worst case" assumptions.

Let's assume that the pilot only works 200 days per year. At current pay, that's $1165 per day. Let's assume that the pilot makes one trip out and one trip back on each of those days. That's $582.50 per trip. The total cost to the cruise line for the service for a roundtrip would be $1165. Increase that by 27% and it will be $1479.55. For the ships that sail from Tampa, that's $1.00 or less per passenger. The increase is about 25 cents per passenger. Do you really think the cruise lines will pull out for a fee increase that amounts to 25 cents per passenger? Of course, by the time Tampa Port Authority passes the increase along, it will probably be 50 cents per passenger, but still, it's not that big of an increase.

I have not addressed whether or not the increase is justified... only how it would affect the amount you pay for your cruise.



Just for the sake of converation, is it really about how much it will cost the cruise passenger? It's about all ships coming into/exiting the port and that involves a whole lot of shipping.

I think the whole conversation is about greed but that's only my opinion.

[Grumpy1]

Just for the sake of converation, is it really about how much it will cost the cruise passenger? It's about all ships coming into/exiting the port and that involves a whole lot of shipping.

I think the whole conversation is about greed but that's only my opinion.
There are several posts that question whether or not the cruise lines would continue to do business in Tampa if this raise is granted. I was addressing only that aspect of the thread. Most of this conversation is about greed, but there were other issues raised as well.

[mr. godfredo]

I am a teacher and though I chose that profession because I love what I do and feel good about the positive impact I have on our youth, I went in realizing that I would never get very wealthy! I do have an important job and I respect those who also work for the greater good! It really pisses me off that people like the Pilots believe that they should command this type of salary! I work 12 hour days and usually work summer school to provide for my family! Though I make a decent wage, I work very hard and believe that schools need to balance salaries with the needs of the students! With the rising costs of living, higher medical coverage expenses, home foreclosures, insane fuel costs, and the general downturn in the American economy, the Pilots should be ashamed of themselves! 27% is laughable! I love to cruise and feel it can be a good value and great time to share with my family, but if they pass this increase of pay I will never step foot in Tampa again and try to avoid cruise lines that home port there! I could care less about a buck increase or even 25 buck increases on a cruise! I gladly pay the fuel surcharges, but this is a matter of greed and it is exactly why Americans need to wake up and see things for what they are! I will use this scenario as a teaching tool when my students return next week to display the greed that is looming while my students barely have enough money to buy school supplies and need to haave government assistance to just buy there lunch each day.

I will now get off the soap box and think of happier things like my next cruise on HAL!:D

[mr. godfredo]

I am a teacher and though I chose that profession because I love what I do and feel good about the positive impact I have on our youth, I went in realizing that I would never get very wealthy! I do have an important job and I respect those who also work for the greater good! It really pisses me off that people like the Pilots believe that they should command this type of salary! I work 12 hour days and usually work summer school to provide for my family! Though I make a decent wage, I work very hard and believe that schools need to balance salaries with the needs of the students! With the rising costs of living, higher medical coverage expenses, home foreclosures, insane fuel costs, and the general downturn in the American economy, the Pilots should be ashamed of themselves! 27% is laughable! I love to cruise and feel it can be a good value and great time to share with my family, but if they pass this increase of pay I will never step foot in Tampa again and try to avoid cruise lines that home port there! I could care less about a buck increase or even 25 buck increases on a cruise! I gladly pay the fuel surcharges, but this is a matter of greed and it is exactly why Americans need to wake up and see things for what they are! I will use this scenario as a teaching tool when my students return next week to display the greed that is looming while my students barely have enough money to buy school supplies and need to have government assistance to just buy there lunch each day.

I will now get off the soap box and think of happier things like my next cruise on HAL!:D

[sail7seas]

There are several posts that question whether or not the cruise lines would continue to do business in Tampa if this raise is granted. I was addressing only that aspect of the thread. Most of this conversation is about greed, but there were other issues raised as well.


Yes, Grumpy. YOu're right.

[Cruisin' Ron VA]

I think the point is that they have to spend so much time on one ship meaning only one paying customer. The more customers they have in one day the more they can make.

Focusing so much time on one customer means they have to make up the loss someplace and that means charging more per customer.

Spending the entire work day on one customer isn't going to make as much as having 4 or 5 customers.

I hope that cleared things up.

[sail7seas]

I think the point is that they have to spend so much time on one ship meaning only one paying customer. The more customers they have in one day the more they can make.

Focusing so much time on one customer means they have to make up the loss someplace and that means charging more per customer.

Spending the entire work day on one customer isn't going to make as much as having 4 or 5 customers.

I hope that cleared things up.


Ron....

I understood that is what you meant last post.

A doctor can only see (and bill) one patient during a given period of time. The more patients (s)he can see, the more bills (s)he can submit. Only one paying customer/patient per office visit.

An attorney can only do one trial at a time. The more trials they can do, the more they can bill. Only doing one trial is not going to earn the attorney as much as if (s)he could try four cases. Only one paying 'customer/client' per trial.

A store clerk can only ring out one customer at a time. The more customers they can speed through the check out line, the more sales the store can make.

The fact a pilot can only service one ship at a time is no different. Same concept IMO

[richwmn]

I think the point is that they have to spend so much time on one ship meaning only one paying customer. The more customers they have in one day the more they can make.

Focusing so much time on one customer means they have to make up the loss someplace and that means charging more per customer.

Spending the entire work day on one customer isn't going to make as much as having 4 or 5 customers.

I hope that cleared things up.

According to the Tampa newspaper, their loss in pay is due to a lack of ships coming into the port, and that they need to make up by charging more for the fewer ship coming in. However, that may have the unintended consequence of driving more ships out of Tampa to another port. The same article predicts more traffic into the port and therefore more pay for the pilots.

(see my previous post for quotes from the article)

Rich

[Tampa Girl]

I am a teacher and though I chose that profession because I love what I do and feel good about the positive impact I have on our youth, I went in realizing that I would never get very wealthy! I do have an important job and I respect those who also work for the greater good! It really pisses me off that people like the Pilots believe that they should command this type of salary! I work 12 hour days and usually work summer school to provide for my family! Though I make a decent wage, I work very hard and believe that schools need to balance salaries with the needs of the students! With the rising costs of living, higher medical coverage expenses, home foreclosures, insane fuel costs, and the general downturn in the American economy, the Pilots should be ashamed of themselves! 27% is laughable! I love to cruise and feel it can be a good value and great time to share with my family, but if they pass this increase of pay I will never step foot in Tampa again and try to avoid cruise lines that home port there! I could care less about a buck increase or even 25 buck increases on a cruise! I gladly pay the fuel surcharges, but this is a matter of greed and it is exactly why Americans need to wake up and see things for what they are! I will use this scenario as a teaching tool when my students return next week to display the greed that is looming while my students barely have enough money to buy school supplies and need to haave government assistance to just buy there lunch each day.

I will now get off the soap box and think of happier things like my next cruise on HAL!:D

The City of Tampa has nothing to do with this rate request. Harbor Pilots are controlled by the State of Florida, Department of Business & Professional Regulation, Division of Professions, which regulates the Pilotage Rate Review Board. Read the St. Pete Times article from August 7, 2008, written by Steve Huettel. He can be reached at huettel@sptimes.com. According to his article, officials from a dozen businesses, trade groups and (pay attention) PORT AUTHORITIES in Tampa and Manatee raised objections to this rate increase." Do you honestly think the cities of Tampa, St. Pete, Sarasota, or Manatee would be in favor of something that would dry up their tourism industry? So . . . lay off Tampa. We have nothing to do with this.

[Tampa Girl]

Incidentally, it is not the "Tampa pilots". It is the Tampa Bay Harbor pilots - big difference. Tampa Bay is surrounded by Manatee County (Bradenton), Pinellas County (St. Pete & Clearwater); southern Hillsborough County (which does not include Tampa); and the city of Tampa. And that's my geography lesson for the day . . .

[cruzincurt]

I will guess that each of us feels underpaid in relation to someone else. Teachers certainly are underpaid as they touch the future and teach our kids to spell.