Coast Guard Finalizes 2025 Great Lakes Pilotage Rates Last Friday, the U.S. Coast Guard (USCG) published a Final Rule in the Federal Register outlining U.S. Great Lakes pilotage rates for the 2025 shipping season. The new rates seek to generate revenue for each of the three U.S. Great Lakes pilot associations by implementing hourly charges for pilotage services according to geographic area. Pilotage rates are paid by vessel operators serving Great Lakes ports. Although pilotage is a necessary service for safe navigation, Great Lakes ports have historically criticized the Coast Guard for being insensitive to high pilotage costs, which can…
