Members of Puget Sound Pilots help protect the economy of Washington State by facilitating the shipment of more than $80 billion worth of cargo each year. Pilots help avoid costly delays by working around the clock to safely navigate cargo vessels, passenger ships, container ships, and tankers through Puget Sound waterways.
As independent professionals who work for the citizens of Washington State, Puget Sound Pilots provide this vital service at no cost to the public.
Their compensation, which is paid by a tariff on shippers, works out to mere pennies per ton of cargo, just 23/100ths of 1% (.23%) of shipping costs.
In addition, pilots board and direct the navigation of the cruise ships that call here and contribute nearly $500 million a year to Washington’s economy. According to the International Council of Cruise Lines, Seattle is the nation’s 7th busiest cruise port.