By: Captain Andrew D. Melick

Miami is best known for recreational boating, tropical sunshine, ocean beaches,

and vibrant nightlife...It has never been known for its natural harbor.

Miami developed—and continues to develop—on the shores of Biscayne Bay,

where the water is only a few feet deep, and where the bottom is a thick layer of

lime rock. Yet, the largest cruise ship facility in the world and the tenth largest

containership facility in the United States lie at the very heart of the urban oasis

that Miami is today. The Biscayne Bay Pilots are the sole providers of pilot service to ships that

transit Miami Harbor, and our shiphandling techniques have developed over

more than a century of navigational experience in this unique environment. Miami Harbor is approached from the deep water of the Atlantic Ocean viaa

dredged channel--carved out of the solid rock bottom--two-and-a-half miles long

by 500 feet wide by 52 feet deep. The approach channel runs generally eastwest and consists of two reaches, equal

in length, which join at a 45 degree angle. At the shoreline, the approach channel

cuts through a barrier peninsula (Miami Beach) and then immediately bifurcates. The two dredged channels inside the harbor border the north and south sides of

an artificial island in Biscayne Bay. This island comprises PortMiami. Several

smaller port facilities lie on the periphery of the harbor: Miami Beach Marina,

for mega-yachts; Fisher Island, for tank vessels; Terminal Island, for small

freighters; Bicentennial Park, for ceremonial vessels; and the Miami River, also

for small freighters. Vessels proceed to all of these facilities under compulsory

state pilotage. To read this article in full, please visit: http://bit.ly/1ObbPOD.

First appeared in Scheldeloods. © 2015.

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NEWS NEWS

CONTACT FHPACONTACT FHPA

Captain Stuart Lilly

PO Box 38294

Tallahassee, FL 32315

(850) 224-0219 office

(305) 725-2543 cell

kp84@yahoo.com

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ON THE HORIZONON THE HORIZON

Remember, if you have a

newsworthy item to share, please

submit the complete details to:

Kristen Bridges at

kristen@bascomllc.com

or (850) 222-2140.

Did You Know? Florida’s harbor pilots handled 26,704 ship movements

last year.

September 2015September 2015 _________

-Board of Pilot Commissioners

HOW DO THEY DO IT?? THE BISCAYNE BAY PILOTS

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Page 2Page 2

FLORIDA TODAY - August 20, 2015 - According to an

economic impact study of Port Canaveral, $1.1 billion dollars in

revenue is created each year by the activities in the port and that

relates to more than 13,000 jobs.

Would you believe that a huge portion of that wouldn’t come to

fruition if it weren’t for a small group of harbor pilots and boat

drivers that perform potentially dangerous activities each day?

The Canaveral Pilots Association is a group of seven licensed

pilots, one pilot in training and four boat drivers that help guide

large boats, including cruise and cargo ships, into port.

“Very few people know about the harbor pilot business,” said Captain Ben Borgie, one of the seven licensed

pilots currently with the group. “There’s less than 100 of us in Florida, and less than 1,000 of us in the

country.”

To read this article in full, please visit: http://on.flatoday.com/1NZW50E.

PORT HARBOR PILOTS HAVE DANGEROUS BUT CRITICAL MISSION

EDITORIAL: AN AMBITIOUS VISION FOR TAMPA’S CHANNEL DISTRICT

TAMPA BAY TIMES - August 13, 2015 - The plan unveiled Thursday to redevelop downtown Tampa’s

Channel District marks another exciting chapter for Florida’s third-largest city. The move would bring

residents, energy and billions of new dollars into the area and

reconnect a modern and growing downtown with historic

Ybor City. Though the plan is ambitious and would be rolled

out over years, it would cement Tampa’s identity as a

waterfront destination and accelerate its transformation into a

dynamic urban village.

To read this article in full, please visit: http://bit.ly/1JRjcEw.

This rendering shows a proposal for a public park in the

center of the Channel District development. The plan

would remake 45 acres in the area. Bermello, Ajamil &

Partners.

Canaveral Pilots Association helps ships into Port

Canaveral. By Chris Bonanno, FLORIDA TODAY

Posted July 19, 2015.