CALIFORNIA LEGISLATURE 20252026 REGULAR SESSION Senate Concurrent Resolution No. 54Introduced by Senator Grayson(Coauthors: Senators Arregun and Wiener)April 01, 2025 Relative to San Francisco Bar Pilots. LEGISLATIVE COUNSEL'S DIGESTSCR 54, as introduced, Grayson. San Francisco Bar Pilots.This measure would honor former and current members of the San Francisco Bar Pilots and would commemorate the 175th anniversary of the San Francisco Bar Pilots.Digest Key Fiscal Committee: NO Bill TextWHEREAS, The San Francisco Bar Pilots, established by Captain William Richardson, have continuously assisted maritime trade and protected the navigable waters of San Francisco Bay and adjoining waters since 1835; andWHEREAS, In the California Legislatures very first session in the City of Pueblo de San Jos which began on December 15, 1849, and ended on April 22, 1850, the Assembly and Senate quickly recognized the importance of pilotage to the states commerce; and WHEREAS, Chapter 1 of the Statutes of 1850 established the State Archives; andWHEREAS, Chapter 2 of the Statutes of 1850 established the State Printer; andWHEREAS, Chapter 3 of the Statutes of 1850, passed by the Legislature on January 8, 1850, and signed by Peter H. Burnett, Californias first Governor, authorized the Governor, with the advice and consent of the Senate, to appoint pilots for the ports and harbors of California; andWHEREAS, Chapter 18 of the Statutes of 1850, passed by the Legislature on February 25, 1850, and signed by Governor Burnett, established the Board of Pilot Commissioners for the Port of San Francisco; andWHEREAS, The Board of Pilot Commissioners for the Port of San Francisco, now known as the Board of Pilot Commissioners for the Bays of San Francisco, San Pablo, and Suisun, is the longest operating state board or commission in California history; andWHEREAS, In 1853, while at the State Capitol in the City of Benicia, the Legislature was concerned that maritime safety and commerce was being endangered by competition among unaffiliated pilots and passed a bill, signed by John Bigler, Californias third governor, that required all bar pilots operating in San Francisco to work cooperatively under the auspices of the preexisting San Francisco Bar Pilots organization; andWHEREAS, Many years later, as a result of Chapter 1653 of the Statutes of 1984, all inland and river pilots working within the Bays of San Francisco, San Pablo and Suisun, and on their tributaries, came under the jurisdiction of the Board of Pilot Commissioners and affiliated with the San Francisco Bar Pilots; andWHEREAS, For the last 175 years, San Francisco Bar Pilots have been, at all times and in all weather conditions, continuously stationed near the SF buoy, which is 12 miles west of the Golden Gate; andWHEREAS, All vessels of 750 gross tons or more engaged in foreign trade are required to have a San Francisco Bar Pilot on board to cross the enormous horseshoe shaped sandbar seaward of the San Francisco Bay, to enter the Golden Gate, and to navigate the waters of the San Francisco, San Pablo, or Suisun Bays. The San Francisco Bar Pilots are now responsible for the safe passage of nearly 8,000 vessels each year, ranging from 100-foot tugs to 1,200-foot ultra large container vessels, including, but not limited to, container and bulk cargo ships, tankers, military vessels, and cruise ships; andWHEREAS, The waters worked by the San Francisco Bar Pilots are some of our nations busiest. Commercial and recreational fishing boats, commuter ferries, military and Coast Guard vessels, pleasure craft, and commercial ships and tankers all share the waters. Through this veritable water-traffic jam, the pilots guide the biggest ships with the most dangerous cargo; andWHEREAS, These waters are affected by thick fog, high winds, and winter storms, and are characterized by shifting currents and tides, by treacherous shoals, sandbars, and rock formations, and by narrow channels and rivers; andWHEREAS, The San Francisco Bar Pilots serve nine ports, including Benicia, Martinez, Monterey, Oakland, Redwood City, Richmond, San Francisco, Stockton, and West Sacramento, and numerous anchorages and terminals outside of port jurisdictions; andWHEREAS, The waters protected by the San Francisco Bar Pilots are the largest estuary on the west coast of North and South America, and include 1,000 miles of shoreline and more than 90 percent of Californias coastal marshland; andWHEREAS, In 1986, in recognition of the rare skills necessary for a person to safely pilot in these unique waters, the Board of Pilot Commissioners established a comprehensive training program that all prospective pilots must complete. The program is a full-time endeavor that lasts up to three years and, to qualify for the program, an applicant must be an accomplished mariner and hold a United States Coast Guard Masters License; and WHEREAS, All active duty bar pilots must also participate in a continuing education program sponsored by the Board of Pilot Commissioners; andWHEREAS, Due to their training, skill, and dedication, the members of the San Francisco Bar Pilots have achieved a 99.99-percent record of vessel movements with no pilot error; now, therefore, be itResolved by the Senate of the State of California, the Assembly thereof concurring, That it is with great pride that the Legislature of the State of California honors both the former and current members of the San Francisco Bar Pilots and commemorates the 175th anniversary of the San Francisco Bar Pilots, honoring their unwavering dedication to maritime safety, economic vitality, and environmental stewardship in the bays and rivers throughout California history, and, in doing so, recognizes that the San Francisco Bar Pilots, like a ship abiding the currents, abide ensuring safe passage through ever-changing waters; and be it furtherResolved, That the Secretary of the Senate transmit copies of this resolution to the author for appropriate distribution.
CALIFORNIA LEGISLATURE 20252026 REGULAR SESSION Senate Concurrent Resolution No. 54Introduced by Senator Grayson(Coauthors: Senators Arregun and Wiener)April 01, 2025 Relative to San Francisco Bar Pilots. LEGISLATIVE COUNSEL'S DIGESTSCR 54, as introduced, Grayson. San Francisco Bar Pilots.This measure would honor former and current members of the San Francisco Bar Pilots and would commemorate the 175th anniversary of the San Francisco Bar Pilots.Digest Key Fiscal Committee: NO
CALIFORNIA LEGISLATURE 20252026 REGULAR SESSION
Senate Concurrent Resolution
No. 54
Introduced by Senator Grayson(Coauthors: Senators Arregun and Wiener)April 01, 2025
Introduced by Senator Grayson(Coauthors: Senators Arregun and Wiener)
April 01, 2025
Relative to San Francisco Bar Pilots.
LEGISLATIVE COUNSEL'S DIGEST
## LEGISLATIVE COUNSEL'S DIGEST
SCR 54, as introduced, Grayson. San Francisco Bar Pilots.
This measure would honor former and current members of the San Francisco Bar Pilots and would commemorate the 175th anniversary of the San Francisco Bar Pilots.
This measure would honor former and current members of the San Francisco Bar Pilots and would commemorate the 175th anniversary of the San Francisco Bar Pilots.
## Digest Key
## Bill Text
WHEREAS, The San Francisco Bar Pilots, established by Captain William Richardson, have continuously assisted maritime trade and protected the navigable waters of San Francisco Bay and adjoining waters since 1835; and
WHEREAS, In the California Legislatures very first session in the City of Pueblo de San Jos which began on December 15, 1849, and ended on April 22, 1850, the Assembly and Senate quickly recognized the importance of pilotage to the states commerce; and
WHEREAS, Chapter 1 of the Statutes of 1850 established the State Archives; and
WHEREAS, Chapter 2 of the Statutes of 1850 established the State Printer; and
WHEREAS, Chapter 3 of the Statutes of 1850, passed by the Legislature on January 8, 1850, and signed by Peter H. Burnett, Californias first Governor, authorized the Governor, with the advice and consent of the Senate, to appoint pilots for the ports and harbors of California; and
WHEREAS, Chapter 18 of the Statutes of 1850, passed by the Legislature on February 25, 1850, and signed by Governor Burnett, established the Board of Pilot Commissioners for the Port of San Francisco; and
WHEREAS, The Board of Pilot Commissioners for the Port of San Francisco, now known as the Board of Pilot Commissioners for the Bays of San Francisco, San Pablo, and Suisun, is the longest operating state board or commission in California history; and
WHEREAS, In 1853, while at the State Capitol in the City of Benicia, the Legislature was concerned that maritime safety and commerce was being endangered by competition among unaffiliated pilots and passed a bill, signed by John Bigler, Californias third governor, that required all bar pilots operating in San Francisco to work cooperatively under the auspices of the preexisting San Francisco Bar Pilots organization; and
WHEREAS, Many years later, as a result of Chapter 1653 of the Statutes of 1984, all inland and river pilots working within the Bays of San Francisco, San Pablo and Suisun, and on their tributaries, came under the jurisdiction of the Board of Pilot Commissioners and affiliated with the San Francisco Bar Pilots; and
WHEREAS, For the last 175 years, San Francisco Bar Pilots have been, at all times and in all weather conditions, continuously stationed near the SF buoy, which is 12 miles west of the Golden Gate; and
WHEREAS, All vessels of 750 gross tons or more engaged in foreign trade are required to have a San Francisco Bar Pilot on board to cross the enormous horseshoe shaped sandbar seaward of the San Francisco Bay, to enter the Golden Gate, and to navigate the waters of the San Francisco, San Pablo, or Suisun Bays. The San Francisco Bar Pilots are now responsible for the safe passage of nearly 8,000 vessels each year, ranging from 100-foot tugs to 1,200-foot ultra large container vessels, including, but not limited to, container and bulk cargo ships, tankers, military vessels, and cruise ships; and
WHEREAS, The waters worked by the San Francisco Bar Pilots are some of our nations busiest. Commercial and recreational fishing boats, commuter ferries, military and Coast Guard vessels, pleasure craft, and commercial ships and tankers all share the waters. Through this veritable water-traffic jam, the pilots guide the biggest ships with the most dangerous cargo; and
WHEREAS, These waters are affected by thick fog, high winds, and winter storms, and are characterized by shifting currents and tides, by treacherous shoals, sandbars, and rock formations, and by narrow channels and rivers; and
WHEREAS, The San Francisco Bar Pilots serve nine ports, including Benicia, Martinez, Monterey, Oakland, Redwood City, Richmond, San Francisco, Stockton, and West Sacramento, and numerous anchorages and terminals outside of port jurisdictions; and
WHEREAS, The waters protected by the San Francisco Bar Pilots are the largest estuary on the west coast of North and South America, and include 1,000 miles of shoreline and more than 90 percent of Californias coastal marshland; and
WHEREAS, In 1986, in recognition of the rare skills necessary for a person to safely pilot in these unique waters, the Board of Pilot Commissioners established a comprehensive training program that all prospective pilots must complete. The program is a full-time endeavor that lasts up to three years and, to qualify for the program, an applicant must be an accomplished mariner and hold a United States Coast Guard Masters License; and
WHEREAS, All active duty bar pilots must also participate in a continuing education program sponsored by the Board of Pilot Commissioners; and
WHEREAS, Due to their training, skill, and dedication, the members of the San Francisco Bar Pilots have achieved a 99.99-percent record of vessel movements with no pilot error; now, therefore, be it
Resolved by the Senate of the State of California, the Assembly thereof concurring, That it is with great pride that the Legislature of the State of California honors both the former and current members of the San Francisco Bar Pilots and commemorates the 175th anniversary of the San Francisco Bar Pilots, honoring their unwavering dedication to maritime safety, economic vitality, and environmental stewardship in the bays and rivers throughout California history, and, in doing so, recognizes that the San Francisco Bar Pilots, like a ship abiding the currents, abide ensuring safe passage through ever-changing waters; and be it further
Resolved, That the Secretary of the Senate transmit copies of this resolution to the author for appropriate distribution.