According to the Belize Port Authority, the use of a Pilot is compulsory in Belize from the smallest of vessels to the largest of ships. —{mprestriction ids=”*”}
In the entire country the only place where a pilot is used is as follows:
- Coming from or going to the east would be from English Caye Pilot Station to Belize City anchorage.
- Coming from or going south would then be from Grennell’s Channel which is approximately 8 miles south of Belize City to Belize City anchorage.
Other than that short distance there is no pilot available in the entire country, with the exception of the Port of Big Creek and here yachts do not normally take on a pilot to go in unless requested by the Captain.
Application can be made with the Belize Port Authority for a Pilotage Waiver for those yachts wishing to travel without a pilot. There is a charge of US$500.00 (US$250.00 inbound and US$250.00 outbound) levied by the Belize Port Authority for the issuance of a Pilotage Waiver. The pilotage waiver is valid from the vessel arrives into the country to the time the vessel obtains a clearance and edeparts from the country and said vessel may come and go as many times as it wishes withing the compulsory pilotage area at no additional fee.
It is also standard procedure for us to make application for a pilotage waiver for the yachts in our attendance. For a Pilotage Waiver to be generated the general yacht information form for the yacht must first be completed.
A copy of the approved pilotage waiver will be email to you upon approval from the Belize Port Authority.
Normal cost of a pilot as charged by the Port of Belize Limited for the use of their pilot is as follows for a single round trip of inbound and outbound.
| 1 | Inbound & Outbound Pilotage GRT charge | GRT @ US$ | $0.08 | Per GRT maximum of US$437.50 | |
| To a maximum of US$437.50 | |||||
| 1 | Inbound & Outbound Pilotage Draft charge | Draft @ US$ | $5.00 | Per foot | |
| Night pilotage if required | Flat Fee of US$ | $212.50 | per trip |
Pilots normal working hours is from sunrise to sunset. Upon request the pilots do night pilotage at an additional flat fee of US$212.50.
The Belize Port Authority normally levies a fine plus the cost of a pilotage waiver to any vessel which does not use the services of a pilot. In most instances the cost of a pilot is normally cheaper than the cost of a pilotage waiver.
Mandatory area where is pilot is needed unless a pilotage waiver has been obtained.
