About — New Jersey Maritime Pilot & Docking Pilot Commission

NJMP&DPC

The New Jersey Maritime Pilot and Docking Pilot Commission ensures that the pilots who guide ships into New York/New Jersey harbor are well-educated and well-trained and demonstrate high levels of professionalism. The goal of the Commission, which has a rich history, is to ensure port security and safety and economic development.

The Commission evaluates the background of the pilots and apprentices, oversees their training, licenses them and, in the event of a problem, disciplines them.

Our History

On March 9, 1694 the third assembly of the Colony of New York passed, “An Act for Settyling Pilotage for all vessels that shall come within Sandy Hook.” The Act was made to give aid and assistance to all vessels that were bound for the Ports of New Jersey/New York.

On February 8, 1837 an Act was passed by the New Jersey Legislature creating the New Jersey Board of Commissioners of Pilotage. The name was changed to the New Jersey Maritime Pilot and Docking Pilot Commission in 2004 to reflect its new and expanded responsibilities.

The State of New York passed a similar act in 1854 creating the New York Board of Commissioners of Pilotage. These acts were passed to bring under control a pilotage system that had become chaotic and unsafe because commercial pressures and risk taking took precedence over navigational safety. In 1895, the New Jersey and New York Sandy Hook pilots joined into one economic organization to better serve the port and the safety of all pilots.