GENERAL ASSEMBLY OF NORTH CAROLINA
1985 SESSION

CHAPTER 517 
SENATE BILL 549 

AN ACT TO PROVIDE THAT THE MOREHEAD CITY NAVIGATION AND PILOTAGE COMMISSION MAY REGULATE THE PILOTING OF SHIPPING FROM MOREHEAD CITY TO AURORA. 

The General Assembly of North Carolina enacts:

Section 1.  The second sentence of G.S. 76A-31 is rewritten to read: 
"The Commission shall have the exclusive power to license and regulate pilots familiar with the waters of Morehead City Harbor and Beaufort Bar and the water route from Morehead City to Aurora, North Carolina (to include from Morehead City through the Inland or Intracoastal Waterway North, through Adams Creek, the Neuse River, the Bay River, the Hobuken Canal, the Pamlico River, and South Creek to Aurora or from the Neuse River around Brant Island Shoal through the Pamlico River and South Creek to Aurora), referred to herein as the regulated area, to best guide vessels within those waters and to exercise authority over navigation in Morehead City Harbor and Beaufort Bar and to and from the sea buoy of the port." 
Sec. 2.  G.S. 76A-35(a) is amended by deleting "Morehead Harbor and from and to Beaufort Bar and the sea buoy" and substituting "the regulated area" in lieu thereof.  G.S. 76A- 35(a) is further amended after the second sentence by inserting the following sentence:  "However, the Commission may not establish rules and regulations concerning the Morehead City to Aurora water route except as they may apply to foreign vessels displacing over 60 gross tons". 
Sec. 3.  G.S. 76A-46 is amended in the first sentence by deleting "regulated area" and substituting "the waters of the Morehead City Harbor and Beaufort Bar" in lieu thereof.  G.S. 76A-46 is further amended after the first sentence by inserting the following sentence:  "Every foreign vessel sailing including such vessels towing or being towed when underway or docking in the Morehead City to Aurora water route, and over 60 gross tons, shall employ and utilize a State licensed pilot." 
Sec. 4.  This act is effective upon ratification. 
In the General Assembly read three times and ratified, this the 1st day of July, 1985.