Innovating for a Greener California
Equipped with the latest marine engine technology, the P/V Golden Gate is the first in a new generation of pilot boats that will meet California’s emission standards.
Supporting California's Supply Chains
Every year Board-licensed pilots move cargo valued at more than 25ドル billion.
Safeguarding California’s Natural Resources
Pilot regulation and training safeguards lives, vessels, and the environment, ensuring every journey is safe and secure.
Supporting California’s economy and safeguarding its natural resources
Since its founding in 1850, the Board of Pilot Commissioners (BOPC) for the Bays of San Francisco, San Pablo and Suisun has supported California’s economy and safeguarded thousands of miles of coastline through its licensing, training, and regulatory activities.
Each year, BOPC-licensed pilots safely guide ships carrying thousands of passengers and billions of dollars of cargo through some of the most challenging waterways in North America.
As the BOPC approaches its bicentennial, it continues to shape California’s future with industry-leading standards, highlighted by the development of new pilot boats that meet the nation’s strictest harbor craft emission requirements.
SERVING THE PEOPLE OF CALIFORNIA SINCE 1850
Upcoming Board and Committee Meetings
If you would like to receive copies of our meeting agendas, please complete the form provided here.
April 2025
- Finance Committee Meeting: April 9, 2025, 1:00 p.m.
- Pilot Evaluation Meeting: Wednesday, April 16, 2025, at 7:30 a.m.
- Board Meeting: Thursday, April 24, 2025, at 9:30 a.m.
May 2025
- Finance Committee Meeting: May 12, 2025, 1:00 p.m.
- Pilot Evaluation Meeting: Wednesday, May 14, 2025, at 7:30 a.m.
- Board Meeting: Thursday, May 15, 2025, at 9:30 a.m.
NEW Pilot Boat Regulations
Summary: This regular rulemaking action by the Board of Pilot Commissioners (Board) amends the procedures by which the Board will authorize pilots to recover from the Pilot Boat Surcharge Account costs associated with obtaining and modifying pilot boats. For detailed information, please review the final Regulation.
Date Filed with the Secretary of State: March 21, 2025
Effective Date of Regulations: July 1, 2025
Notice of Intent to Amend: Conflict of Interest Regulations
45-Day Public Comment Period: March 28, 2025 through May 12, 2025
NOTICE OF INTENTION TO AMEND THE CONFLICT OF INTEREST CODE OF THE BOARD OF PILOT COMMISSIONERS
Notice is hereby given that the Board of Pilot Commissioners for the Bays of San Francisco, San Pablo, and Suisun (Board), pursuant to the authority vested in it by section 87306 of the Government Code, proposes amendments to its Conflict of Interest Code, section 212.5 (including Appendix A) of the California Code of Regulations, Title 7, Harbors and Navigation, Division 2, State Board of Pilot Commissioners for the Bays of San Francisco, San Pablo, and Suisun.
A 45-Day public comment period has been established commencing on March 28, 2025, and closing on May 12, 2025. Any interested person, or his or her authorized representative, may submit written comments relevant to the proposed regulatory action to the Board. More information about the proposed changes as well instructions on how to submit a comment may be found on the following documents:
Maritime Investigator Services: Invitation for Bids
The Board of Pilot Commissioners for the Bays of San Francisco, San Pablo, and Suisun (BOPC) invites prospective bidders to review and respond to the Invitation for Bids (IFB) Number 24M900003 entitled: “24M900003 BOPC MARITIME INVESTIGATOR SRVICES” click here.
2025 Board Meeting Calendar
Updated: March 27, 2025
The Board’s 2025 Meeting Calendar is also available for download as a PDF.
| 2025 Board Meeting Calendar |
|---|
| Thursday, January 23, 2025 |
| Thursday, February 27, 2025 |
| Thursday, March 27, 2025 |
| Thursday, April 24, 2025 |
| Meeting Rescheduled to Thursday, May 15, 2025 (was May 22, 2025) |
| Thursday, June 26, 2025 |
| Thursday, July 24, 2025 |
| Thursday, August 28, 2025 |
| Thursday, September 25, 2025 |
| Thursday, October 23, 2025 |
| Thursday, November 13, 2025 |
| Thursday, December 11, 2025 |
Who are the San Francisco Bar Pilots?
Watch this immersive video to learn more about the daily operations and responsibilities of the San Francisco Bar Pilots.
The Secret Life of Pilots
Discover the crucial yet often overlooked role of maritime pilots in the global supply chain, their historical significance, and the dangers they encounter on a daily basis.
Five Things You Didn't Know about the San Francisco Bar Pilots
Despite their essential contributions to California’s economy and marine safety, maritime pilots remain largely unknown. Learn more about the vital work of San Francisco Bar Pilots.
Our History
Thomas Almond Ayres’ painting The Pilot Boat off the Golden Gate (c. 1855) captures a significant moment in California history and the history of the Board of Pilot Commissioners (BOPC).
Painted near the end of the Gold Rush, just five years after the BOPC was founded, the artwork beautifully illustrates the variety of ship types sailing on the waters of the San Francisco Bay in the mid-nineteenth century. The scene depicts both sailing vessels and an early steam-powered ship. In the foreground is a piloting schooner, similar to the ones that sailed the Bay until 1973. To the left, a clipper ship is depicted entering the Bay, with its lower sails already stowed. The painting captures the bustling maritime activity and the transition of ship technologies during this exciting period in California’s history.
Learn more about the BOPC’s rich history and how piloting has evolved over the past 174 years here.