The Overview

Sixth-class Delaware Bay and River pilots will be licensed for vessels drawing up to 29 feet, up from 27 feet, under an amended 1803 pilotage law that takes effect 60 days after enactment. The new law, House Bill 2426, amends the act of March 29, 1803, which established a Board of Wardens for the port of Philadelphia and set the rules for pilots and pilotage on the Delaware Bay and River. ​

Rep. Anthony Bellmon, the bill's lead sponsor, said the change was needed because the 27-foot draft limit had become outdated after the Delaware River was deepened in 2021. The law takes effect Sept. 18, with licensing overseen by the Navigation Commission for the Delaware River and its navigable tributaries.

What the Law Does

The law raises the maximum vessel draft that a sixth-class Delaware Bay and River pilot may be licensed to handle from 27 feet to 29 feet. First- through fifth-class pilots retain their existing draft limits, which range from 32 feet up to any practicable draft. Pilots who work without a valid license face a civil penalty of up to twice the pilotage amount, plus a misdemeanor charge carrying one month to one year in prison and a fine of up to $200.

The Delaware River carries significant commercial traffic: PhilaPort reported the port complex handled 36 million tons of cargo in 2023. Navigation risks on the waterway drew attention after a dry-bulk carrier, the *Algoma Verity*, grounded twice near Philadelphia in January 2025, causing an estimated $6.6 million in damage, according to the *Courier-Post*.

By the Numbers

Pennsylvania has 13 million residents across 5.3 million households, according to the 2024 American Community Survey five-year estimates, which cover all ages. The state's median household income was $77,971, and about one in eight residents, 11.7 percent, lived below the poverty line.

Legislative Status

Rep. Anthony Bellmon is a Democrat from Pennsylvania. Cosponsors include Scott Conklin, Tarik Khan, Carol Hill-Evans, Tina Davis, Jeremy Shaffer, and 15 others.

The full House passed the bill 201 to zero on May 6. The Senate Consumer Protection and Professional Licensure Committee passed it 14 to zero on June 29. Gov. Josh Shapiro (D) signed the bill July 20, making it Act No. 39 of 2026.

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