HARBORMASTERS FOR PORTS IN GENERAL

F.S. Ch. 313

in effect

F.S. 313.01 Appointment and removal of harbormasters.

(1) The Governor shall appoint, subject to confirmation by the Senate, all harbormasters required for the several ports of this state. They shall hold their offices for the term of 2 years, unless sooner removed. The Governor may make such appointment or fill any vacancy in such office, between the sessions of the Legislature, by appointment ad interim. Any harbormaster may be removed for neglect or breach of duty. (2) In all counties having a population of more than 300,000, according to the last official census, or in counties or municipalities where port authorities have been created by special act or ordinance, the office and position of harbormaster as provided in this chapter and chapter 314, is abolished.

F.S. 313.02 Bond.

Every harbormaster appointed for any port shall give an approved bond in the sum of $500, payable to the Governor of the state, for the faithful performance of the harbormaster’s duty, such bond to be approved by the county commissioners of the county in which the port is situated, and by the Department of Financial Services, and to be filed with the Department of State.

F.S. 313.03 Deputies.

Each harbormaster may appoint as many deputies as he or she shall require for the needs of his or her port, such deputies to be paid by such harbormaster.

F.S. 313.04 Duties.

Every master of any vessel arriving at the ports in this state shall report to the harbormaster for a station, or for a berth at the wharves, and the harbormaster shall regulate and station or assign berths at the wharves to said vessel; and the harbormaster shall remove or cause to be removed, from time to time, all vessels not employed in receiving or discharging their cargoes to make room for such others as require to be more immediately accommodated for the purpose of receiving and discharging their cargoes, and to facilitate their dispatch. Said harbormasters shall be present at all times, either in person or by deputy, to facilitate by stationing or assigning berths at the wharves to vessels arriving at the port, and to facilitate them in discharging and receiving their cargoes and to prevent confusion and delay. And the harbormasters shall have full and absolute power to determine how far and in what instance it is the duty of masters, and others having charge of vessels, to accommodate each other in their respective situations.

F.S. 313.05 Compensation.

Harbormasters, respectively, shall receive from the master, owner or consignee of vessels coming into the port for which the harbormaster is appointed for the services rendered by the harbormaster or his or her deputy, under the provisions of this section, not exceeding the sum of $20 for each vessel, according to the amount and value of the services rendered.

F.S. 313.06 Obstructing or resisting harbormasters; penalties.

If any person, master, consignee, agent, wharfinger or wharfowner, lessee of a wharf or other person shall oppose or resist the harbormaster or the harbormaster’s deputies in the execution of duty, or disobey any order given by either of said officers as to the manner of removing or adjusting the rigging of any vessel under the control of such person, he or she shall be guilty of a misdemeanor of the second degree, punishable as provided in s. 775.082 or s. 775.083. Any master of a vessel who shall fail to report to the harbormaster for a berth at the wharves, on arriving in port, shall be guilty of a misdemeanor of the second degree, punishable as provided in s. 775.082 or s. 775.083.

F.S. 313.21 Definition.

As used in ss. 313.21-313.24, “port” means a port authority or port district, as defined in s. 315.02, or a port operation as provided in s. 125.012.

F.S. 313.22 Vessel movements; penalties.

(1) Notwithstanding the provisions of this chapter or chapter 314, each port may regulate vessel movements within its jurisdiction, whether involving public or private facilities or areas, by: (a) Scheduling vessels for use of berths, anchorages, or other facilities at the port. (b) Ordering and enforcing a vessel, at its own expense and risk, to vacate or change position at a berth, anchorage, or facility, whether public or private, in order to facilitate navigation, commerce, protection of other vessels or property, or dredging of channels or berths. (c) Designating port facilities for the loading or discharging of vessels. (d) Assigning berths at wharves for arriving vessels. (2) Each port may establish fees and compensation for the services described in subsection (1) that are provided by the port. (3) Any vessel that unnecessarily delays in moving under an order to vacate or change position may be penalized in an amount not exceeding $1,000 for each hour or fraction thereof, plus 150 percent of the demurrage costs incurred by a waiting vessel, until the order is complied with. The penalty shall be imposed and collected by the port issuing the movement order.

F.S. 313.23 Harbor safety.

Each port, in agreement with the United States Coast Guard, state pilots, and other ports in its operating port area, shall adopt guidelines for minimum bottom clearance for each berth and channel, for the movement of vessels, and for radio communications of vessel traffic for all commercial vessels entering and leaving its harbor channels.

F.S. 313.24 Construction.

Nothing in ss. 313.21-313.24 shall be construed to derogate the duties and responsibilities of a state pilot licensed under chapter 310.

Source: FL Statutes (Official Site)URL: https://www.flsenate.gov/Laws/Statutes/2025/Chapter313/AllFetched: 7/8/2026