Great Lakes Pilotage Rates—2026 Annual Review and Revisions to Methodology

The Coast Guard is issuing new base Great Lakes pilotage rates for the 2026 shipping season. The Coast Guard estimates that this final rule will result in an approximately 6-percent decrease in operating costs compared to the 2025 season, while facilitating commerce and supply chains. The Coast Guard is also making one change to the ratemaking methodology: the removal of Step 5 regarding the working capital fund. We conducted a full ratemaking for the 2026 ratemaking and considered comments on the Great Lakes pilotage ratemaking methodology.