The board of pilotage commissioners has been charged with certain statutory duties by RCW 88.16.035. To assist the board in its responsibilities to provide for the maintenance of efficient and competent pilotage services and to annually fix the pilotage tariffs for pilotage services to be performed on the waters covered by chapter 88.16 RCW, it shall be the policy that licensed pilots, ship operators, and interested members of the public may jointly or separately present tariff proposals to the board for its consideration. Any such proposals shall endeavor to provide that the tariff at all times funds the training program and the number of pilots licensed by the board.

To that end, individual Washington state licensed pilots, independent ship owners or operators, members of the public and/or agents, committees or organizations representing said persons or corporations are authorized to meet, discuss, and prepare joint or separate tariff proposals for board consideration. They may appear before the board to support or oppose any such proposal, or part thereof, but the final determination, adoption and active supervision of the rates, charges, expense items, and classifications to be contained in said pilotage tariffs and the rules, regulations, or procedures to implement said annual tariffs shall be made by the board.