In preparing recommendations to the Legislature with relationship to pilotage rates, the board may require an independent audit or audits by a public accountant selected by the board. The audits required by the board shall cover pilotage operations for those years which the board may specify. In preparing the recommendations, the board shall also give consideration to other relevant factors, including, but not limited to, the following:

(a) The costs to the pilots, individually or jointly, of providing pilot service as required.

(b) A net return to the pilot sufficient to attract and hold persons capable of performing this service with safety to the public and protection to the property of persons using the service; and the relationship of that income to any changes in cost-of-living indices.

(c) Pilotage rates charged for comparable services rendered in other ports and harbors in the United States.

(d) The methods of determining pilotage rates in other ports and harbors in the United States.

(e) Economic factors affecting the local shipping industry, including prospective increases or decreases in income and labor costs.

(f) Additional factors affecting income to pilots such as the volume of shipping traffic using pilotage, numbers of pilots available to perform services, income paid for comparable services, and other factors of related nature.

(g) Changes in, or additions to, navigational and safety equipment necessary to insure protection of persons, ships, and waterways.

(Amended by Stats. 1990, Ch. 1423, Sec. 12.)