Marine Advisory Board backs dockage-fee waiver for visiting shrimp boats, including 65-foot Lady Jane

At a meeting of the Marine Advisory Board, members voted to ask the City Commission to waive dockage fees for visiting shrimp boats at the Shrimp Festival, including a 65-foot vessel known as the Lady Jane.

Scott Inglis, chairman of the Shrimp Festival, told the board he has contracted the Lady Jane to be at the marina as a static public display and educational platform during the festival and asked for leniency on dockage fees because the festival is covering operator costs. Inglis said the group faces roughly $11,000 in expenses to bring boats down for the multi-day event and that the Lady Jane will serve as a place for tours and for ceremony: "The 65 foot boat also is going to act as a stage for the blessing of the fleet," he said.

A Committee member moved that the board request fee waivers for the Lady Jane and two additional shrimp boats (to be nested as necessary) for the festival; another Committee member seconded the motion. The board voted in favor and the motion carried. Members agreed the next step is to present the request to the City Commission at its meeting on August 6 and to coordinate who will speak in support.

Board discussion described the Lady Jane as a static, walk-on display for festival visitors (no trawling or commercial fishing activities) and emphasized the boats’ role in showcasing local shrimping heritage and reducing crowding on the pier during the blessing of the fleet. Several members recalled that the commission waived similar dockage fees last year and framed the request as a continuation of that support.

The board did not set a new dollar amount to be paid by the city; Inglis supplied the festival’s estimated costs and asked the board to carry the request forward to commissioners. The City Commission will consider the request at its agenda meeting; board members and Inglis said they will attend and present the motion.