Every foreign vessel and every American vessel under register, with a draft of 9 feet or more, entering or departing from any port or harbor within the waters described in section 86?A must take a pilot licensed under this chapter. Any master, owner, agent or consignee that fails to take a pilot licensed under this subchapter is subject to a civil penalty not to exceed $15,000 per day, payable to the State. This penalty is recoverable in a civil action. [PL 1999, c. 355, §5 (AMD).]