Striving to Enhance Economic Development

As professionals and individual businessmen, the Crescent Pilots are interested in the economic development of the Port. If it doesn’t succeed, the pilots don’t succeed. That’s why they have embarked on a mission to enhance economic development through reliable service, partnerships and security.

The Port of New Orleans is a vital part of a Crescent Pilot’s career. To help promote the Port, the Crescent Pilots have partnered with the Port through providing financial resources as well as technical expertise. The Port is very optimistic that these efforts will result in additional economic development.

One of the areas booming in New Orleans is the cruise ship industry. Last year, the Port of New Orleans generated around $540 million, and with the recent introduction of the Carnival Conquest, that number should rise next year. The pilots have been instrumental in facilitating this industry growth, from safely maneuvering the 2,974 passenger ship under the low-hanging Entergy power lines to maintaining a reliable schedule despite a Port and River System that can blanketed in fog from October to April.

At a Senate Commerce Consumer Protection and International Affairs Committee meeting, Port of New Orleans Executive Director Gary LaGrange commended the pilots, saying, “The pilots have stepped up to the plate and they’re trying to make something happen.” Carnival Senior Vice President Brendan Corrigan also complimented the pilots on their performance with the cruise ship.

The Crescent River Port Pilot Association has also worked with industry to maintain the draft of the channel to maximize the flow of cargo through the Mississippi River. University of New Orleans Professor Tim Ryan reported that by maximizing the usable draft, shippers were able to carry over 1 million tons of cargo which is estimated to increase shipper profits by nearly $24 million.

In addition to usable draft, Capt. A.J. Gibbs addressed other common questions and concerns of industry at a Freight Forwarders meeting in June and a Star Tankers Technical Meeting in October. By working together with these organizations, pilots are able to perform their duty of service more efficiently, benefiting all parties involved.

Other than working with the Port of New Orleans, the Crescent Pilots have engaged in many efforts to enhance economic development along the rest of the Mississippi River. These projects include: Stolthaven Terminals in Braithewaite, Louisiana; Mid-Stream mooring buoys in Chalmette, Louisiana; redesign of Dolphins at Chalmette Slip and Electro-Coal Midstream Buoy System.

Meanwhile, Exxon Mobil in Chalmette reconfigured their dock to accommodate larger tankers, Wilhelmsen lines will soon increase vessel calls in the Port of New Orleans as a result of consolidating cargos from the Ports of Mobile and Houston and Concord line will now call on New Orleans weekly rather than bi-weekly.

Two projects the pilots have encouraged being built in Louisiana are Sea Point and the Millennium Port. Sea Point, a proposed container transshipment facility to be located at Venice, should be completed and ready to start within two years. The Millennium Port, a much larger container cargo port, is currently being reviewed for site location at mile marker 55, known as Citrus Lands. Both projects promise to stimulate further business along the Mississippi.

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