Page 10: of Maritime Reporter Magazine (February 2017)

MARITIMELOGISTICSPROFESSIONAL.COM

About the Author

Joseph Keefe is the lead commenta- tor of MaritimeProfessional.com. Ad- ditionally, he is Editor of both Maritime

Logistics Professional and MarineNews print magazines. He can be reached at [email protected] or at

[email protected]. MaritimePro- fessional.com is the largest business networking site devoted to the marine industry. © Gudellaphoto / Adobe Stock

Beyond that, you couldn’t become a week – eventually (and incredibly), the ies and monopolies are contrary to the FCCA and the two cruise companies in state licensed pilot unless – wait for it two groups merged again. I asked him, genius of a free government, and shall the other matter. His clients oppose the – you were trained by a state licensed “Why?” He answered simply, “Econom- never be allowed, nor shall the law of rate increase granted by the local pilot pilot. Inconveniently, the new compet- ics.” But, also according to that same lo- primogeniture or entailments ever be in commission in late August. Strickland ing group’s leader, having just split from cal Tampa Bay attorney, that tussle went force in this State.” That – apparently – declined to go into speci? cs on the actual the other group, had a state license. It for three years. I was gone by then – just is Texas state law. Now, I have no idea merits of the case and instead pointed us made for a very dicey situation. My em- another unemployed Jones Act sailor – what all that means, but it sounds pretty to the public records available in Galves- ployers – a recognizable oil and re? n- my ship having been sent to scrap before ominous. But, since the phrase contains ton County. Fair enough. He did tell us, ing group – decided to play both sides it all came to a ? nal boil. the word ‘monopolies,’ let’s assume that “It’s about the process, the letter of the of the fence. And, to be fair, we were the premise of the monopoly for state pi- law and procedures that need to be fol- a Jones Act tanker, so any federal pilot Spotlight on Galveston lots, at least here in the Lone Star state, lowed.” could’ve guided us, in any event. Did he In a nutshell, two different but equal- is about to get tested. The two spats have attracted a great ever guide any registered traf? c? I don’t ly important issues are now before the Justin Renshaw, a Houston-based at- deal of attention, both locally and across know. As for my ship: one voyage, we’d Board of Commissioners of Pilots for torney representing (on, he says, a ‘pro the Gulf Coast. If the disagreements take the original legacy group; the next Galveston County Ports. First, two bono’ basis) the pilot applicants, told can’t be settled out of court, Galveston time, the new upstarts. cruise ship operators – Royal Caribbean MarPro that his request for an of? cial will be at the heart of the ? rst serious

I distinctly remember the time that our and Carnival – and the Florida-based application form from the state of Texas challenge to the concept of state pilot breakaway pilot came on board with his Florida-Caribbean Cruise Association was met with the application form for monopolies in some time.

“apprentice” – the federal pilot – in tow. (FCCA) are challenging the recently the local Gal-Tex pilots. And, he says, The fate of the ? ve applications for a

He informed our Captain that the “ap- approved rate hike granted to the local that’s not who his clients are applying to state commission is probably secondary prentice” would take the ship into the pilots. Separately, a group of ? ve local work for. The latest hearing, held on 13 to the real question: can a state unreason- berth (under his close supervision). Our marine professionals have asked for the January, was by all accounts rather con- ably withhold a license from nominally

Captain THEN informed HIM that his board to consider their quali? cations to tentious. It was also well attended with quali? ed mariners just because they orders were that the only person allowed become local state pilots. In the latter stakeholders from all sides of the equa- don’t belong to the local organization? to pilot the vessel would be the state li- case, it is important to note that these tion. Quite simply, the ? ve applicants Maybe we’re about to ? nd out. After censed pilot. An uncomfortable ride to mariners are not asking to join the Gal- looking for state approval for the right that, any rate increases asked for and/or the berth ensued. Tex pilots; instead, they want to form to guide local tonnage in and out of port, approved by the local pilot commission

This week, I contacted a local attorney their own competing group. will, if approved, provide suitable com- might just be irrelevant. That’s because who had been involved with the entire As previously reported in this space, petition for the established legacy group competition often has a funny way of affair during those years. Reportedly, the federal pilot hopefuls base their ar- already in place. establishing what the real value of any as many as 14 lawsuits spawned from gument for a State Issued license, in Separately, we also spoke with at- service or goods should be. the disagreement – and he told me this part, on the premise that “Perpetuit- torney Tim Strickland, who represents – MaritimeLogisticsProfessional 10 Maritime Reporter & Engineering News • FEBRUARY 2017

MR #2 (10-17).indd 10 MR #2 (10-17).indd 10 2/6/2017 9:44:09 AM2/6/2017 9:44:09 AM