Frequently Asked Questions
Why do we need bar pilots?
The Mississippi River is one of the most dangerous and heavily trafficed
waterways on earth. Navigating the river takes exceptional skill,
but also intimate knowledge of the ins and outs of this waterway.
River pilots spend their entire careers on very specific portions
of the river, so they're "local" knowledge becomes invaluable
to ships entering the mouth of the Mississippi river from all over
the world. State law requires that local pilots guide ships along
the Louisiana waterways because foreign crews lack the knowledge
needed to deal with navigational hazards on the river.
How does someone become a bar pilot?
Qualifying to become a Bar Pilot involves rigorous training. An
applicant must have a college degree and a minimum of one-year deep-sea
experience. Then, during the three to five year apprenticeship period,
an apprentice learns the profession from the ground up. Apprentices
log approximately 800 trips beyond the federal license requirements
before training is completed and they are eligible to receive a
state pilot commission. Turns occur in all weather types, conditions
of visibility, and on every class of vessel. During this "cub"
period, apprentices share in the experience and knowledge of every
active pilot. By the end of training, apprentices possess both a
formal and a practical knowledge drawing on centuries of collective
experience. Continuing education is also an important tool in keeping
the membership abreast of safety and technical developments.
Are you the only river pilots in Louisiana?
No. The Louisiana River Pilots' Association (LRPA) is made up of
four river pilot associations:
- The Associated Branch Pilots of the Port of New Orleans
- The Crescent River Pilots
- The New Orleans and Baton Rouge Port Pilots (NOBRA)
- The Lake Charles Pilots
The Bar Pilots guide vessels from the Gulf of Mexico to Pilottown,
located on the Mississippi River in Plaquemines Parish. In Pilottown,
members of the Crescent River Port Pilots Association board the
ship to make the upriver trip to New Orleans. If a ship is destined
for Baton Rouge, a member of the New Orleans-Baton Rouge Steamship
Pilots Association (NOBRA) will board and guide the vessel for the
remaining leg of the journey.
The Lake Charles Associated Branch Pilots guide vessels through
the entire trip through the Calcasieu River.
Who pays bar pilots?
The companies that run the very ships that use river pilots pay
our target income under a tarriff system. It's a common misconception
that the state of Louisiana contributes to pilot pay. In fact, the
state of Louisiana does not contribute to pilot pay in any way.
NO taxpayer dollars contribute toward those fees. Included in the
tariff are many components such as pilot compensation, expenses,
capital surcharge, retirement surcharge and communication fees.
How much are bar pilots paid?
Since pilots are paid based on the number of vessels they "turn"
- there is no "salary." However, bar pilots set a target
income each year. The target income is currently around $300,000.
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