 |
|||||||
|
|||||||
|
|||||||
|
Response To Times Picayune Opinion Column Your recent editorial begins with the erroneous assertion that state pilots police themselves. Bar pilots have several levels of regulation, including a formal review board leading to the governor as final authority. You deceptively report that Louisiana ports find it hard to compete with Texas and Alabama. The truth is that four of Louisiana's five ports are in the nation's top 10; one is No. 1. Louisiana leads the nation in port tonnage. Our organization is among the world's leaders in safety. More foreign vessels travel the Mississippi River in a week than visit Alabama in months. Pilot rates are essentially the same fees the shipping industry itself approved. Our fees are paid by foreign ship operators, not Louisiana citizens, and are a small part of overall shipping costs. In fact, it's the location of our upriver ports that makes Louisiana attractive to shippers. Michael R. Lorino Jr.
|
