Board of River Port Pilot Commissioners for the Port of New Orleans public meetings in 2020
9 substantive meetings from 2020, with official agendas or minutes and plain-English summaries.
Board of River Port Pilot Commissioners for the Port of New Orleans
The Board of River Pilot Commissioners is meeting to discuss pilot compliance (continuing education, licenses, COVID-19 extensions), several recent incidents (groundings, collision), a complaint, and policy on manpower for shipping requirements.
- Tubul Complaint (alleged damage) Unit #106
- Sealand Illinois Grounding (tugs required) Unit #95
- Mayaro (Collision/Machinery Failure) Unit #116
- Master Grounding (tugs required) Unit #4
- Discuss policy on requiring sufficient manpower to accommodate shipping requirements
The Board approved modifications to VTS protocols regarding competency and approved an email draft for the Professional Education & Development Program. The Commission also determined disciplinary actions for two pilot groundings and cleared one pilot of fault in a collision case.
- Approved October and November meeting minutes (unanimous)
- Determined letter of reprimand for Unit #4 pilot (10/8/20 grounding)
- Determined letter of reprimand for Unit #95 pilot (11/1/20 grounding)
- Determined no fault for Unit #116 pilot (11/3/20 collision)
- Approved email draft to pilots regarding seminars and survey
- Approved modification of VTS protocols to include competency language
- Determined no action on policy for manpower to accommodate shipping requirements
Board of River Port Pilot Commissioners for the Port of New Orleans
The Board will review 2020 Apprentice Program applications for the 2021 cycle and discuss reports on vessel collisions and grounding incidents. The meeting also includes discussions regarding safe navigation committee amendments and professional education programs.
- Review of 2020 Apprentice Program Applications for 2021
- Report on Master Grounding incident involving Unit #4
- Report on Mayaro collision/machinery failure involving Unit #116
- Finalizing findings and conclusions for NS Artic investigation
- Review of Safe Navigation Committee recommendations and amendments
The Board adopted a resolution for new deputy work rules and selected a new commission logo. During an executive session, the Board signed findings and conclusions for the NS Artic investigation and reviewed 17 apprentice program applications for 2021.
- Adopted resolution for new deputy work rules
- Selected new commission logo
- Signed and mailed Findings and Conclusions for NS Artic investigation
- Reviewed 17 apprentice program applications for 2021
- Determined year-old Notices to Commissioners to be non-issues
- Deferred approval of October meeting minutes to next month
- Deferred report on Maneuvering Doctrine to next meeting
- Deferred proposed internship and Seven Oaks Dock deficiencies to next meeting
Board of River Port Pilot Commissioners for the Port of New Orleans
The Board of River Port Pilot Commissioners is meeting to discuss operational and regulatory matters, including pilot compliance with continuing education and licenses, the apprenticeship program, and proposed regulation changes regarding age and deputy pilot restrictions. The agenda also includes reports on charting discrepancies, the Pharos management system, and new commission committees.
- Report on pilot compliance including continuing education, licenses, and COVID-19 extensions from USCG
- Review of apprenticeship program and schedule for revising it
- Discussion of regulation changes on age and deputy pilot restrictions
- Report on Pharos integrated management system and payments for service
- Report on meeting with Senators and follow-up actions
The Board approved a resolution to submit regulation changes on an emergency basis and decided to maintain 70 as the mandatory retirement age. The Board also agreed to charter three new committees: Safe Navigation, Training and Professional Development, and Rules and Regulations.
- Approved September 2 meeting minutes (unanimous)
- Set applicant vetting date for November 4 at 9am
- Deferred apprenticeship program review to January
- Approved chartering Safe Navigation committee
- Approved chartering Training and Professional Development committee
- Approved chartering Rules and Regulations committee
- Maintained 70 as mandatory retirement age in regulations
- Passed resolution to submit regulations on an emergency basis
Board of River Port Pilot Commissioners for the Port of New Orleans
The Board will review pilot compliance, including continuing education and USCG Covid-19 extensions. Discussion items include statute changes regarding civil penalties and administrative subpoenas, as well as risk mitigation procedures. The Board also intends to review a fixed fee proposal for the Executive Director.
- Review of ongoing investigation into the July 31 incident at Chevron Empire
- Discussion of statute changes for civil penalties and administrative subpoenas
- Review of proposal for fixed fee for Executive Director
- Discussion of mandatory 20 hours of additional tailored Continuing Education for Pilots
- Execution of statement of work for Pharos
The Board approved a fixed fee for the Executive Director and authorized the signing of a statement of work for Pharos. Members reviewed regulation changes and determined that certain pilot document delays were due to Covid-19.
- Approved minutes from August 5 meeting (unanimous)
- Approved fixed fee for Executive Director
- Approved statement of work for Pharos for Executive Director to sign
- Decided to email pilots with documents delayed due to Covid-19
- Determined August 2019 Notice to Commissioners to be a non-issue
- Amended draft regulation changes
- Deferred review of Risk Mitigation Procedures and Escort Tugs
- Deferred discussion on statute changes regarding civil penalties and subpoenas
Board of River Port Pilot Commissioners for the Port of New Orleans
The Board of River Port Pilot Commissioners is meeting to discuss pilot compliance, apprentice training, and risk mitigation procedures. The body will review proposed changes to statutes and regulations regarding licensing and civil penalties. The meeting includes a discussion on a fixed fee for the Executive Director.
- Proposed statute and regulation changes regarding age, licensing dates, and civil penalties
- Recommendation to Board of Directors to change dispatch rules for Deputy Pilots
- Review of risk mitigation procedures including escort tugs
- Request for accommodations from a new Chevron / Empire facility
- Determination of a fixed fee for the Executive Director
The Board unanimously approved the June 10 meeting minutes. During an executive session, the Board decided to establish a database of apprentice review questions and approved the start of a mentorship program. The Board also reviewed and made changes to proposed statute and regulation changes.
- Approved June 10 meeting minutes (unanimous)
- Decided to set up database of all monthly Apprentice Review questions
- Approved beginning of mentorship program
- Determined Paris Trader (6/30/20) and Chacabuco (7/18/20) notices were non-issues
- Determined Pola Pacific (7/25/20) and Blue Diamond (8/3/20) notices were machinery failures
- Determined a letter to the association is needed regarding Chevron-Empire, Valero, and Alliance
- Reviewed and made changes to proposed statute and regulations
Board of River Port Pilot Commissioners for the Port of New Orleans
The Board of River Port Pilot Commissioners is meeting to discuss routine administrative matters, including apprentice training evaluations, pilot compliance, and proposed changes to statutes and regulations. The agenda includes an executive session for several reports and discussions, but no final decisions or votes are listed.
- Apprentice training: final month, evaluations, commissioning, and completion forms
- Report on new Notices to Commissioners: Bulk Independence (5/12/20) and CMA CGM White Shark (6/2/20)
- Report on ongoing investigations: Bomar Resolute (4/10/20), ER London (4/14/20)
- Review of findings and conclusions drafts: Bow Summer (6/28/19), Carnival Valor (2/15/20), Belita (3/27/20)
- Proposed statute and regulation changes: age, license date, civil penalty procedure, third-party investigator, administrative subpoenas
The Board approved updates to the 2021 Apprentice Application to align with Louisiana Boards & Commissions questionnaires. The meeting also included reports on completed apprentice training and various investigations determined to be non-issues.
- Approved April meeting minutes (unanimous)
- Approved changes to 2021 Apprentice Application (unanimous)
- Signed completion forms and certificates for all apprentices
- Signed findings and conclusions drafts for Bow Summer, Carnival Valor, and Belita
- Deferred discussion of Internal Audit program
- Deferred report on proposed statute and regulations changes
- Deferred report on Maneuvering Doctrine
Board of River Port Pilot Commissioners for the Port of New Orleans
The Board will review findings and conclusions for five vessel incidents and report on ongoing investigations for the Carnival Valor and Tempanos. The meeting includes reports on apprentice training, pilot compliance, and the status of deputy pilots. Members will also review drafts for privacy and sexual harassment policies.
- Review of findings for Donald M. James, Norwegian Getaway, Aegiali, Bow Summer, and Strandja
- Report on Iron Lady maneuvering at MGBT without pilot
- Review of draft privacy policy and sexual harassment policy
- Finalization of 2021 Application
- Report on proposed statute and regulations changes
The Board reviewed several reports regarding pilot training, investigations, and compliance. Key decisions included the approval of a new internal audit program and updated website policies.
- Approved February meeting minutes (unanimous)
- Approved draft privacy policy for website publication
- Approved draft sexual harassment policy for website publication
- Approved 2021 Application
- Established Internal Audit System with Capt. Renegar as chairman
- Assigned Marine Safety Information Bulletin distribution to Mark Nelson
- Deferred disposition of 2018 and early 2019 Notices to Commissioners
- Deferred report on proposed statute and regulations changes
Board of River Port Pilot Commissioners for the Port of New Orleans
The Board will meet to discuss apprentice training, pilot compliance regarding licenses and physicals, and the disposition of notices from 2018 and early 2019. The agenda also includes reports on proposed regulation changes and sexual harassment training.
- Reports on notices for vessels including Marine Princess, Atlantic Mexico, and Norwegian Getaway
- Investigations into Aegiali (9/19/19), Bow Summer (6/28/19), and Stranja (1/3/19)
- Report on proposed regulations changes
- Report on sexual harassment training
- Review of pilot compliance for continuing education, licenses, and physicals
The Board unanimously approved drafts for a privacy policy and a sexual harassment training policy. Both documents will be ready for signatures at the next meeting and subsequently posted to the website. The Board also approved a memo to pilots regarding continuing education, licenses, and physicals.
- Approved January meeting minutes (unanimous)
- Approved memo to pilots regarding continuing education, licenses, and physicals
- Approved draft privacy policy (unanimous)
- Approved draft sexual harassment training policy (unanimous)
- Tabled proposed regulations changes
- Tabled line boat ride alongs
- Moved disposition of 2018 and early 2019 notices to next meeting
Board of River Port Pilot Commissioners for the Port of New Orleans
The Board is meeting to review pilot training, compliance, and ongoing investigations. Members will discuss proposed regulation changes and a resolution regarding pilot contact information.
- Proposed resolution requiring pilots to submit contact information
- Review of draft Privacy Policy
- Proposed regulations changes
- Reports on investigations regarding Aegiali, Bow Summer, and Stranja
- Report on sexual harassment training
The Board approved the December meeting minutes and designated Michael R. Delesdernier as Executive Director to execute approved documents. The Board also determined that the Pilot Assistance Program within the health benefit program is sufficient.
- Approved December meeting minutes (unanimous)
- Designated Michael R. Delesdernier as Executive Director for executing approved documents
- Deemed Pilot Assistance Program within health benefit program sufficient
- Tabled resolution regarding pilot contact information compliance and fines
- Tabled UBT
- Postponed disposition of 2018 files to next meeting
- Postponed review of draft Privacy Policy to next meeting
- Delegated proposed regulation changes to committee