Board of River Port Pilot Commissioners for the Port of New Orleans public meetings in 2024
12 substantive meetings from 2024, 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 Port Pilot Commissioners will discuss apprentice progress, training readiness, and pilot compliance. They will also review a system analysis contract from Cybership and a drone contract with Cicada. Executive session items include new notices of machinery failures and a complaint investigation.
- Review of Cybership BRPPC system analysis/contract
- Review of contract with Cicada (drone company)
- Executive session: three machinery failure notices (Units 58, 48, 102)
- Executive session: final letter on delayed service to vessel
- Update on 2025 pilot applications and applicant certification
The Board approved moving forward with a system analysis contract from Cybership and authorized the Executive Director to sign a contract with Cicada drone company. Commissioners also reviewed apprentice progress and confirmed three machinery failure notices.
- Approved November meeting minutes
- Approved Cybership system analysis contract
- Approved Cicada drone company contract
- Confirmed machinery failure for Unit 58 Seto Harmony (11/22/24)
- Confirmed machinery failure for Unit 48 African Warbler (11/28/24)
- Confirmed machinery failure for Unit 102 Ardmore Seavaliant (12/1/24)
Board of River Port Pilot Commissioners for the Port of New Orleans
The Board of River Port Pilot Commissioners will discuss apprentice training progress, review reports on recent machinery failures and a damage complaint, and consider pilot compliance and continuing education. The meeting also includes updates on bridge emergency coordination and the 2025 applicant certification process.
- Review of machinery failures on Unit 120 (Stamford Pioneer), Unit 60 (Yangtze Legend), and Unit 25 (Stinnes Passat)
- Complaint of alleged damage on Unit 38 (Grand Concord)
- Review of final letter on delayed service to vessels Units 25 and 116
- Update on meeting with State Police, DOTD, and pilot groups on bridge emergencies
- Discussion of 2025 applications and applicant certification
The Board approved the October meeting minutes and decided to immediately begin apprentice evaluations. During an executive session, the Board confirmed machinery failures for three vessels and reviewed pilot compliance reports. Several items, including bridge emergency discussions and system analysis, were tabled until next month.
- Approved October meeting minutes
- Decided to immediately start apprentice evaluations
- Confirmed machinery failure for Unit 120 (Stamford Pioneer)
- Confirmed machinery failure for Unit 60 (Yangtze Legend)
- Confirmed machinery failure for Unit 25 (Stinnes Passat)
- Determined three year-old Notices to Commissioners were non-issues
- Tabled update on bridge emergency meetings with State Police and DOTD
- Tabled BRPPC system analysis
Board of River Port Pilot Commissioners for the Port of New Orleans
The Board of River Port Pilot Commissioners will review apprentice training progress, discuss recent vessel incidents including allisions and groundings, and receive reports on pilot compliance and safety. An update on coordination with state agencies for bridge emergencies is also scheduled.
- Review of incidents: Unit 108 allision with Warmia (9/7/24), Unit 109 grounding (9/12/24), Unit 35 steering abnormality (9/14/24), Unit 108 allision with SC Draco (9/18/24), Unit 108 alleged damage to Nomadic Milde (9/19/24), Unit 62 bent handrails (9/19/24), Unit 60 machinery failure (9/19/24)
- Update on delayed service to vessel involving Units 25 and 116
- Report on pilot continuing education, licenses, and physicals
- Update on meeting with State Police, DOTD, and pilot groups regarding bridge emergencies
The Board approved the September meeting minutes and reviewed the progression of current apprentices. During an executive session, the Board reviewed several vessel notices and determined most were non-issues. The Board also discussed the need for a written policy on Limiter Alarms.
- Approved September meeting minutes
- Determined notices for Warmia, Global Vega, SC Draco, Nomadic Milde (complaint), and Vitality Diva to be non-issues
- Confirmed machinery failure for CSSC Rotterdam and SINOP
Board of River Port Pilot Commissioners for the Port of New Orleans
The Board of River Port Pilot Commissioners will review current apprentice training progress and discuss several recent machinery failures and a grounding incident. The meeting includes an executive session to report on new notices to commissioners, current investigations, and pilot compliance matters.
- Review of apprentice training progress
- Report on machinery failures: Unit 25 (Hafnia Africa), Unit 59 (CI Hyaku), Unit 146 (White Fin)
- Report on refloating of ship aground at anchorage (Unit 42)
- Investigation into delayed service to vessels (Units 25 and 116)
- Report on steering failure (Unit 59)
The Board approved the August meeting minutes and confirmed that apprentices will remain on a quota system. Commissioners reviewed several vessel notices, determining three were machinery failures and two were non-issues. A complaint regarding delayed service to Units 25 and 116 was refused.
- Approved August meeting minutes
- Confirmed apprentices will stay on quota system until end of apprenticeship
- Confirmed machinery failure for Unit 25 (Hafnia Africa), Unit 59 (CI Hyaku), and Unit 146 (White Fin)
- Determined Unit 42 incidents (9/1/24 and 9/3/24) to be non-issues
- Refused complaint regarding delayed service to Units 25 and 116
Board of River Port Pilot Commissioners for the Port of New Orleans
The Board will review the progress of current apprentices and evaluate upcoming mentor evaluators. The meeting includes an executive session to report on machinery failures, investigations into delayed service or alleged damage, and pilot compliance regarding licenses and physicals.
- Review of apprentice training and mentor evaluators
- Executive session reports on machinery and engine failures for Unit 143 and Unit 45
- Investigation reports regarding delayed service to Units 25 and 116
- Investigation report regarding alleged damage to Unit 24
- Review of pilot licenses, physicals, and continuing education
The Board approved the July meeting minutes and reviewed apprentice training and pilot compliance. During an executive session, the Board reviewed machinery and engine failures and determined a complaint regarding the vessel Sety to be a non-issue.
- Approved July meeting minutes
- Confirmed machinery failure for Unit 143 (Imogen)
- Confirmed engine failure for Unit 45 (Fairfield Eagle)
- Determined Unit 24 (Sety) complaint/alleged damage to be a non-issue
- Determined two year-old notices to be non-issues
Board of River Port Pilot Commissioners for the Port of New Orleans
The Board of River Port Pilot Commissioners will meet to review several recent marine incidents, including groundings and machinery failures, and to discuss apprentice training, continuing education, and pilot compliance. The meeting includes an executive session to review complaints and investigations.
- Report on New Notices to Commissioners: includes grounding of Unit 118 (P. Aliki) and Unit 181 (Rostrum Solar), and steering/machinery failures on four other vessels.
- Review of apprentice training agenda for August and preparation for September harbor schedule and mentors.
- Report on delayed service to vessels (Units 25 and 116).
- Discussion of pilot compliance, continuing education, and license/physical status.
- Update on the Board's website and compliance tracking system.
The Board approved the August apprentice agenda and updated apprentice rest rules to match pilot rest rules. The Commission reviewed several vessel incident notices and determined that some required further investigation while others were non-issues.
- Approved June meeting minutes
- Approved August apprentice agenda
- Changed apprentice rest rules to match pilot rest rules
- Determined Unit 24 (Sety) complaint requires further investigation
- Determined Unit 118 (P. Aliki) grounding was a non-issue
- Confirmed machinery failure for Units 54, 105, 143, and 20
- Determined Unit 181 (Rostrum Solar) grounding was a non-issue
- Denied reprinting Map Books for apprentices due to cost
Board of River Port Pilot Commissioners for the Port of New Orleans
The Board of River Port Pilot Commissioners will discuss apprentice training, review recent incidents including lost port anchors and machinery failure, and hear reports on investigations and pilot compliance. They will also address internal security, preparation for a new apprentice class, and updates on PLNG and BAR meetings.
- Review of incidents: Unit 87 – Southern Venture – lost port anchors (5/2/24) and Unit 81 – Bunan Fortune – machinery failure (5/20/24)
- Investigation into delayed service to vessel involving Units 25 and 116
- Report on pilot compliance, continuing education, licenses, and physicals
- Preparation for new apprentice class: dates, train the trainer, mentor program, first meeting agenda
- Internal security request and commission leadership seminar
The Board approved the May meeting minutes and reviewed apprentice training evaluations. The Board decided to move the mentor program to a later stage in the apprenticeship. Various reports on pilot compliance, investigations, and continuing education were provided.
- Approved May meeting minutes
- Decided to move mentor program to later in apprenticeship
Board of River Port Pilot Commissioners for the Port of New Orleans
The Board of River Port Pilot Commissioners for the Port of New Orleans meets to discuss routine business including apprentice training, reports on recent vessel machinery failures and load limitations, and a new USCG policy letter on devices that alter ship maneuvering. The agenda also includes a public comment period, executive session, and updates on continuing education and the new apprentice class.
- Review of apprentice training and commissioning for previous month
- Report on four new notices: Unit 11 (Hafnia Amethyst) machinery failure, Unit 143 (Alantas) load limitations, Unit 42 (Yasa ILHAN) machinery failure, Unit 143 (Sider Columbia) machinery failure
- Current investigation into delayed service to vessel involving Units 25 and 116
- Discussion of USCG policy letter on devices that alter maneuvering characteristics
- Preparation for new apprentice class including dates, schedule, and mentor program
The Board approved the April meeting minutes and reviewed apprentice training and machinery failure reports. Members discussed upcoming leadership seminars, simulator vendor meetings, and the start of a new apprentice class in June.
- Approved April Meeting Minutes
- Confirmed machinery failure for Unit 66 (Hafnia Amesthyst) on 4/11/24
- Confirmed machinery failure for Unit 143 (Alantas) on 4/12/24
- Confirmed machinery failure for Unit 42 (Yasa ILHAN) on 4/26/24
- Confirmed machinery failure for Unit 143 (Sider Columbia) on 4/27/24
- Confirmed machinery failure for Unit 181 (Friederike Schulte) on 4/29/24
- Scheduled first meeting of New Apprentice Class for June 26 at 9:00am
Board of River Port Pilot Commissioners for the Port of New Orleans
The Board will review apprentice training evaluations and discuss several vessel machinery failures and grounding investigations in executive session. The meeting includes updates on the PLNG Marine Ops Manual and professional development vendor selection.
- Review of machinery failures and gyro errors for units 152, 105, 23, 72, and 112
- Investigation report on Unit 93 Century Bright grounding (2/12/24)
- Update on PLNG Marine Ops Manual and March Pilot-Tug training
- Professional Development vendor selection for the new cycle
- Tractor Tug Program follow-up
The Board approved the March meeting minutes and reviewed apprentice training and pilot compliance. During an executive session, the Board reviewed several vessel notices and investigations. A commissioning ceremony for new pilots was scheduled for May 22.
- Approved March meeting minutes
- Confirmed machinery failure for vessels Meteora, Stamina Diva, Zoe, and ES Kure
- Determined Bittern gyro error was not an issue to be reported
- Filed UBC Stavanger anchor issue and Century Bright grounding in Hold for One Year File
- Scheduled commissioning ceremony for new pilots for May 22
Board of River Port Pilot Commissioners for the Port of New Orleans
The Board will review apprentice evaluations and discuss recent vessel grounding and allision incidents during an executive session. The meeting also includes updates on professional development programs and regulatory changes.
- Review of Unit 93 grounding involving Century Bright
- Review of Unit 32 allision involving Aramis
- Investigation into delayed service for Units 25 and 116
- Update on Tractor Tug Program and professional development vendors
- Review of Marine Ops Manual for PLNG
The Board approved the February meeting minutes and selected 10 pilots to evaluate apprentice pilots by the end of April. The Commission also determined a need for a 'Train the Trainer' program and scheduled a leadership seminar for June 19-21.
- Approved February meeting minutes
- Selected 10 pilots for apprentice evaluations
- Determined need for Train the Trainer program
- Scheduled Commission Leadership Seminar for June 19-21
- Filed Unit 32 Armais allision in the Hold for One Year File
Board of River Port Pilot Commissioners for the Port of New Orleans
The Board of River Port Pilot Commissioners will meet to discuss moving back to a quota system for apprentice training and review pilot evaluations. The meeting includes an executive session to report on machinery failures, investigations into delayed vessel services, and pilot compliance regarding licenses and physicals.
- Discussion on moving back to Quota System for Apprentice Training
- Report on machinery failure for M/V Poseidon Venture (Unit 50)
- Report on machinery failure for YM Opus (Unit 61)
- Investigation report on delayed service to Units 25 and 116
- Review of Professional Development vendor responses to RFQs
The Board approved the January meeting minutes and moved apprentices to a quota system. Members reviewed apprentice evaluations and reassigned harbor weeks for March through May. No action was taken regarding the Maersk Code of Conduct.
- Approved January Meeting Minutes
- Moved apprentices to Quota System
- Reassigned Harbor weeks for March–May
- Determined no action needed regarding Maersk Code of Conduct
Board of River Port Pilot Commissioners for the Port of New Orleans
The Board will discuss apprentice training, including MPI contracts and evaluations. The meeting includes an executive session to report on several vessel incidents involving allisions, groundings, and machinery failures.
- Discussion of January MPI training and contract
- Review of vessel incidents including Unit 32, Unit 68, Unit 86, Unit 103, and Unit 55
- Report on investigations regarding delayed service to Units 25 and 116
- Update on Tractor Tug Program professional development
- Review of 2024 apprentice applications
The Board approved a funding request for the Board of Review and renewed its D&O business insurance policy. The commission also certified 2024 apprentice applications and determined the status of several vessel notices.
- Approved December meeting minutes
- Approved funding request for Board of Review
- Certified 2024 apprentice applications
- Renewed D&O business insurance policy
- Determined Unit 32, 68, 103, 55, and 47 notices as non-incidents
- Determined Unit 86 notice as Machinery Failure