David Schulingkamp

"C. Alvin Bertel Award"
(Program Information)

Honoree's Remarks

Capt. Michael R. Lorino, Jr.
Recipient of the 2006 C. Alvin Bertel Award

April 18, 2006
World Trade Center of New Orleans

It is on behalf of all the members of the Associated Branch Pilots, present and past that I humbly and gratefully accept this year's C. Alvin Bertel Award.

My name is on this award, and I deeply appreciate that recognition personally, I also recognize it truly reflects generations of Pilots from one end of the river to the other who have, since 1879, worked hard to serve the maritime industry with safe, economic and efficient movement of commerce from the Gulf of Mexico up the Mississippi River.

Thousands of vessels make their way through our state's ports each and every year, and they carry millions of dollars in cargo. Each vessel must travel one of the most dangerous and busiest waterways on earth. Their safe passage brings billions of dollars into our nation's economy each year. And, for nearly two centuries it has been our honor, our privilege and our job to guide them safely to their destinations.

The success of our maritime industry relies heavily on the trust and professionalism we expect of one another on and off the river. It is a responsibility which we never take lightly. We understand fully that your investment, the lives of your men and women, your ships, your cargo and the economy of our ports, state and nations depend on our skills, alertness and experience.

Because of that pilots have continued to demand more of ourselves. Education requirements, both prior to and throughout our professional careers have been strengthened, apprenticeship time has been tightened and our drug testing meets or surpasses every U.S. Coast Guard standard. We know that our safety and the safety of your investment go hand in hand.

I love being a Bar Pilot. It is a profession I knew I wanted to pursue after I was first introduced to it by my late father-in-law, Captain P.C. Malasovich.

I have dedicated my life to serving our Association and the international maritime industry. Through the years I have been honored to represent our Association on the board of directors, and over the past 6 years as President. Recently I was honored by all the other state pilot associations in America by being named a regional vice president of the American Pilots Association.

As a Bar Pilot I consider myself a businessman. We all do. The growth and success of our business depends quite heavily on the very same ingredients most businesses must have to have to succeed.

But, in this business, the bottom line is not just money - its people. The quality of people is the foundation of a successful effort. I am honored to say that the members of the Associated Branch Pilots and our entire staff are some of the finest men and women with whom I have ever and will ever be associated.

Over the past few years our industry has changed, as you well know. Through this transition, pilots have participated in the entire process. And we have worked hard to help implement those changes in a way that will best facilitate the growth and stability of the entire industry.

We recognize that in the wake of two of the most devastating storms ever to hit America's shores that we must all work even harder to rebuild our industry, ports and our great city and state.

We can only do that by working together. All of us and I believe we are doing that.

One quick look at how quickly the ports -- especially the Port of New Orleans-- rebounded from the shock of Katrina and Rita, will tell you how important it is to work together to make real things happen. While the nation, was questioning whether New Orleans would ever again even exist, people here were already on the ground focused on rebuilding the entire river region. Congratulations to each and every one of you for your commitment and continued dedication to our river region.

Men and women, many here today and too many to name, who represent virtually every aspect of this industry were coming together, literally and through constant communications, to re-ignite the one industry that could truly be an economic and emotional jumpstart for Louisiana and America.

From ships, from powerless apartments and from Houston to DC, working - together - to make it happen. Side by side with Gary LaGrange and his capable staff, were people for the corp of engineers, Captain Bud Watson, Captain A.J. Gibbs, former president of SALA Mr. Channing Hayden, Mr. Sean Duffy of SALA, Mr. Michael Titone of MRMA, Mr. Ed Peterson of LRPA and in my very humble opinion the man who allowed us to open the entire river up – Captain Frank Paskewich - and as I said many, many more.

I hope that in singling out the Port of New Orleans, I also bring your attention to the many similar stories reflecting the rebuilding of the maritime industry and ports all up and down the river. There is much still to be done. Some examples are 1st, make state government aware that ports along the Mississippi River are the back bone of our state and should be funded on that priority. Other states are leaving us behind on funding of ports. 2nd, Mississippi River region needs to aggressively find distribution sites along our river system. We do not have the population to bring in containers, but we do have the railroads and river to get this cargo distributed in the USA. 3rd, Breakbulk, as Mr. John Kallenborn has stated, Breakbulk is labor intensive and we in the New Orleans area need to meet collectively to discuss ways of getting more Breakbulk to our port. 4th, we need to form a Mississippi River task force with the entire industry and everyone needs to leave our “what’s in it for me” attitude at the door and work towards “what’s in it for our region”.

But we can and will do it – together.

We have all changed over the past few years. We have an even more determined perspective on how better to serve the industry.

One example is that after touring our destroyed Pilottown facility, the base of our operations for 200 years, we felt we had to make a change – one that we believed will better serve the industry and our pilots.

So, we have moved our primary operating facility to Venice, where we will work very closely with members of the Crescent pilots and industry to maintain the safety, integrity and professionalism for which we have always strived.

It was not an easy decision. We have two centuries of history, emotion and connection to Pilottown. Many of us virtually grew up there. I know it also hasn’t been easy for the Crescent Pilots and I appreciate and recognized that. But it’s a decision we firmly believe will benefit all parties. That’s our goal.

We know our job is to serve the industry and not to run the industry and we will always work hard to do that.

In accepting this award there are so many people to thank. First among those are the pilots with whom I work daily – the Bar pilots.

I want you and them to know that nothing about this award is mine alone. Without their help, support and encouragement the reason we have been given this award would never have happened. It is on behalf of them that I accept this. It belongs to us all. They are the best of the best in my opinion and I am proud and humble that they allow me the opportunity to serve as I do.

I mentioned earlier, Captains A.J. Gibbs and Bud Watson and the members of their respective associations. I thank them each again for helping us all to achieve this award. We have come a long way and have had many bumps over the past 5 years and we still have a ways to go.

To those who nominated me -- again thank you very much. This is a wonderful honor. To even be mentioned among the many previous recipients is an honor in itself. And thank you C. Alvin Bertel, for whom this award was named.

To my family and particularly to my precious wife, Peggy, thank you from the very bottom of my heart for your love, untiring support, for the many times you went on with plans and events knowing I could not be there -- but never once making me feel less for it. Thank you.

In closing I want to remind us all that we live in a remarkable nation, at a most interesting time. It seems everyday brings something new to challenge us and our industry. As daunting as that might be at times I firmly believe that we as an industry can take those challenges and move them into positive opportunities. We do that by working together.

Thank you for this award and you have my promise that we will always strive to work together with you.

Thank you and God bless.

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