Since 1912 the Louisiana Maritime Association (LaMA) has been a driving force of commerce and innovation on the Mississippi River. LaMA represents its members in a wide range of matters affecting the maritime industry. Under the heading of Navigational Safety, the Association deals with such diverse matters as maintaining adequate deep-draft anchorages and channels throughout the Gulf of Mexico. The Association’s long-time commitment to safety is clearly seen in the development of a bridge-to-bridge communication system to increase navigational safety, which was sponsored by the Association in the early 1960s.
The actions of many government entities impact the maritime industry. LaMA is the industry’s liaison with Customs and Border Protection, the Coast Guard, the United States Department of Agriculture, the Corps of Engineers, the Transportation Security Administration, the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration and the Department of Homeland Security. LaMA addresses matters at the source of regulation, including working through the Pilotage Fee Commission, the Louisiana Legislature and through our active membership on several national maritime associations.
One of the Association’s most important functions is to disseminate timely information to its members. In partnership with the Big River Coalition, LaMA keeps its members updated on the status of draft conditions and related legislative and funding issues as we continue to make the Mississippi River the most productive and efficient in the nation.
