The state sanctioned mafia known as River Pilots are shaking down the chemical industry

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A Mississippi River ship pilots group is skirmishing for a 40 percent mileage reimbursement increase, while a bigger, three-year battle for raises that would lift annual pilot pay above $473,000 is still being waged with the chemical industry.

The newest iteration of the long-simmering feud is over transportation tariffs, or the amount of money pilots are reimbursed to cover travel costs to and from their homes and berths. The Crescent River Port Pilots Association, which represents the more than 100 pilots who navigate the river between New Orleans and Pilottown, asked in October for a 40 percent hike in the transportation tariff rates — equaling $667,490 annually — and want a set formula for regular fee increases in the future, according to documents filed.

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The Louisiana Chemical Association is fighting the pay and transportation tariff increases. The association represents several dozen chemical companies, including industry giants like Shell, Monsanto and Dow Chemical. Most of the plants represented are along the Mississippi River.

In November, the association filed a motion to block the pilots' mileage fee increase. But the Louisiana Pilotage Fee Commission, which handles pilot fee rates, struck down several of the association’s arguments in January. The panel also denied the chemical group's request to compel discovery in the case. The association then asked the 19th Judicial District Court to intervene in the case in February.

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“We’re trying to at least get some rationale as to why you're asking for these rate increases,” said chemical association President Greg Bowser. “Right now, they don’t have to show anything. They just come in and ask for it and they get it.”

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The chemical group argued in motions that the Crescent pilots had not provided any proof of mileage fee expenses that need to be reimbursed. It also said the group only had 111 pilots in 2016, but were paid for 114. In addition, each pilot was paid, on average, about $100,000 more than the targeted average pay of $453,000 that year, the chemical group said, and that extra payment could cover transportation costs.

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