Membership

The Ports Association of Louisiana is the only entity whose sole purpose is to assure that this vital industry remains in the minds and hearts of our legislature, as well as state and local governments. In every respect, from promoting funding for new and improved port facilities to protecting against legislation harmful to the growth of this industry, PAL is a significant force representing port and maritime interests.

Louisiana ports are important to the economy. Recent studies by Dr. Timothy Ryan of UNO found that ports and the maritime industry have an annual $33 billion impact to the state’s economy, approximately 23% of the gross state product. In addition, ports and the maritime industry have an impact of $5.7 billion in the job market by supporting 270,000 jobs directly and indirectly. This is equal to one (1) of every eight (8) jobs. These combined impacts provide more than $470 million in state and local taxes. The U. S. Army Corps of Engineers’ statistics show that cargo handled by Louisiana’s ports account for nearly twenty-five (25%) percent of the nation’s waterborne commerce. In fact, Louisiana’s five (5) deep-water port districts on the Mississippi River comprise the largest port complex in the world, handling nearly 480 million tons of cargo. It should be noted that the vast amount of cargo handled by the coastal oil/gas industry service ports is not counted in that total nor is that activity associated with the cruise ship industry. The membership categories are:

Corporate

All state-created port commissions; port, harbor and terminal districts; board of commissioners; navigation districts and terminal authorities, duly organized and existing under the laws of Louisiana are eligible.
Dues: Membership dues for Corporate members are determined by the Board of Directors and are graduated based on the annual operating budget of each individual port.

New and Emerging Ports

Ports designated as emerging ports by the PAL Board of Directors are eligible.
Dues: $300 per year. A port may remain in this category for a maximum of three years.

Associate

All other entities or individuals, public or private, who are interested in and concerned with ports and marine issues are eligible.

Please fill out this form and return it, along with your check, to the PAL office to become an associate member. For additional information please call the PAL office.
Dues: $300 per year

As an Associate Member, PAL will serve you in several ways. You will receive our monthly newsletter providing information about current events that are important to our industry, be invited to our monthly meetings, have your business info listed in our website’s membership directory, as well as have numerous opportunities to meet and network with decision makers in Louisiana’s maritime industry. In addition, we regularly distribute a Membership Directory in print listing our corporate, associate and honorary members.

Honorary

Honorary members may be selected and approved by the Board of Directors.
Dues: No fee