Ezell argued the Gal-Tex pilots have been forced to subsidize costs that should have been born by port users. This latest rate increase request was an attempt to recoup a shortfall Ezell characterized as an “illegal subsidy” of pilot costs in favor of the maritime industry.

“It is incumbent on you to ensure that they are properly funded . . . They protect the citizens of this community, of the state of Texas, the economy of the U.S., the cargo (that) is essential to our economy, our national defense, our very being. It is not the same thing as determining the hourly rate for stevedores. These people perform at the pinnacle of their profession,” Ezell said.

Nathan Wesley, appearing for the West Gulf Maritime Association, an organization of maritime industries and port users, said, “To imply that anything that this board has done over the last eight years constitutes an illegal tariff or subsidy is ridiculous.” Two years ago, he said, they were told the 15 or 16 Gal-Tex pilots earn $320,000 a year. “To say that is not reasonable compensation flies in the face of common sense,” Wesley said.

Capt. Chris Gutierrez, president of the Galveston-Texas pilots, did not respond to requests for interviews for this story.

If the question of whom pilots really work for remains ambiguous, the question of who pays for their services does not. Unprecedented turmoil in the maritime industry and Galveston County’s need to be competitive would make it a mistake to lock in large tariff increases, Wesley said.

“This application sends the wrong message. It puts the interests of 15 people over the interests of literally thousands of people who work in Galveston County,” he said. “Now is not the time to be giving the pilots an increase. Not when everyone else is cutting costs and laying people off. It’s bad for industry, the city, the county and the entire region.”

Although they may be a small portion of big-picture shipping costs, said Michael Dobbs, representing the Port of Texas City, pilotage rates are “one of those things people look at when they consider what port to go to. Cost differences come from moving that ship from anchorage to port.” Galveston County