Today on Factiva I came across an article published in the WSJ, "For Pilots of Big Ships, The Mississippi Isn't What It Used to Be --- After Katrina Shifts Currents And Swallows Landmarks, Mr. Bach Guides the Way" By Daniel Machalaba (published Nov 28, 2005). The author tells the story of one modern day pilot, Gene Bach, whose knowledge of the lower Mississippi has been challenged after Katrina. The reporter described the river conditions as piloting a dangerous obstacle course with missing landmarks, sunken barges and other debris. The Port of New Orleans alone took about $1 billion of damage and, according to the author, it is operating at just 40% of its pre-Katrina capacity. Shipping companies and port officials are said to be grateful for the pilots, seeing them as critical to returning the flow of shipping commerce thru the New Orleans area. The president and CEO of the Port of New Orleans called them “knights in shining armor”. I thought of Twain's“Knights of the Tiller” when I read that. Some things change, other things stay the same. They might not call out “Mark Twain” anymore and instead use radios. But pilots are well compensated and those same companies who need them now have been known to complain about the high wages in the past. Piloting still takes time to learn and they still must belong to an association to be licensed.