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INSIGHTS When it comes to iconic, East Coast mainstays of the U.S. maritime industry, probably one of the fi rst names that come to mind is ‘Bouchard.’ Likewise, Morton S. Bouchard III, who has served as President of Bouchard Transportation Co., Inc., the nation’s largest independent- ly-owned ocean-going petroleum barge company since 1996, also needs no introduction to MarineNews readers. Bouchard’s CEO since 1999, he is the fourth generation of Bouchards to lead the company since its incorporation in 1918. Promoted to President at the tender age of 32, Mr. Bouchard has continued the family tradition of investing profi ts in cutting edge equipment and following the pas- sage of the Oil Pollution Act of 1990, he instituted the fi rst double hull barge construction program in the Unit- ed States. The company began building fl at deck double hull ocean-going petroleum barges in 1992 and under Mr. Bouchard’s leadership, continues to do so. Beyond this, Bouchard’s ongoing fl eet expansion includes the construc- tion of two 6000-hp ATB tugs, both of which will join two ATB units currently under construction. Closer to home, and building on an All-American career in Lacrosse, his ro- bust philanthropy for his high school and college alma ma- ters has benefi ted a generation of scholar athletes on Long Island, NY, and beyond. But Bouchard’s commitment to education and mariner training extends far beyond the playing fi elds. The Bouchard Transportation Company, Inc., Tug & Barge Simulation Center is nearing comple- tion at SUNY Maritime College’s Throggs Neck campus. Available to SUNY Maritime College students as part of their program of study, and to outside tug and barge com- panies for employee training, the facility mirrors Boucha- rd’s resolve to create a safer workplace and a cleaner envi- ronment. In 2011, Mr. Bouchard established the Morton S. Bouchard Jr. Scholarship Program at SUNY Maritime in memory of his father. A staunch supporter of the mari- time industry, Bouchard also serves on the Board of Direc- tors of both the American Maritime Partnership and of the American Steamship Owners Mutual Protection and Indemnity Association, Inc. All that said; it is clear that Bouchard Transportation’s storied history is only part of the story. As far as Morton S. Bouchard III is concerned, what comes next is just as important. Listen in this month as he talks about how things get done; the ‘Bouchard’ way. Running a fl eet in today’s increasingly regulated en- vironment can’t be easy. If you had to point to one aspect of this business that is the most challenging, then what would that be? The biggest challenges in running Bouchard Transpor- tation fall into two categories; the fi rst being the ever- changing regulations and the second being the continuous attempts to open the Jones Act. When a company makes an investment in an asset, it does so in compliance with the existing regulations so that the asset will last for its use- ful lifespan, if not longer. Lately, the worldwide regulatory agencies have been trying to implement changes without regard for the companies that made these investments in accordance with the regulations in place. I am all for mod- ernization, and of course I too want a clean environment, but there has to be some consideration for these older as- sets that were built in compliance with the standard at the time, and now must be upgraded or scrapped without even a tax credit. The continuous failed attempts by companies to circumvent the Jones Act are also amazing to me. This legislation will not change. From our inception, Bouchard has invested well over fi ve billion dollars in vessels built p S i t Morton S. Bouchard Mo S. Bouchard IIIIII President and CEO, Bouchard Transportation Co., Inc. November 2014 12 MN MN Nov14 Layout 1-17.indd 12 10/23/2014 12:35:56 PM
