Federal pilotage service is now available by the recently formed NW Gulf Federal Pilots in the Ports Galveston and Texas City, Texas, as well as in Lake Charles, Louisiana. The NW Gulf Federal Pilots service U.S. flagged vessels in coastwise trade under enrollment and operate independently of state pilots. Captain Graylin Gant established the NW Gulf Federal Pilots to meet the needs for federal pilotage required by law in the various channels served. The NW Gulf Federal Pilots plan to offer federal pilotage services to other ship channels in the Northwest Gulf of Mexico in the near future.