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As a child, Gene R. Tuttle Jr. often visited his father Gene Tuttle Sr. on tugboats at the Port of Houston sparking his interest in the maritime industry. Today, Tuttle Jr. proudly follows in his father’s footsteps as a Branch Pilot for the Brazos Santiago Pilots Association (BSPA).
“It is exciting to be able to step into the same port my father was working in and to see the growth that's happening at the Port of Brownsville,” said Gene Tuttle Jr. “I remember visiting the port and thinking man, this place has so much potential and I'm finally here and it's really taking off.”
At a regular board meeting held June 3, the Brownsville Navigation District Board of Commissioners voted to appoint Gene Tuttle Jr. a Branch Pilot for the BSPA, marking the continuation of a legacy within the Tuttle family after Tuttle Sr. retired this year.
Tuttle Jr. joins BSPA Presiding Officer Captain Chris Urbanovsky and Captain Jonathan P. Willett as the third port pilot in the organization. Tuttle Jr. began his deputyship in July 2023, shadowing every ship entering or leaving the Brownsville Ship Channel. After demonstrating his capabilities, he was entrusted with handling jobs independently just three months into his apprenticeship.
The BSPA is tasked with ensuring the safe transit of all vessels being piloted within the Port of Brownsville and Port Isabel while safeguarding the environment and overseeing the compliance with all rules and laws governing marine vessels.
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