The maritime industry is a vital part of the Texas economy. Annually, Texas ports handle almost 15,000 vessels - 20% of the national total. More than 300 million tons of cargo pass through Texas ports each year, producing more than $178 billion in business sales. Port trade is a key driver of the Texas economy and supports hundreds of thousands of jobs in Texas. But Texas has no naturally occurring ports and, as a result, our ports require frequent dredging to maintain and improve them to keep pace with the growing level of maritime commerce.

This vital economic development tool faced a severe threat in 2007 from an epidemic of personal injury lawsuits brought by unscrupulous trial lawyers seeking to exploit a legal loophole in maritime law. These specialized lawsuits, filed against numerous dredging companies, threatened to make waterway and port maintenance operations so expensive that projects along the Texas Gulf Coast were jeopardized, postponed or cancelled. This development endangered the viability our state as a major center of global commerce because Texas ports and waterways must be adequately maintained and improved if Texas is to continue to prosper in the global economy.

The Patriot Group was hired to help launch and advise a new trade association called “Maritime Jobs for Texas” and work with industry leaders and other maritime organizations to build a coalition to help solve this crisis. Through highly specialized public affairs and media relations efforts, The Patriot Group was successful in bringing this issue to the forefront during the 80th session of the Texas Legislature. In addition, a legislative lobbying effort was initiated to educate lawmakers on the problem and close the legal loophole. By coordinating a major statewide alliance and implementing a strategic public affairs plan, The Patriot Group played a key role in the successful passage of HB 1602, the Maritime Lawsuit Reform Act. Governor Rick Perry signed the bill into law on May 24, 2007.