At the time that the New Orleans Steamship Association (NOSSA) was created in 1912, no one envisioned that one day the Association would expand outside of New Orleans.  In 1997, NOSSA became the Steamship Association of Louisiana (SALA) in order to offer our services in other Louisiana ports.  In 2006, to meet demand and expand into other markets, NOSSA and SALA evolved into the Gulf States Maritime Association (GSMA).

GSMA represents its members in a wide range of matters affecting the maritime industry.  Under the heading of Navigational Safety, the Association deals with such diverse matters as maintaining adequate deep-draft anchorages and channels throughout the Gulf.  The Association's long-time commitment to safety is clearly seen in the development of a bridge-to-bridge communication system to increase navigational safety, which was sponsored by the Association in the early 1960s.

The actions of many government entities impact the maritime industry.  GSMA is the industry's liaison with Customs and Border Protection, the Coast Guard, the United States Department of Agriculture, the Corps of Engineers, the Transportation Security Administration, the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration and the Department of Homeland Security.  GSMA addresses matters at the source of regulation, including working through the Pilotage Fee Commission, the State Legislature, and through our active membership on several national maritime associations.

One of the Association's most important functions is to disseminate timely information to its members.  This information is distributed in written form through GSMA circulars, FLASHES and broadcast e-mails.  Our new website features a brief summary of current circulars, the Federal Grain Inspection Services’ daily report and current channel dimensions.