Eugene Mattioni Appointed to Navigation Commission by Mayor Michael Nutter

November, 2014 – Eugene Mattioni, Shareholder at Mattioni, Ltd, was appointed by Mayor Michael Nutter to the Navigation Commission for the Delaware River and its Navigable Tributaries.  The Navigation Commission consists of seven members and two ex officio members.  Mayor Nutter is responsible for appointing two of these members.  “The citizens of Philadelphia and I are grateful to you for assuming this important role and for helping to ensure the safety of our local rivers”, Mayor Nutter stated in a letter to Eugene.

The  Navigation Commission has many responsibilities, including deciding all differences which may arise between masters, owners and consignees of ships and vessels, and pilots.  They also establish regulations governing the application, qualifications, recruitment, selection and training of apprentices.

Since its inception in 1907, the Commission has been vested with the authority to grant licenses to Pennsylvania pilots and regulate the services they provide.  This is particularly important for the Philadelphia waterways because every foreign vessel traversing the Delaware River and its navigable tributaries is generally required to use the services of a pilot licensed by either Pennsylvania or Delaware.  A Pennsylvania-licensed pilot has the local knowledge of tides, currents, channel depths, and other conditions needed to safely navigate a vessel on the Delaware River.

Gene has supported the maritime community many years. Most recently, Gene was named “Person of the Year” by the Ports of Philadelphia Maritime Society.  He was also the recipient of the United States Merchant Marine Academy Meritorious Alumni Service and Outstanding Professional Achievement Awards and was President of the Philadelphia Chapter, USMMA Alumni Association. Gene also served on the Executive Board of the Seaman’s Church Institute, and as Vice Chairman of the Chapel of Four Chaplains earning it’s Bronze Medallion. Gene is a member of the Board of the Maritime Exchange for the Delaware River and Bay and is active in many maritime charities. He is a proud sponsor of the World War II US Merchant Marine and US Navy Armed Guard Memorial.