Blessey Honors Longtime Captain With Namesake Vessel

Capt. Gary “Phillip” Langley has quite a family legacy in the maritime industry. Born in Hattiesburg, Miss., and raised in Bassfield, Miss., Langley grew up around towboats, with his father, uncle and some cousins working in the industry. His first taste of the maritime industry came when he was just 8 years old, working as a galley hand.

Today, Langley’s professional career spans 45 years, including the last 27 years with Harahan, La.-based Blessey Marine Services. He joined Blessey as a tankerman in July 1998 and soon moved into the wheelhouse. In the years since, Langley has served as captain aboard the mvs. Laura Blessey, Lamar Hirsch, Mary T. Collins and Eric Bunce.

Now nearing retirement and residing in Wagoner, Okla., Langley serves as pilot aboard the mv. Martha Oliver.

Back in the spring, Langley received a phone call with news that would take his family’s already impressive legacy in the maritime industry to a whole new level. On the phone was Walter Blessey, founder of Blessey Marine Services and father-in-law to the company’s president and CEO, Clark Todd. Blessey was calling to tell Langley that the company would soon rename one of its towboats in his honor.

“Needless to say, I fell out the chair,” Langley said.

Blessey Marine held a christening ceremony August 20 at the company’s WEB Fleet in Channelview, Texas, to officially change the name of the recently repowered mv. Capt. Billy J. Verdin to the mv. Capt. Phillip Langley.  Before the ceremony, guests enjoyed a Texas-style barbecue lunch provided by B.J. Terry (known by many in the industry for his role with Independence Valve Company) and his very own Old Bucs Barbecue.

The mv. Capt. Phillip Langley is the fourth towboat Blessey Marine has repowered with Mitsubishi engines this year, Todd said. The 75- by 28-foot twin screw towboat was originally built at Ashton Boat Construction in Harvey, La., and delivered in 2005.

“We did an extensive renovation to it over the last five months, and we felt this was a good opportunity to name it after one of our great captains,” Todd said. “We did a full repower of the engines and gears, from Laborde Products on the engines and Karl Senner on the Reintjes gears. From what I’ve been told, the vessel has been performing just as our other repowers have done this year. We’re really enjoying the Mitsubishi repower program.”

Speaking at the christening, Todd also thanked Stanley Parts and Equipment, Wood River Electronics, Wheelhouse Electronics, Baton Rouge Marine Electrical Services and Hiller Offshore.

“As you can see, we take pride in our vessels,” Todd said. “Our vessels are like our babies. When we go out as a sales team or as a family with the company, we’re selling the service that takes place on board these vessels. And so, all of our vessels are taken care of in a very, very good manner. Capt. Langley has done that down through the years, and I’m really excited for Capt. Darin Thompson in this new adventure on this vessel.”

Thompson came to Blessey Marine from the trucking world and never looked back.

“I have been at Blessey for 15 years, and it is a huge honor to be named the captain of the Phillip Langley,” Thompson said.

Chris Estep, chief operating officer for Blessey Marine, said Thompson being made captain of the Langley reflects the company’s confidence in him.

“We choose our captains based on longevity and service with the company, as well as operational record,” Estep said. “We’re happy to name Darin Thompson as captain of the Phillip Langley for his exceptional service, safety record and dedication of 15 years with Blessey Marine.”

During the christening, Rev. Nancy Simpson presented a Bible, Merchant Marine flag and christening certificate to the crew of the mv. Capt. Phillip Langley, which includes Thompson as lead captain, William Jacobs as relief captain, pilot Wesley Morris, Clarence Davis and Rodney Brewer as tankermen, and Jason Colunga as tankerman trainee.

“Stretch out your holy arm to be their protection as you stretched it out to your blessed disciple Peter when he walked on the sea,” Simpson said during her prayer for the crew and vessel. “May this powerfully built towing vessel provide its owner and operators many years of safe operations and productive and efficient service on our nation’s waterways.”

Speaking of Langley, Todd said, besides his professionalism in the wheelhouse, his dedication to training and mentoring younger mariners also sets him apart.

“From the deck all the way to the wheelhouse, I will tell you, my conversations always tend to go back to training,” Todd said. “As Phillip gets ready to retire here in the next couple of years, he’s going to continue training additional wheelhouse personnel for us. I’m really excited for him to carry on his knowledge and impart that skillset to the next generation of mariners.”

The crowd gathered for the christening laughed when Dane Morgan, port captain for Blessey Marine, shared a story of Langley from their years working together. Langley, addressing the crowd, first thanked Walter Blessey for laying the foundation for the company’s continued success.

“He proved you can take a bunch of misfit towboaters, put them together and make something out of it,” Langley said. “That man has vision.”

Langley also thanked Todd and Estep.

“Lead us on,” he said. “We’ll follow you.”

Langley also referenced a quote from George Moore that says, “A man travels the world over in search of what he needs and returns home to find it.”

“At Blessey, I found more than a chance and an opportunity,” Langley said. “I found a home.”

To conclude the christening ceremony, Langley, sporting a Blessey Marine cap and shirt and his signature sunglasses, climbed aboard his namesake vessel and broke a bottle of champagne over its railing.

More From Blessey Marine

Blessey Marine has more news ahead.

Blessey affiliate WEB Engines, LP, a growing provider of barge engine and pump maintenance and overhauls as well as an exclusive distributor for Austart Air Starters, will soon expand to a new facility in Liberty, Texas. Its opening is scheduled for fall 2024.

In 2025, Blessey Marine plans on welcoming two additional 88-foot, 2,000 hp. Pacesetter class towboats to its fleet. The new towboats are being built at Vessel Repair in Port Arthur, Texas. Both vessels will be named after Blessey captains, Todd said.