Marine Link
Friday, March 29, 2024
SUBSCRIBE

Louisiana Department Of Transportation News

16 Feb 2023

2023 Shipbuilding Report: US Passenger Vessels

Casco Bay Line selected the Senesco to build a double ended hybrid electric ferry to replace an existing diesel boat. (Image: EBDG)

With travel and tourism nearing pre-2020 levels, and transit systems benefiting from a return to work, passenger vessels have seen renewed activity. In its year-end review, John Groundwater, Executive Director of the Passenger Vessel Association (PVA), which advocates for the sector in Washington, D.C. wrote: “As we are nearing the end of the calendar year, we are delighted to report that our industry, and our members, are reporting far and wide that they have experienced very…

14 Nov 2022

Louisiana Gets US DOT Loan to Launch New Ferry Service

(Image: Elliott Bay Design Group)

Louisiana is set to launch a new ferry service with the help of a low-interest loan from the U.S. Department of Transportation (DOT).The DOT said on Monday its Build America Bureau will provide nearly $41 million in loans to the Louisiana State Bond Commission for the benefit of the Louisiana Department of Transportation and Development (LADOTD) that will go toward the ferry project as well as a bridge improvement program.The Bureau, which was established during the Obama Administration…

07 Oct 2022

Thoma-Sea to Build New Cameron Ferries

(Image: Elliott Bay Design Group)

Tthe Louisiana Department of Transportation and Development (DOTD) announced this week that it received an apparent low bid from Houma, La. based Thoma-Sea Marine Constructors for the construction of two new ferry boats for the Cameron crossing in Cameron Parish. The bid was $49,706,865.Designed by Elliott Bay Design Group, the new boats will be 190’ x 50’ x 13’ and will replace the M/V Cameron II, which was built in 1964. The boats will be end-loading vessels in order to load and unload large commercial vehicles.

24 Aug 2022

Two New Cranes Dedicated at Port of South Louisiana

(Photo: Port of South Louisiana)

The Port of South Louisiana officially dedicated and named its two Konecranes Gottwald Model 6 Portal Harbor Cranes for its public facility, the Globalplex Intermodal Terminal Dock along the Mississippi River. These cranes have increased the Port’s capacity for handling bulk materials and will allow for the handling of containers and project cargo.As the nation’s leading grain exporter and one of the Western Hemisphere’s largest tonnage ports, the Port of South Louisiana is a sea gateway for international trade and commerce.

06 Jan 2022

Coast Guard, NTSB Investigating Towboat Bridge Strike

On December 23, 2021, at approximately 3:26 a.m., a towing vessel pushing six barges was traveling southeast along the Avoca Island Cutoff waterway when one of the lead barges in the tow struck the Bayou Ramos Bridge. (Photo: U.S. Coast Guard District 8, Courtesy of Cajun Drone Photography, Jim Pierce JR FAA 107 Certified Pilot)

The U.S. Coast Guard and National Transportation Safety Board (NTSB) marine casualty investigators are investigating a barge allision with the Bayou Ramos Bridge near Morgan City and Amelia, Louisiana, on Highway 182. On December 23, 2021, at approximately 3:26 a.m., a towing vessel pushing six barges was traveling southeast along the Avoca Island Cutoff waterway when one of the lead barges in the tow struck the Bayou Ramos Bridge. Coast Guard personnel at Marine Safety Unit Morgan City received notification about damage to the bridge several hours later and identified the responsible party.

17 Nov 2021

NTSB Determines Cause of 2020 Towboat Accident

(Photo: NTSB)

The National Transportation Safety Board (NTSB) completed its investigation of the November 22, 2020, accident involving barges towed by the Trent Joseph and George C and the Barataria Bridge near Barataria, Louisiana.The towing vessels Trent Joseph and George C were towing two barges southbound in the Barataria Waterway. While passing through the open Barataria Bridge, the second barge contacted the bridge’s swing span. The bridge, which was the only means of road access for the community of Barataria, was damaged and remained unusable until November 28.

23 Nov 2020

Bollinger Delivers New Bayou Teche Flood Gate

(Photo: Bollinger Shipyards)

Bollinger Shipyards said it has delivered the Bayou Teche flood gate to St. Mary Parish Levee District. The steel flood gate—measuring 84 feet long, 40 ft wide and 19 feet high—is designed for a 25-year rain event and to provide flood risk reduction for a 10-foot storm surge. The gate is the heart of the Bayou Teche Flood Control Structure project announced in January of this year.The Bayou Teche Flood Control Structure is designed to reduce the risk of heavy rain event and hurricane storm surge flooding when water comes through the Charenton Canal into Bayou Teche.

03 Aug 2020

Lower Mississippi River to be Deepened to 50 Feet

Pictured from left to right are Major General Diana Holland, Commanding General, Mississippi River Valley Division; Gov. John Bel Edwards and Col. Stephen Murphy, Commander, New Orleans District signing the PPA. (Photo: LADOTD)

The ports at Baton Rouge, New Orleans, South Louisiana, St. Bernard and Plaquemines are slated to have deep draft access after Louisiana Gov. John Bel Edwards and other state officials signed a formal agreement with the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers Friday to begin construction on the deepening of the Lower Mississippi River to 50 feet from 45 feet. The overall project will provide a draft of 50-feet from the Port of Baton Rouge to the Gulf of Mexico over 256 miles of the Mississippi River.

24 Aug 2018

West Calcasieu Port Barge Basin Dredge Work Completed

(Credit: West Calcasieu Port)

Dredging operations in the West Calcasieu Port’s west barge basin were completed today and that all tenant operations in the basin have returned to full operations, port officials announced today.Coastal Dredging of Hammond, La., was the contractor on the $1.3 million maintenance dredging project that removed more than 140,000 cubic yards of spoils over a 10-week period. The port’s barge basin depth was returned to a minus-10 feet, and the spoils were relocated into the ports…

20 Aug 2018

Mississippi River Ship Channel Deepening Project Moves Forward

Containerships docked at the Port of New Orleans which is located along the Lower Mississippi River and supports deepening the channel’s depth to 50 feet. (Photo: Port of New Orleans)

The Mississippi River Ship Channel could be the first port complex on the Gulf Coast to reach a depth of 50 feet now that the Director’s Report has been signed by the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers. Elected officials and industry leaders have long worked to increase the channel’s depth to 50 feet, which is the same depth of the expanded Panama Canal.In signing the Report, Corps of Engineers Director of Civil Works James C. Dalton stated the project is “economically justified and…

08 Feb 2018

West Calcasieu Port Awards Dredging Contract

Photo:  West Calcasieu Port

The West Calcasieu Port Board of Commissioners voted this week to award the contract for the dredging of the Louisiana port's west barge basin to Coastal Dredging Company, Inc. of Hammond, La.. The successful base bid of $1,334,020 was the lowest among six bids received by the port during its competitive public bid process. “The West Cal Port Board of Commissioners was encouraged to have received such a large number of bid packets for the project,” said Dick Kennison, board president for the West Calcasieu Port.

12 Dec 2017

Op/Ed: Making the Mississippi River Mightier

© Vladimir Melnikov / Adobe Stock

A plan unfolds and support grows for a 50-foot Ship Channel to support economical and efficient grain exports. The Big River Coalition remains at the heart of that collaborative effort to make the Mississippi River Mightier. In 2012, the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers’ (USACE) Institute of Water Resources (IWR) released a report under the direction of Congress to document the status of U.S. Ports to accept post-panamax vessels. The report, entitled, “U.S. Port and Inland Waterways Modernization: Preparing for Post-Panamax Vessels” was officially released on June 20, 2012.

09 Mar 2017

Louisiana Dredging Outlook

Photo: Magnolia Dredge

When maritime stakeholders think about dredging, they typically first conjure up visions of harbor deepening projects to accommodate those giant, post-Panamax boxships. Conversely, inland players hope for maintenance dredging in the heartland to keep the nation’s 31,000 cargo barges afloat as they head for the coast. But, there is much more to it than that. In Louisiana, dredging, of course, keeps Louisiana's waterways open for navigation, provides material for coastal restoration and helps industrial plants with drainage. The biggest projects are sponsored by the U.S.

11 Oct 2016

New Orleans Port Signs Mou With Cuba

Port of New Orleans Chief Operating Officer Brandy Christian joined Louisiana Gov. John Bel Edwards in signing a memorandum of understanding with Cuba on Oct. 4 pledging to expand trade and commerce opportunities between Louisiana and the Caribbean nation. The agreement also calls for joint marketing and information sharing efforts to meet those objectives. “The proximity and historical relationship between Cuba and the Port of New Orleans has us well-positioned should the trade embargo be lifted, and we are prepared to play an important role in trade when the time comes,” said Christian, who signed the MOU with Gov. Edwards and Director General Manuel Fernandez Perez Guerra of the National Port Administration of Cuba.

09 Jan 2014

Ferries Swapped Due to Mechanical Issues

The Louisiana Department of Transportation and Development (DOTD) announced it will swap vessels at the Lower Algiers to Chalmette ferry route due to a mechanical issue. The Motor Vessel Levy will be replaced with the smaller M/V St. John at 1 p.m., today. The smaller vessel will run indefinitely, so ferry passengers should expect delays during peak travel times. DOTD said it will alert the public when the larger boat is ready to resume service. dotd.la.gov/ferry

23 Aug 2013

Study: Deeper Miss. River Would Add $11.5 Billion to U.S. Economy

U.S. Senator David Vitter

U.S. Senator David Vitter, the ranking member of the U.S. Senate Committee on Environment and Public Works, joined industry and Louisiana transportation officials here today for the release of a new economic impact report detailing the benefits of deepening the Mississippi River to 50 feet from its current 45-foot draft. The Big River Coalition and the Louisiana Department of Transportation and Development commissioned the study by noted economist Tim Ryan, PhD., entitled “The…

20 Aug 2013

Mississippi River Deepening Study

The Big River Coalition and Louisiana Department of Transportation and Development commissioned economist Dr. Tim Ryan to calculate the economic impacts that deepening the Mississippi River would have on the state and national economy. The results of the study will be released during a press conference at the Port of New Orleans Administration Building, 1350 Port of New Orleans Place, Thursday, Aug. 22 at 3:15 p.m. Expected to be in attendance for the release of “The Economic Impact of Deepening the Mississippi River to 50 Feet” are U.S. Senator David Vitter, Ranking Member U.S. Senate Committee on the Environment and Public Works; Captain Mike Lorino, Big River Coalition Chairman; Sean M.

20 Jun 2013

Few Passengers, Lack of Staff, Force Ferry Route Closure

DOTD Logo

The Louisiana Department of Transportation & Development (DOTD) announce that the White Castle ferry will close permanently on Friday, June 21, 2013. Due to the resignation of ferry staff, the White Castle ferry which was originally scheduled to close permanently on Friday, June 28, will cease service on Friday, June 21. Ferry employees were originally scheduled to be laid off after service ended. The ferry is being closed based on recommendations from the Streamlining Committee citing low ferry ridership and a reasonable alternative river crossing.

01 Jul 2013

Louisiana DOTD Ferry to Undergo Repairs

Beginning Monday, July 1, 2013, the Louisiana Department of Transportation and Development (DOTD) will begin new hours of operation temporarily utilizing the Motor Vessel Louis B. Porterie, a medium-sized ferry servicing vehicles and pedestrians, at the Algiers Point to Canal Street route. The Porterie will be in service while the permanent ferry, the MV Col. Frank X. Armiger, is out of service. The Armiger’s generator is currently in need of repair and DOTD is waiting on a second proposal to determine the cost. The Armiger will be the primary vessel once it repaired and cleared for service by the U.S. Coast Guard. As of now, there is no estimated time frame for when the Arminger will return. The Algiers/Canal ferry will now operate Monday-Thursday from 7:15 a.m.

29 Jul 2013

Louisiana's Algiers Point Ferry Service Suspended

The Louisiana Department of Transportation & Development (DOTD) announces that ferry service between Algiers Point and Canal Street has been suspended pending repairs to the motor vessel servicing the Lower Algiers to Chalmette route. The estimated time of service resuming at Algiers Point is unknown and DOTD will not have a definitive update until after electricians determine the required repair. The Motor Vessel St. John was operating at Chalmette when the steering system caused a mechanical failure interrupting service at approximately noon, today. At 3 p.m., after multiple attempts to troubleshoot, DOTD made the decision to suspend service to the Canal Street ferry route and move the boat operating there, the M/V Levy, to Chalmette. Service at Chalmette resumed at approximately 4 p.m.

28 Apr 2009

St. Francisville/New Roads Ferry Shut Down

The Louisiana Department of Transportation and Development (DOTD) announced that the St. Francisville/New Roads ferry crossing is closed because of a fuel tank leak that spilled diesel fuel into the river Saturday, April 25 at 8:30 p.m. The damaged ferry was shut down while the U.S. Coast Guard and National Spill Response Center were notified. The spill was mitigated by the Marine Spill Response Organization and all diesel fuel was pumped out of the compromised fuel tank as of 2:30 p.m. April 26. DOTD will work with U.S. Coast Guard officials to address the fuel tank repair. The ferry crossing is expected to be out of service for at least the remainder of the week. The regular operating hours for the ferry are 5:00 a.m. to 9:00 p.m., seven days a week.

11 May 2009

St. Francisville/New Roads Ferry Resumes Ops

The Louisiana Department of Transportation and Development (DOTD) announced on May 8 that the St. Francisville/New Roads ferry service has resumed operations with a 35-car vessel. The ferry service had previously been running with a 17-car vessel until crews completed repairs to the fuel tank of the main St. Francisville/New Roads ferry, and the U.S. Coast Guard approved the ferry to return to service. The ferry will maintain its normal hours of operation from 5:00 a.m. to 9:00 p.m., seven days a week. Vehicle restrictions that were in place for the smaller vessel have been lifted. Before traveling, drivers can call the Toll-Free Ferry Information line at 1-888-613-3779 for the status of the ferry…

04 Aug 2009

Chalmette Ferry Resumes Operations

The Louisiana Department of Transportation and Development (DOTD) announced that the Lower Algiers/Chalmette ferry has resumed service. The ferry closed at 6:00 p.m. on July 31 to make repairs to the ferry landing. While conducting a routine inspection of the landing, department staff found that some of the ferry landing’s pilings were in need of repair. The ferry will maintain its normal hours of operation from 6:00 a.m. to 8:45 p.m., seven days a week.