Boat's metal hull should provide a measure of protection from debris in the Mississippi River
On a day marked by weather ideal for showing off its usefulness, the St. Charles Parish Sheriff's Office introduced its newest tool in maritime security. Through a $145,000 grant from the Port Security Grant program through the Lower Mississippi River Portwide Strategic Security Council, the St. Charles Parish Sheriff's Office recently purchased a 27-foot custom-made aluminum deep-vee-hull boat, designed specifically for the more dangerous waters of the river, along with the truck needed to haul it.
View full sizeThe St. Charles Parish Sheriff's Office used grant money to buy the 27-foot aluminum boat to enhance the security of the Port of South Louisiana. January 12, 2012 And on Thursday, Sgt. Roy Gautreaux easily piloted the boat around and around the west bank bridge support tower, giving Sheriff Greg Champagne and his guests a good look at the new purchase.
The vessel easily defied the near-gale-force winds blowing from the north and the strong, swift currents that would have given any smaller vessel trouble.
Built by Metal Shark in Jeanerette, which has built numerous boats for the United States Coast Guard and other government and military agencies, the vessel is powered by twin 250-horsepower Yamaha four-stroke outboard engines capable of a top speed of 56 miles per hour. The boat also is equipped with the latest navigation and communications equipment, in addition to a hoist and a shallow door which will aid in maritime recovery efforts.
"It's designed to enhance our ability to work with the Port of South Louisiana in protecting and providing port security," Champagne said. "The boat also is available for other river incidents, such as recovery and industrial accidents."
Prior to the purchase, Champagne said, his department was limited in its river access. He said he had to call in other parish agencies last year to help in the search and recovery of the body of Brian Reed, the brother of Baltimore Raven Ed Reed, who drowned in the river last January.
"We learned a lot of lessons from that," Champagne said. "The river is very dangerous. There are obstructions there, there are large logs floating, so fiberglass boats are just ridiculous. With this metal-hull boat, we feel a lot safer putting our people in the river for recovery operations and any other type of emergency. And we can use the boat down the bayous and other waterways. It's a big asset to us now. We're happy to have it."