Mississippi Port facilities and Navigation Channels Approach Operational Status

Coastal port facilities in Mississippi are nearing operational status as the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers, U.S. Coast Guard, National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration, and U.S. Navy have worked to clear and survey all channels. “We have surveyed all the channels to Mississippi’s major coastal ports since Hurricane Katrina hit the coast,” said Patrick Robbins, Public Affairs Officer, Mobile District, U.S. Army Corps of Engineers. “We anticipate the Pascagoula and Gulfport channels to be open to deep draft vessels within the next two days.” The Pascagoula ship channels are cleared to a depth of 36-feet and Bayou Casotte to 41-feet. Gulfport Harbor is now cleared to 30-feet and Biloxi Harbor from 9-feet in the lateral channel to 12-feet in the east access channel. The Back Bay of Biloxi has a controlling depth of 12-feet. “The U.S. Coast Guard is working extremely hard to replace all the Aids to Navigation that were destroyed during the hurricane,” continued Robbins. “They anticipate having everything back in usable order within the next 48-hours. While depths are available, the aids are required for safe passage.” Mississippi port facilities and navigation channel approach operational status To meet emergency requirements, the Coast Guard is providing assistance to emergency vessels coming to Pascagoula Harbor until the aids have been replaced.