Port of South Louisiana Dedicates New Vessel

From left to right: Paul Zimmermann, Director of Operations, Port of New Orleans; Jay Hardman, Executive Director, Port of Greater Baton Rouge; Bobby Scafidel, Executive Director, Port of St. Bernard; Joel Chaisson, Executive Director, Port of South Louisiana; and Urban Treuil, Port Manager, Port of Plaquemines Parish.

The Port of South Louisiana dedicated its newest security vessel, the PSL Responder, among hundreds of public officials, business representatives, and other guests at Globalplex Intermodal Terminal on the Mississippi River on August 15. The ship is the third security vessel in the Port’s fleet to patrol the Mississippi River and provide security in its 54-mile port district. The $1.3m state-of-the-art is the first such security command boat for the Port and unlike any other in the country. The PSL Responder is a 57-ft. Dauntless Class Vessel equipped with the latest in communications and surveillance equipment. It is equipped with 1750 hp and capable of speeds in excess of 30 knots.

The vessel will be used for a variety of port security maritime response missions throughout the Port of South Louisiana and in support of the Coast Guard in its various marine safety/security missions within the 300-mile long Lower Mississippi River.

The PSL Responder was purchased with funds from the Department of Homeland Security Port Security Grant Program (Round 5). The vessel is the second in the Port’s fleet to be built by SeaArk Marine of Monticello, Arkansas, with telecommunications provided, programmed and installed by Teledyne Solutions. Representatives from these two companies as well as Captain Lincoln Stroh, Commander of the U.S. Coast Guard Sector New Orleans, spoke at the dedication.