Wade: New river vessel will clear away the 'fluff'

Raymond “Mac” Wade, Executive Director of the Morgan City Harbor & Terminal District, brought good news to the St. Mary Parish Council regarding the Atchafalaya River channel.
Wade touted the acquisition of a dredging boat that has exceeded expectations and he is confident the channel’s “fluff” problem.
“Fluff” is a fine sediment that accumulates in the channel somewhat upstream of the outflow into the bay that inhibits vessel traffic vital to the port and local businesses. Many efforts to control it have been made over the years but the problem continues to worsen, virtually shutting down commerce.
“This dredge is about five years in the making,” Wade said. “This is going to take care of the fluff issue, guaranteed, no ifs, ands or buts about it.”
Wade said the company that builds the vessel is owned by Eskimo natives in Alaska. He showed the council and audience a video of the dredge at work, which pumps 35,000 gallons of material through two devices on each side of the boat. “This is the largest pump in all of the American fleet,” he said. “There’s two other pumps just like it, in the Great Lakes, Ellis Island has two, this company bought three. When I say it’s overkill on it, this thing, when we did our tests in 2016 we had a hopper dredge come in that could move 30,000 gallons.”
That project resulted in success to some extent in a span of 57 days. Other equipment is very expensive, up to $90,000 vs. $30,000 a day, about 70% savings.
Referencing the video, Wade said the vessel sucks up water at the “drag heads” that is then pumped out, manned 10-12 crewmembers.
“This is a specially build dredge that is built for one place, the Atchafalaya River,” Wade said. “Can’t go in the Mississippi. Can’t go in the Calcasieu.”
There are three dredges “on the payroll” Wade said that will work the river at various points, with a maximum depth of 27-foot.
“We’re there,” he said. “This dredge is going to do the job…we’ve finally got a solution.”
In other business:
—Anthony Scully Jr. was reappointed to the Recreation Dist. 1 (Amelia) board.
—$1,200 was allocated from the Wards 1, 2, 3, 4, 7 and 10 3/10ths sales tax fund for St. Mary Community Action’s Veterans Day luncheon.
—A resolution of respect was approved in memory of Karen Hayes Ordogne.
—A change order and substantial completion resolution was approved for the concrete apron at the Jesse Fontenot Boat Launch.