Dredging operations near the mouth of the Vinton Navigation Channel in Louisiana, conducted by Magnolia Dredge & Dock, LLC of Mandeville, La., are now wrapped up, Port of Vinton officials said.
Commenting the latest news, Jerry Merchant, president of the Port of Vinton board of commissioners , said: “It has been more than seven years since any maintenance dredge work has been performed on the channel, and in that time, a naturally occurring ‘humping’ of sediment near the mouth of the channel has gradually represented a growing navigation issue on the waterway for shallow water maritime vessels and barges.”
“Our expansion project would not have been possible without a parish $200,000 Economic Development Riverboat Gaming Fund grant and a parish $500,000 Road and Drainage Trust Fund grant awarded specifically through the drainage district for the dredging project.”
During the project, the Port of Vinton worked closely with local, state and federal officials to make sure that all dredging operations are in line with regulatory permits for the project and that an aggressive time schedule is followed for the dredging work.
The Vinton Harbor & Terminal District (Port of Vinton) was created in 1956 when the Louisiana Legislature passed the Navigation and Shipping Act 466 for the purpose of stimulating economic growth in western Calcasieu Parish.
Since then, the port has expanded and today encompasses more than 800 acres of land geared to support private investment and development along the northern reach of the Vinton Navigation Channel.