Fast Boat To Boost Security Of Port

The Port of South Louisiana has officially dedicated its latest addition: A 49-foot, $850,000 security vessel called the Accardo. The ship was paid for with a combination of federal and port money, and is part of about $10 million worth of security improvements that were recommended for the port by a private company as part of a risk/vulnerability assessment mandated by the federal government.

The Accardo will able to reach speeds in excess of 30 knots, and will be used primarily for patrols by port employees. It will also be able to handle search and rescue missions, hazardous material missions, and several other duties, according to Port Operations Director Mitch Smith.

“This definitely enhances our ability to provide security,” said Smith, who added that the port would eventually like to buy two more similar vessels.

The Accardo joins two other ships that maintain security and safety along the 52-mile stretch of the Mississippi River that includes St. John the Baptist, St. Charles, and St. James parishes. The Port of South Louisiana is the largest tonnage port in the country, handling about 250 million tons of cargo a year.
Abstracted by the National Law Enforcement and Corrections Technology Center(NLECTC) from the New Orleans Times-Picayune (08/03/05) P. 1; Powell II, Allen .