PHOTO: COURTESY U.S. COAST GUARD, PETTY OFFICER 2nd CLASS PRENTICE DANNER
The Deepwater Horizon drilling rig explosion and subsequent oil spill (above) in the Gulf of Mexico has been making headlines worldwide since it occurred on April 21. Much of the media focus thus far has centered on the environmental and economic impact on Louisiana, Mississippi, and Florida. Among the many local companies closely monitoring the situation is Trinity Yachts. The good news is, the spill has not reached either its New Orleans or Gulfport shipyards. The bad news is, the Gulfport yard could be delayed in delivering a project later this month, if a nearby waterway is closed off.
Billy Smith, vice president of Trinity, explains that three superyachts are set for delivery this month: the 164-foot Imagine and 142-foot Big Zip, both from the New Orleans facility, and the 190-foot Mi Sueno, from Gulfport. “At this time, all of our yachts near delivery can leave our yards and make it around the oil slick,” he says. “Our big concern is the Gulfport yard, as [officials] may close off, with oil booms, Back Bay Biloxi, which is our exit point to the Gulf. The New Orleans builds can leave our yard and head west on the Intracoastal and then go down to the Gulf through Houma, New Iberia, Beaumont, etc. … and be well west of the slick.”
The National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA) is directing the closures of affected waters. So far it has closed fishing in the federal waters from the mouth of the Mississippi River in Louisiana east to Pensacola Bay in Florida, for a minimum of 10 days. It’s working with the governors of each state as well as federal agencies to evaluate the overall situation, as the dimensions of the slick can continue to change.
In the meantime, the Port of New Orleans says that vessel traffic remains unrestricted on the Lower Mississippi River and the main approach to it from the Gulf. Any vessels that do happen to encounter the slick can use cleaning stations in Boothville and Venice, both in Louisiana and southeast of New Orleans. There, vessels are pressure-washed to remove the oil and can then file a claim against BP to recoup the cost.
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