We've Come a Long Way since August! Click Here to view Port Slide Show We are happy to report that the Port of Pascagoula, our facilities and waterways are 95% operational following the disruption due to Hurricane Katrina and it is “business as usual” at Mississippi's largest seaport. Cargo started moving in mid-September and vessel calls are now 90% pre-Katrina levels. On behalf of the Board of Commissioners and staff, we sincerely appreciate your patience as well as the many kindnesses passed on to us in the aftermath of Hurricane Katrina. We extend our deepest appreciation to our many friends at the American Association of Port Authorities, Georgia Ports Authority, Bluewater Lumber, and CSA for their most generous contributions to our employees following the hurricane; and to our Congressional leaders in Washington, D.C., the State of Mississippi, and the many federal, state, and local agencies who have been of momentous assistance to us in the recent months. With most of the restoration behind us, we continue our primary focus of meeting the needs of our valued existing customers and growing to meet the demands of our nation's transportation system. Mark McAndrews Port Director Port Damages /Recovery When Hurricane Katrina blew into the Gulf Coast, the Jackson County Port Authority sustained approximately $15 million in damages from 135 M.P.H. winds and the 14 - 16 feet tidal surge. Siding and doors were ripped from some of the transit sheds and freezer facilities and roofs were heavily damaged. Water, sewer and power distribution systems were ravished. Security gates, fences, cameras and guardhouses were destroyed and a section of rail in the Pascagoula River Harbor was impaired. Even the port authority administrative offices in downtown Pascagoula received over two feet of water throughout the building. Recovery efforts began immediately with the assistance of local, state and federal agencies. Traffic through the ship channels resumed on September 8, 2005, on a restricted basis. Repairs to transit sheds are complete and all utilities restored. The main freezer at Terminal C has been in operation for several months. Repairs to the freezer facility at Terminal A, as well as an expansion, are still in progress with completion scheduled for May 2006. The freezer at Terminal A will increase by 26,000 sq. ft. All fencing, lights, gates and guard houses in both harbors have been replaced or repaired and port staff is back in the administrative office building. Port Busy Assisting in Area Recovery Effort Just days following landfall of Hurricane Katrina, the USNS Comfort sailed into the Bayou Casotte Harbor to provide medical services to the devastated area. Operated by the Military Sealift Command, the 894 ft. medical treatment facility has 1,000 beds and 12 fully equipped operating rooms. Medical offices and clinics were not open following the hurricane and local hospitals were filled to capacity. During the nine days in port, over 2,000 citizens in the area boarded the USNS Comfort for needed medical attention. - - - - - - - - - - - In late October, Carnival Cruise Lines' vessel Holiday arrived at the South Terminal in the Pascagoula River Harbor to provide housing assistance to the thousands of residents here in the Mississippi coastal area that lost their homes due to Hurricane Katrina. The 733 ft. cruise ship provided living quarters for over 1400 local citizens for several months until she sailed from the Port of Pascagoula on March 4, 2006. Prior to the arrival of the Cruise Ship Holiday, notable security and infrastructure improvements were made to the 55 acre South Terminal to accommodate the vessel and residents while docked in the Port of Pascagoula. Over 3,000 linear feet of security fencing was installed around the perimeter of the property; ten security lights; road improvements for access; crushed concrete for the 400 car parking area. Improvements to the dock included foam filled fenders and six 40 ton bollards. Moving Cargo We are extremely grateful to our friends at Caribbean Forest Carriers, Gearbulk, Coastal Cargo and CSA for their outstanding support during this difficult recovery period. These relationships emphasize the quality of the carriers, shippers and stevedores affiliated with Pascagoula. Business continues to increase in the port. Gearbulk has added its East Coast of South America service into Pascagoula bringing lumber products from Argentina and Brazil. This service and Gearbulk's European service are handled in the Bayou Casotte Harbor at Terminal's G & H and E & F. We are enthused by the confidence and support shown by this carrier and look forward to continued growth of our partnership. Our poultry accounts also supported us even when repairs at our facilities were still in progress. With refrigerated warehouse capacity repaired, the forthcoming opening of a new blast freezer, combined with the experience of Coastal Cargo, we expect a sizable increase of reefer exports. On the horizon… Federal Funding for Authorized Navigation Projects for the Port of Pascagoula - Mitigation project - Bayou Casotte Dredged Material Management Site New Pascagoula River Harbor Dredged Material Management Plan Widening the Entrance Channel to 550 feet Deepening the Pascagoula River Harbor to 42 feet Wheels are in motion for construction of four authorized navigation projects in the port at full Federal expense. The U.S. Army Corps of Engineers, Mobile District, is diligently coordinating planning and construction efforts on the projects. The contract for the rock dike adjacent to Greenwood Island will be awarded in April 2006. This is the final mitigation project for the Bayou Casotte dredged material management site. Design and engineering work on the new Pascagoula River Harbor DMMP is complete. The construction process will commence following clearance on environmental issues. Other authorized navigation projects in planning and design stages are the widening of the entrance channel to 550 ft. and deepening the Pascagoula River Channel and Harbor to 42 feet. Click Here to view Port Slide Show