Safety: South Louisiana
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South Louisiana Port Adds Fifth Fireboat to Its Fleet
The Port of South Louisiana dedicated a new fireboat in a ceremony on April 6. The M/V Nathan Folse joins a fleet of fireboats that also includes the John James Charles, PSV Accardo, and the PSL Responder.
Its namesake, Nathan J. Folse, served as the port’s executive counsel from 2005 until his death in in an automobile accident in February 2010. A native of Donaldsonville (LA), he served as assistant city attorney for his hometown, then as assistant district attorney for the 23rd Judicial District before becoming the port attorney.
Funded by a $3.5 million federal port security grant, M/V Nathan Folse is a 75-foot Catamaran-style vessel, capable of pumping 5,000 gallons per minute via three remote control monitors. Communications and surveillance equipment includes a VHF-FM marine radio, satellite phone, Wi-Fi, real-time weather surveillance, and live-stream video feed. Two 875-horsepower diesel engines allow speeds in excess of 25 knots.
M/V Nathan Folse will be used for a variety of maritime security/firefighting response missions throughout the Port of South Louisiana district and in support of the U.S. Coast Guard in its various marine safety/security operations along the 300-mile long lower Mississippi River. It also will be available to the other four lower Mississippi deep-water ports pursuant to an agreement reached in 2006.
Fireboat M/V Nathan Folse
Photo/Port of South Louisiana
The Port of South Louisiana dedicated a new fireboat in a ceremony on April 6. The M/V Nathan Folse joins a fleet of fireboats that also includes the John James Charles, PSV Accardo, and the PSL Responder.
Its namesake, Nathan J. Folse, served as the port’s executive counsel from 2005 until his death in in an automobile accident in February 2010. A native of Donaldsonville (LA), he served as assistant city attorney for his hometown, then as assistant district attorney for the 23rd Judicial District before becoming the port attorney.
Funded by a $3.5 million federal port security grant, M/V Nathan Folse is a 75-foot Catamaran-style vessel, capable of pumping 5,000 gallons per minute via three remote control monitors. Communications and surveillance equipment includes a VHF-FM marine radio, satellite phone, Wi-Fi, real-time weather surveillance, and live-stream video feed. Two 875-horsepower diesel engines allow speeds in excess of 25 knots.
M/V Nathan Folse will be used for a variety of maritime security/firefighting response missions throughout the Port of South Louisiana district and in support of the U.S. Coast Guard in its various marine safety/security operations along the 300-mile long lower Mississippi River. It also will be available to the other four lower Mississippi deep-water ports pursuant to an agreement reached in 2006.
"The M/V Nathan Folse is a safe and stable waterborne first response vessel," said Mitch Smith, the port’s director of operations. "The crew will strive to honor its namesake."
Fireboat M/V Nathan Folse
Photo/Port of South Louisiana
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