Mile 20.8 - RBD Marine Spill Response Corp
20.8 RBD Marine Spill Response Corp
The ocean-going “Responder-class” oil-skimming vessel Louisiana Responder is docked here except in times of crisis like the Deepwater Horizon disaster, when it becomes a chief player in cleanups. Look for the immaculately-painted bright blue Louisiana Responder as an identifier for Fort Jackson, which sits directly below.
No one wishes for an oil spill. While industry does much to prevent the occurrence of oil spills, the fact is, they do occur. The Marine Spill Response Corporation (MSRC) is a not-for-profit, U.S. Coast Guard Classified Oil Spill Removal Organization (OSRO). MSRC was formed in 1990 to offer oil spill response services and mitigate damage to the environment. MSRC is recognized for its open-ocean and nearshore mechanical recovery capability which includes: 15 Responder Class Oil Spill Response Vessels (OSRVs), 19 Oil Spill Response Barges (OSRBs), 5 PSV Response Packages, 25 X-Band radar and infrared systems, 5 Fast Response Vessels (FRVs), 68 Shallow Water Barges, 650,000 Feet of boom, and 293 Skimming systems. MSRC's inventory of resources also include other tools for spill response or another emergency. These other capabilities include: In-situ burn, 22,500 Feet of fire boom, Dispersants aircraft and inventory, 6 Dedicated dispersant spray/spotter aircraft, 104,000 Gallons of dispersant, Emergency Communications Services, 7 Emergency Communications Packages (ECP), Support for the Command Center environment, On board generator, Voice and Internet connectivity via Ku-band satellite, WiFi support, VHF/UHF Marine, land mobile, and aviation radio support, VHF/UHF Intrinsically safe land mobile hand held radios, 7 Small Satellite Systems, Support for the small office environment, Voice and Internet connectivity via Ku-band satellite, Air transportable for rapid deployment. (from MSRC website)
Protecting New Orleans:
Building defensive fortifications to protect New Orleans has always been a special challenge to Army engineers. The city has a really unique geography. It is nearly surrounded by water including lakes, the Mississippi River, bayous, marshes and swamps. It was necessary to protect New Orleans, not only from naval forces entering the lakes, but those coming up the river, also. South of New Orleans, two forts were built to accomplish this: Fort Jackson on the West Bank, and Fort St. Philip on the East Bank, opposite Fort Jackson. Together, they commanded the entrance to the Mississippi River.