Friday, August 15, 2014
Largest towboat in the U.S. inspects the Arkansas River (video)
The largest towboat in the U.S., the Motor Vessel Mississippi, is currently traveling the Arkansas River with the Mississippi River Commission on board.
At 241 feet long, 58 feet wide and 52 feet high, it is ferrying the commission upstream to inspect the current state of ports, dams and locks on the river.
"When you have a system that is 50 years old, and that is basically what we are, it had a 50 year life to begin with, so we are kind of worn out," Port of Catoosa director Bob Portis said.
The 6,300 horsepower boat, captained by Lee Hendrix of the U.S. Army Corp of Engineers, typically is used for large construction projects on the Mississippi River.
Lately, it's been serving as a floating town hall, hosting important meetings on the Arkansas River. At each stop, engineers and business owners who rely on the river, share with the commission the status of the river infrastructure in their area.
"The Mississippi River Commission, they have important work," Hendrix said. "They have hearings along the way, where they stop and stakeholders from the river come on board the vessel. Kind of as a town hall meeting if you would."
Along the entire Arkansas, Portis said more than $100 million in repairs are needed.
For more of the KJRH story: kjrh.com
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