Colors of law
January 4, 2017
One officer sentenced, another arrested
January 5, 2017
Some people have lost faith in the traditions and possibilities of the shrimp industry here in the Bayou Region. But Chad and Angela Portier and the rest of their family are not among those.
They proved their faith – in more than one way – with the Tuesday launch of the Louisiana shrimp fleet’s newest addition, the 72-foot trawler they named “Jesus Lives.”
(Watch video of the launch here)
The boat rolled into the waters of Bayou Petit Caillou with a dignified slide, a testament to the family’s tradition and tenacity.
Chad Portier learned to build boats from his late father, Russell, whose name on the bayou is legendary. During the project Chad taught his sons, Chad Jr., 15, and Jenson Engebretson, 19, how to build alongside him.
It was for the boys, the veteran shrimper said, that the project happened at all.
“There’s not too many chances left for them to build a boat,” Chad said. “This can give them an idea how to put it together.”
Angela Portier, Chad Sr.’s wife, gave excited cheers as the boat edged into the water.
“It went smoother than I thought,” she said. “This is the first time we have ever launched a boat together.”
For nearly two years the two younger men joined Chad Sr. at the building site, literally in the family’s back yard off of Bayouside Drive. They welded and forged, drove and hammered, until all superstructure elements were in place, refusing to erode quality through speed.
“Jesus Lives” needs a little more work before it will be ready for action, including the rigging of nets and booms, and final engine installation.
The greatest thing Chad Jr. has done on the cusp of 15 years could be seen as far greater than some men will ever do in their lifetimes, but the teen takes it in stride.
“It feels awesome to be able to accomplish something like that. It was a great sight to see and such a feeling of accomplishment to do something that big,” he said.
Holding up anodes – zinc pieces that help the vessel resist corrosion – was one of the most difficult tasks for him.
“It was pretty tough,” Chad Jr. said. “I had to hold them up, I got burnt a little from the welding, I got shocked a little bit. There were 66 anodes. Now we got to put the engine in and get it ready to go for shrimping in May.”
Jenson is equally proud, and said the hardest part of the job for him was completing the bottom of the vessel.
“Picking up the piece of iron under boat and moving the iron,” he explained.
Although the shrimp industry has taken a lot of hits, with low dockside prices due to imports and a paucity of large shrimp this year, the family is determined to carry on. Fiercely religious, the Christian family maintains that the name of the vessel is a testament to their faith in God, and another faith as well.
“I have faith in our industry,” said Angela.
