Crewboat Cut could be authorized

Ships traveling the Atchafalaya River through St. Mary Parish to the Gulf of Mexico could have a faster route available to them if recent legislation introduced by U.S. Rep. Charlie Melancon (D-Napoleonville) and U.S. Sen. Mary Landrieu is passed.

Melancon’s bill designates Crewboat Cut-a stretch of the Atchafalaya River located south of the river’s confluence with Bayou Chene – a federal waterway and authorizes its dredging.

Vessels currently are authorized to use the portion of the Atchafalaya River west of Crewboat Cut (separated from the cut by a small island) called Horseshoe Bend, which experiences buildups of silt deposits requiring extensive dredging. The U.S. Army Corps of Engineers has spent $20 million over the last 10 years dredging Horseshoe Bend.

The natural flow of the river runs through Crewboat Cut, which has depths above 20 feet, said Port of Morgan City spokesman Jerry Hoffpauir.

If Crewboat Cut is authorized for use by Congress, the reduced amount of dredging required by abandoning Horseshoe Bend could save the federal government $2 to $3 million a year. Dredging would induce water to flow faster through Crewboat Cut, causing self-scouring to occur, said Melancon spokesperson Robin Winchell.

Vessels could save 25 minutes or more in travel time using Crewboat Cut compared to using Horseshoe Bend.

Insurance companies only cover ships using federally-authorized waterways, which need to meet dredging requirements, Winchell said.

Nevertheless, some vessels still use Crewboat Cut, Hoffpauir said. The ships may not be covered by insurance when traversing the cut because that stretch of waterway is not authorized for use.

Material dredged from Crewboat Cut would be deposited in Horseshoe Bend. Melancon’s bill provides for armoring the east bank of the cut to stabilize that portion.

The Port of Morgan City asked Melancon to introduce the legislation, Winchell said.

The U.S. Army Corps of Engineers studied the prospect of dredging Crewboat Cut in 1994, but declined, according to a release.

The bill brings Crewboat Cut into the Atchafalaya River and bayous Chene, Bouef and Black navigation project passed by Congress in 1968.