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Navigation and safety task force updates: new chair, sensors installed and HB2 dredging bundling
Summary
The commission heard a task force update honoring the late Captain Toby Wattingley, welcomed Steve Wall as a continuing leader for navigation and safety work, and heard that air-gap sensors are being installed and dredging projects were bundled in HB2 to increase funding flexibility.
The Louisiana Ports and Waterways Investment Commission on May 14 received an update from its Navigation and Safety task force, observed a moment of silence for the committee’s late chair Captain Toby Wattingley, and welcomed Steve Wall as a continuing leader for the task force.
Steve Wall introduced himself to the commission as president of NOBRA and said he has Captain Wattingley’s notes and intends to continue the task force’s work. "My name is Steve Wall. I've been a pilot for 23 years, and I have been president of NOBRA for 7 months after the passing of my good friend Toby," Wall said.
Commissioners reported that recommendations from the task force are being implemented: air-gap sensors called for in the Task Force Navigation Safety Report are being installed and the DOTD GIS tool now pings those sensors every two seconds, improving situational awareness for navigation. Commissioner Andrew Killshaw also said that swing-bridge replacement planning and anchorages had been highlighted and that, under HB2 this session, dredging projects were bundled to give more flexibility for when and where funds are used.
Commissioners thanked task force members for the progress and noted the group will meet again in the next quarter to continue work on bridge remediation, dredging coordination and sensor deployment. No formal votes or funding allocations were made during this update.
