Photo Caption: Port of South Louisiana Executive Director Paul G. Aucoin
Reserve, LA — The Port of South Louisiana dedicated a new fireboat, the M/V Nathan Folse, which joins the fleet of fireboats already in place: the John James Charles, the PSV Accardo, and the PSL Responder. It is named in honor of Nathan J. Folse, who served as Executive Counsel for the Port between 2005 and 2010. Folse, who passed tragically in an automobile accident in February 2010, was a native of Donaldsonville, Louisiana and served as Assistant City Attorney for his hometown, then as Assistant District Attorney for the 23rd Judicial District before becoming the Port’s attorney.
“Not only are we christening a vessel which will play a significant role in fire prevention and rescue on the Lower Mississippi River,” said PSL Executive Director Paul G. Aucoin, “but we are also honoring Nathan Folse for all he did for the Port of South Louisiana during his time as Executive Council.”
St. John the Baptist Parish President Natalie Robottom, St. Charles Parish President Larry Cochran, and St. John the Baptist Parish Sheriff Mike Tregre attended the ceremony, which took place at Globalplex Intermodal Terminal’s general cargo dock. Also on-hand were Cathy Stuart from U.S. Senator Bill Cassidy’s office, Stacy Schliewe from U.S. Congressman Garret Graves’ office, Port of South Louisiana Commissioners Joseph M. Scontrino, Louis A. Joseph, and Stanley Bazile, local business representatives, and Nathan J. Folse’s family members. Port of South Louisiana Executive Director Paul Aucoin served as emcee of the event, which included speakers such as former Louisiana Senator Jody Amedee, Metal Shark Director of Sales Dean Jones, and U.S. Coast Guard Deputy Sector New Orleans Commander Captain Wayne R. Arguin, Jr. “It is an honor and quite befitting to name this great vessel after such a great man,” said Former Louisiana Senator Jody Amedee. Prior to the dedication of the vessel, Folse’s son, Nathan J. Folse, Jr., paid a loving tribute to his father. Father John Marse of St. Peter Catholic Church performed the invocation and blessing of the vessel and Reverend David Carter of Greater New Plymouth Rock Baptist Church performed the benediction.
The M/V Nathan Folse, funded by a $3.5 million Port Security Federal Grant, is a 75-foot Catamaran-style vessel, capable of pumping 5,000 gallons per minute via three remote control monitors. It is equipped with state-of-the-art communications and surveillance equipment, including VHF-FM marine radio, satellite phone, WiFi, real-time weather surveillance, and live-stream video feed. It is outfitted with two 875 horsepower caterpillar C18 diesel engines that allows navigation at speeds in excess of 25 knots. The M/V Nathan Folse will be used for a variety of maritime security/firefighting response missions throughout the Port of South Louisiana district and in support of the U.S. Coast Guard in its various marine safety/security operations within the 300-mile long lower Mississippi River.
“The M/V Nathan Folse is a safe and stable waterborne first response vessel,” said Mitch Smith, Port of South Louisiana Director of Operations. “The crew will strive to honor its namesake.”
The M/V Nathan Folse, built by Metal Shark Aluminum Boats, based out of Jeanerette, Louisiana, will be available to the other four deep-water ports on the lower Mississippi River, if support is needed, based on the alliance established by these ports in 2006.
Photo Caption: Metal Shark representatives presenting a commemorative plaque to Port of South Louisiana Executive Director Paul G. Aucoin
Photo Caption: Port of South Louisiana Firefighter Kyle Faucheux dedicating the M/V Nathan Folse
Photo Caption: The late Nathan J. Folse’s son, wife, and daughter L-R: Nathan J. Folse, Jr., Joni Folse, and Melissa Folse-Oubre
About Metal Shark Aluminum Boats
Metal Shark is a leading shipyard supplying custom vessels for commercial, defense, and law enforcement applications worldwide. The company traces its origins to 1986, when Jeanerette, Louisiana-based Gravois Aluminum Boats began producing custom welded aluminum fishing boats for recreational anglers and commercial fishermen…Since its launch, Metal Shark quickly established itself as a leading producer of custom aluminum boats for law enforcement, military, and commercial entities. The company has experienced exponential growth under the stewardship of its actively involved owners, who have consistently re-invested in facilities, personnel, and technology. Today, Metal Shark is the number one small boat provider to the U.S. Coast Guard and a leading supplier to the U.S. Navy, Army, Air Force, and the militaries of partner nations worldwide. To learn more, visit www.metalsharkboats.com.
About the Port of South Louisiana
The Port of South Louisiana is a 54-mile port district on the Mississippi River between New Orleans and Baton Rouge, encompassing the parishes of St. Charles, St. John and St. James. The facilities located within the port’s district consistently handle over a quarter billion short tons of cargo annually, ranking it the largest tonnage port district in the Western Hemisphere, the nation’s greatest grain exporter, and the number one energy transfer port in the United States. Along the 108 miles of deep-water frontage on both banks of the river there are seven grain transfer facilities, four major oil processing plants, 11 petrochemical manufacturing facilities and several other facilities for a total of more than 50 docks owned and operated by an impressive group of resident tenants such as ADM, ArcelorMittal, Dow, Cargill, DuPont, Motiva Enterprises, Marathon, Shell, Nucor Steel., Occidental, Valero, and Occidental Chemical. To learn more, visit us at www.portsl.com, like us on Facebook, and follow us on LinkedIn.
