In ceremonies held recently at the McDermott Incorporated Shipyard in the Port of Iberia, La., Governor David C. Treen officially marked the start of a $5.1-million improvement program for the Port that is being funded by the State.
McDermott's Dredging Division has been contracted to complete the first stage of the program, dredging the nine miles of the Commercial and Rodere Canals, which connect the Port with the Intracoastal Waterway. The canals will be widened to 125 feet bottom width, and a top width of at least 200 feet. The channel will be dredged to a depth of 12.8 feet MSL (mean sea level). More than 625,000 cubic yards of spoil will be taken from the canals and used to reinforce the banks of the waterways. The $1.6-million first stage of the improvement program is expected to be completed by the middle of 1981.