166 Fleet Offers Prime Location And Premier Service
Mile 166 Fleet
The Port of South Louisiana is one of the largest tonnage ports in the Western Hemisphere. Stretching along the Mississippi River between Baton Rouge and New Orleans, the port is home to one of the world’s largest concentrations of refineries, chemical plants, storage terminals, grain silos and industrial facilities of every type.
Barge fleets are an essential link in the port’s supply chain. Viewed from the air, the fleets seem randomly placed along the river, some tucked neatly along the bank, others appearing to stick out awkwardly into the channel. Lashed together by cables, the barges combine to form their own geometry, changing as vessels move in and out.
Placed squarely in the center of this industrial hub lies the 166 Fleet. Located at Mile166 just below the Sunshine Bridge near Donaldsonville, La., the 166 Fleet can house up to 28 barges. It is a prime location in one of the world’s busiest and most congested shipping areas.
Historically, the 166 Fleet served only the nearby Americas Styrenics (AmSty) facility. AmSty, which owns the fleet, recently contracted with Loadstar Product Handling Services (Loadstar) to operate the fleet and open it to the industry.
“We are pleased to partner with Loadstar,” said AmSty Plant Manager Jacob LaSavia. “They share our commitment to deliver the industry’s best fleeting services at competitive rates.”
Based in Baton Rouge, Loadstar provides barge tankering and dock operating services and in-plant services such as railcar and truck loading, rail switching and warehouse and terminal operations. The company services the Gulf Coast region and has grown steadily since its launch in 2021. Loadstar is a proud member of the American Waterways Operators (AWO) and is certified through AWO’s Responsible Carrier Program (RCP). Loadstar has been consistently recognized for outstanding safety and as a Best Place to Work.
Loadstar provides a trio of services for AmSty. It operates the 166 Fleet and the adjacent AmSty docks and provides tankerman services to barge lines calling at the docks.
“AmSty is a model of efficiency,” Loadstar CEO Brian Haymon said. “Barge carriers need only make one call to our 24-hour dispatch. We coordinate the fleeting, dock operation and tankerman services on behalf of both AmSty and the carrier.”
Mv. Cristo Santo: Upgraded and Repowered for Reduced Emissions
The 166 Fleet is monitored 24/7 by the mv. Cristo Santo. Staffed with a two-person crew, the 1,250 hp. boat is leased by Loadstar from Marquette Transportation. Built in 2000, the Cristo Santo is currently undergoing an upgrade and repower that will enhance performance and reduce emissions. Two Tier 3 Mitsubishi S6R engines are being installed along with two Yanmar 3.3L Tier 3 generators. Marquette is managing the project, which includes ancillary upgrades to keel coolers, exhaust systems, piping and structural upgrades to support the new power systems.
Kendall Chavin, Marquette executive vice president, said, “Marquette is proud to support Loadstar in enhancing the mv. Cristo Santo. These upgrades will ensure greater reliability, lower emissions and improved operational performance. The upgrades reflect our shared commitment to innovation, sustainability and delivering the best maritime solutions for our customers.”
First Responder Capabilities
As part of the upgrade, the Cristo Santo is being specially outfitted with fire monitors and a foam deployment system.
“The nearest fireboat is more than an hour away,” Loadstar Vice President Brett Murray said. “Given the risks associated with red-flagged vessels, we thought it made sense to put firefighting capabilities on the boat.”
The Cristo Santo also carries spill boom and an outboard boat for rapid boom deployment. Loadstar crewmembers are Hazwoper-certified and trained for emergency response. Additional boom on the AmSty docks enhances the Cristo Santo’s ability to immediately respond to any product spill in the fleet or at the docks.
Barges in the 166 Fleet are under continuous surveillance by the crew of the Cristo Santo, with formal inspections occurring at least every 12 hours. According to Captain Dwain McCray, “We perform make-ready inspections whenever we receive a barge into the fleet. We keep it under surveillance until it is moved to the dock or picked up by the barge carrier.”
Aegis Software: ‘A Game Changer’ for Fleeting Customers
The computers on board the Cristo Santo are equipped with Loadstar’s proprietary fleet management software, known as Aegis.
“We developed Aegis to give the industry custom solutions for marine operations including barge fleeting,” Murray said. “It’s been a game changer for fleeting customers, and in some cases for our customers’ customers.”
The Aegis program is accessible through a secure portal from any desktop or smart phone. Benefits include:
**PARTNER CONTENT**
