The oil in the Gulf of Mexico has produced a temporary boost to the Columbus economy, but some fear it could quickly turn into a bust.
T. Caldwell, manager of the Columbus Marina, has seen an estimated “25-30 boats that wouldn”t normally come this way,” dock at the local stop along the Tennessee-Tombigbee Waterway as captains hope to avoid the oil inching closer to the coast. Caldwell said some boat owners fear the possible expulsion of all vessels from the gulf waters, though officials dismiss that possibility.
“What all of them are afraid of is the government is going to say, ”No more boats in the water.” Then you have to put them on a travel lift and put it on the bank,” he said.
“If they shut off Mobile Bay, then for boats going down or up there won”t be any access (to the gulf). Once they put the booms across you can”t sell diesel or service boats,” said Caldwell.
Fortunately, closing Mobile Bay is not being considered.
“I haven”t heard anything about closing Mobile Bay and I haven”t seen any indication of it affecting traffic on the Tenn-Tom,” said Lowndes County Port Director John Hardy. “I know they”ve put a boom at the mouth of Mobile Bay, but as far as I know the ship channel is operable.”
Judith Adams, spokeswoman for the Alabama State Port Authority, dismissed the idea of closing the bay as a “crazy rumor.”
“There is no intention to close this port. We can”t afford to,” said Adams. “Unified command has said it is not their intention to stop commerce. All the gulf states are already taking a beating to their fishing industries. I don”t want the business community thinking ”Oh my gosh, the port will close.””
In the event oil does reach the shore, Adams says vessel washing and decontamination stations are ready 10 miles offshore and in port to scrub and collect any oil residue, and BP will pay the bill.
Thus far, that hasn”t been an issue as captains have easily skirted the oil. Those who have sailed through the oil report their ship”s wake pushed the oil away and the Port of Mobile has yet to receive a ship with a drop of oil stuck to its hull, Adams said.
Adams says no gulf ports in any state have experienced problems due to the oil spill. Vessels performing stationary work in the oil at the Deepwater Horizon oil rig site are being properly cleaned and decontaminated before returning to port.
Mike Tagert, administrator for the Tenn-Tom Waterway Development Authority, echoed Adams” and Hardy”s remarks.
“I can”t imagine we”ll see a closure of Mobile Bay. In every conversation I”ve had that is not on the table right now,” he said.
Towns closest to the gulf would be hardest hit by such an economic blow, but the effects would trickle up to Columbus. Charlie Furman, external relations manager for Severstal, says scrap steel would have to be imported by rail and truck from Vicksburg after shipping up the Mississippi River at a greater cost than shipping it up the Mobile River if the Port of Mobile were to close.
Some of Severstal”s scrap steel and iron ore is shipped through the Port of Mobile, but Furman says alternative sources exist along the Mobile River to prevent a complete stop in river traffic, and there would be no negative impact on Severstal”s customers.
Caldwell says for now, the marina is selling more fuel than usual, and summer business is coming early to Columbus. Boats from the gulf are regularly docked in Columbus to escape hurricane season because insurance premiums are lower for boat owners if their vessel is inland, rather than docked a hurricane zone. The marina was booked full last year by July. This year it was booked full in June.
Boats are coming from coastal Florida cities like Pensacola, Destin and St. Petersburg; Mobile; and Houston, Texas. Not all are fleeing the oil, but those who are have expressed their frustration.
“I had one guy make the statement that his boat had never been in fresh water before, nor did he want it to be,” said Caldwell.
Some of the boats are designed specifically for use on the open sea. Sport fishing boats with outriggers have “absolutely no use up here, other than just to ride around on.”
While at a boat show in Baton Rouge, La., last weekend, Caldwell says talk centered around the business which will be quickly lost if the gulf is closed.
Everyone who depends on access to the gulf to make a living is on edge.
“One captain from the Dog River Marina, which is at the mouth of the Tenn-Tom Waterway, was through the other day and they don”t know what”s going to happen. They”re worried about a job,” said Caldwell.
Jason Browne was previously a reporter for The Dispatch.
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