The Lake Charles Harbor and Terminal District hosted a Maritime Day Celebration with a dedication ceremony and reception for its new Harbor Police Department Security Center located at 150 Marine St. on National Maritime Day, Thurs., May 22, 2014.
The new control center creates a hub for the port’s harbor police and security operations and monitors the port’s properties and the Calcasieu River Ship Channel. The facility also includes an emergency operations center and helps increase safety on port property.
William Rase, executive director of the Port of Lake Charles said, “The opening of the new Harbor Police Department Security Center represents completion of the entire City Docks’ entrance plaza project, which includes the new main gate at the intersection of Marine and Sallier Sts. The old facility was no longer sufficient for our present-day needs
“The new plaza allows for more efficient and safer processing of City Docks traffic. It is a huge milestone for the Port of Lake Charles and is part of our ongoing capital improvements project totaling $275 million, in preparation for Southwest Louisiana’s industrial expansion.”
National Maritime Day is observed May 22, the date that the American steamship Savannah sailed from the U.S. to England. This event marked the first successful crossing of the Atlantic Ocean using steam propulsion.
“Maritime Day pays tribute to the maritime industry and the benefits it brings to our region in terms of transportation, jobs, goods and recreational opportunities,” said Rase