New 35-ft. patrol boat to be operated by St. Bernard Port and the Sheriff’s Office; Can scan 50 feet and is useful for searching water bottoms, sea walls and ship hulls for contraband and for rescue or recovery efforts

Sheriff James Pohlmann aboard the new patrol boat, with Deputy Sheriff Shane Lulei, one of several sheriff’s personnel who are trained to operated the vessel and its scanning system.

Sheriff Pohlmann on the new patrol boat.

St. Bernard Parish’s Port, Harbor & Terminal District has purchased a 35-foot patrol boat through federal Port Security grant funds, in a move which enhances capabilities for search, rescue or recovery efforts by the Port and the Sheriff’s Office, which will jointly operate it through a cooperative agreement.

Port Executive Director Dr. Robert Scafidel and Sheriff James Pohlmann announced the agreement in which sheriff’s deputies have been trained to operate the vessel, along with Port staff.

A big feature is a sonar scanning camera and software, which provides the better capability for search, rescue or recovery by the Port and the Sheriff’s Office, Scafidel and Sheriff Pohlmann said.

The vessel, which is eight-feet wide and weighs 12,000 pounds, can scan distances more than 50 feet and would be useful on water bottoms, ship hulls and docks, officials said.

Built in Louisiana and ready for operation, it cost about $325,000, funded at 75 percent by the federal grant program and with a 25 percent match from the state of Louisiana. The Port, Harbor & Terminal District has a 5-member board of commissioners which approved the project.

“This helps both of our agencies, the Sheriff’s Office and the Port, protect citizens of St. Bernard Parish,’’ said Scafidel. “We had the opportunity to get this capability to operate on the Mississippi River and are very pleased with it.’’

Scafidel added, “We approached Sheriff Pohlmann about a cooperative agreement between us because we thought it was something the sheriff could use.

“Its main purpose is to help cover the river but it would be useful in other bodies of water,’’ he said.

Sheriff Pohlmann said, “I appreciate the cooperative agreement offer from the Port,” because use of the boat and its scanning capability “could be invaluable in situations including a search after an accident on water or looking for submerged threats.’’

The craft is powered by twin 350 Yamaha outboard motors and has water-cooled air-conditioning and generator systems. It can reach a speed of up to 40 knots and has a 30-foot draft.

Capt. Brian Clark, head of the sheriff’s Marine Division, and Dep. Sheriff Shane Lulei have been trained in operation of the vessel and scanning system, Sheriff Pohlmann said. Ryan Fayard and Heath Ragas of St. Bernard Port trained on the scanning equipment along with Clark and Lulei.