Hazard Location and Mapping

Images of disaster are quickly fading from the minds of south Louisiana residents in favor of a determined spirit of rebuilding and renewal. Hurricanes such as Gustav, Ike, Katrina and Rita devastated the Gulf Coast in recent years, leveling nearly everything in their paths. But where did all of the debris go? Much of it still lies on the bottom of the state's waterways, filtered there by the receding storm surge shortly after the devastation had passed. Everything from refrigerators and stoves to million-dollar yachts and production barges still litter the bottoms of many canals and bayous.

With visibility limited to a few feet, it can be difficult to foresee potential hazards. Hurricane debris, dislodged pilings, and exposed pipelines can be of major concern for operators working in these areas. Impacting one of these hazards unexpectedly can have a negative impact on the entire project. Obviously, running a vessel or barge into an unseen exposed pipeline can have devastating consequences to those onboard. This is often coupled with delays to the project timeline, which can be a headache for anyone trying to meet strict goals. Major costs can also be associated with these hazards. Injured personnel, replacing or repairing vessels, repairing pipelines, and incurring lost time all have a negative impact on the profitability and overall success of any project or operation.

Hazard Location Tools

• Side-Scan Sonar
• Multibeam
• Sub-bottom Profiler
• Marine Magnetometer
• Scanning Sonar