Port Authority: Sally did $12 million in damage, affected navigation – AL.com

Hurricane Sally did an estimated $12 million in damage to the Alabama State Port Authority, as well as channel and navigational damage causing ongoing delays for a few vessels.

The Port Authority board, which met Thursday, heard reports on the damage. Director and CEO John Driscoll told the board that the preliminary estimate of $12 million was being reviewed for accuracy. It consisted mostly of damage to roofs, warehouse doors and several wharves. He said about half the damaged facilities might be covered by insurance, and it was possible the Port Authority could apply for FEMA funds to help with the rest.

Overall, Driscoll said, we were a little bit lucky on our complex because of Sallys last-minute jog to the east. That meant the docks received no storm surge and far less rain than had been forecast.

However, the hurricane had other impacts offshore. It had moved and damaged several navigational buoys marking the offshore portion of the Mobile Ship Channel, and caused a portion of the channel in the Gulf of Mexico to fill in. Storm-induced shoaling reduced the allowed draft of ships from 45 feet to 41 feet.

Driscoll reported to the board that the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers began dredging on Friday, Sept. 18, but had to stop because of high seas. The Corps hopes to finish the job soon, he said. In the meantime, one ship with a 45-foot draft was waiting to enter. One coal ship with a 45-foot draft was waiting to leave the Port of Mobile, and a second was being loaded to the same depth.

Meanwhile, Driscoll said, the U.S. Coast Guard had moved the displaced buoys back into place on Sept. 18, allowing a traffic jam of 17 ships to begin clearing. But the Coast Guard needs a period of very calm seas to complete repairs to electronic equipment on at least one of the buoys and may not get that until next week. Until then, big ships will only be able to use the channel during daylight hours.

Thats a pretty significant thing, Driscoll said, adding that port officials will work with customers to minimize delays.

Judith Adams, the Port Authoritys vice president for marketing, said the damage was the most done to the Port Authority by a tropical storm in at least a decade.

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Port Authority: Sally did $12 million in damage, affected navigation - AL.com