Barge To Be Utilized For Parish Levee Maintenance
One of Cenac Marine’s latest events included presenting the Terrebonne Levee District and Terrebonne Parish with a newly built spud barge. The donated spud barge will be utilized by Terrebonne Parish to transport various and necessary equipment required for levee conservation and upkeep. It will also assist with coastal restoration efforts. The barge features a gate, spuds and hydraulic units needed to haul and secure such equipment to and from each location.
Arlen “Benny” Cenac, philanthropist and owner of Cenac Marine Services, has had a passion for coastal preservation for many years. It’s a cause he focuses on and feels as though more needs to be done in order to preserve the parish’s land and culture. At the event Mr. Cenac stated, “For generations, the Cenac family has called Terrebonne Parish home. Trying to preserve our heritage and our way of living has always occupied a special place in my heart. Our donation of this barge is just one more way to show Cenac’s commitment to protecting our parish. I am proud that we can play a small role in this overall effort. We will continue to look for ways to partner with government to ensure the future of this area is bright.” He also mentioned that Cenac Marine Services would like to install the last floodgate needed to ensure proper protection for Terrebonne Parish. Although this will take some time, he envisions it will happen within the next year.
Mr. Reggie Dupre Jr., Terrebonne Levee and Conservation District Director, and Mr. Gordon E. Dove, Terrebonne Parish President attended the event. Mr. Dupre expressed excitement about the new barge. “On behalf of the Terrebonne Levee District, I would like to sincerely thank Benny Cenac and Cenac Towing for the newly constructed spud maintenance barge. This barge will allow us to transfer heavy equipment, replacement parts, and personnel to our multiple ‘island’ levees that are only accessible by water. This generous donation will save us significant money on rental equipment and allow us to expedite repairs and maintenance on our own schedule. I am very proud of the levee system we have built so far and this type of donation will allow us to keep the entire system in excellent shape,” said Mr. Dupre.
Terrebonne Parish President, Gordon E. Dove, feels as though this donation will be a huge asset to the community. During the presentation he stated, “The levee and lock system is a vital part in the preservation of the people and property in Terrebonne Parish. Levee protection and coastal restoration are my highest priorities for Terrebonne Parish. Benny Cenac and Cenac Towing are showing what can be accomplished with private and public partnerships. I think I can speak for all the citizens of Terrebonne Parish, when I offer our sincerest and most heartfelt thanks for this barge donation. This barge was built brand from the ground up to the highest specifications by the skilled employees of Cenac Towing and Main Iron Works. Terrebonne Parish appreciates their effort and professionalism. It will be used for maintenance and repairs on our levee system for decades to come.”
We are looking forward to continuing to find ways to work with Terrebonne Parish in order to help to preserve the place we call home.