Pascagoula Propeller Club

05/26/2026

05/15/2026

Throwback Thursday ⚓

While the Jackson County Port Authority was officially established in 1956, the history of maritime commerce in Pascagoula dates back to the early 1800s. Long before modern terminals and global logistics networks, the Pascagoula River system served as a critical transportation corridor for the Gulf Coast region.

Port operations began in the 1830s with the dredging of the east branch of the Pascagoula River, allowing cotton — the region’s dominant pre-Civil War commodity — to move efficiently to market. By the late 1800s, more than one million bales of cotton had traveled downriver, fueling the growth of shipyards, sawmills, and maritime industry along the waterfront.

Further channel improvements in the late 1870s, backed by $50,000 in local and state funding, marked another major milestone in the continued development of what would become Port Pascagoula.

Today, Port Pascagoula remains one of the nation’s strategic maritime gateways — built on generations of commerce, industry, and innovation along the working waterfront.

05/14/2026

🚢 Trivia Wednesday 🚢

Before the invention of the modern cargo container, loading and unloading ships could take days or even weeks as cargo was moved piece by piece by hand.

💡 TRIVIA QUESTION:
Who is credited with revolutionizing global shipping through the invention of the modern intermodal cargo container in the 1950s?

A️⃣ Henry Ford
B️⃣ Malcolm McLean
C️⃣ Cornelius Vanderbilt
D️⃣ Samuel Morse

👇 Drop your answer in the comments before we reveal it later today!

05/07/2026

Today, the Pascagoula Propeller Club proudly recognized Trip Ros as the recipient of the 2026 Maritime Leadership Scholarship, generously sponsored by the Pascagoula Bar Pilots. During today’s presentation, the Pascagoula Bar Pilots awarded a $1,000 scholarship to support Trip’s continued educational journey and future in the maritime industry.

This scholarship represents more than financial support — it is an investment in the next generation of maritime professionals and a commitment to ensuring local students have the opportunity to pursue careers that strengthen our ports, waterways, and maritime community.

Congratulations to Trip Ros on this outstanding achievement, and thank you to the Pascagoula Bar Pilots for their continued dedication to workforce development and maritime education along the Gulf Coast.

05/05/2026

In the maritime industry, precision matters—and Under Keel Clearance (UKC) is a perfect example of that.

UKC refers to the minimum vertical distance between a vessel’s keel and the seabed. While it may sound like a simple measurement, it plays a critical role in ensuring safe and efficient vessel movements.

At Port Pascagoula, UKC is a constant operational consideration. From heavily loaded bulk carriers exporting Southern Yellow Pine to vessels transiting the Pascagoula Ship Channel, maintaining adequate clearance is essential.

Why it matters:

Ensures safe navigation in constrained waterways
Influences vessel loading and sailing schedules
Requires close coordination between pilots, port operators, and industry partners
Helps mitigate the risk of groundings and operational disruptions

In a dynamic port environment, factors like tides, sedimentation, and vessel draft all come into play. Managing UKC effectively is just one of the many ways ports like Pascagoula keep commerce moving safely and efficiently.

03/20/2026

⚓️ When vessels this size need a place to land for repairs, we’re ready to answer the call.

Now docked at Terminal C, this bulk carrier is showcasing the scale and accessibility of .

03/17/2026

🚢⚓ Thank You Pascagoula Bar Pilots for Supporting Future Maritime Leaders! ⚓🚢

The Pascagoula Propeller Club would like to extend our sincere appreciation to the Bar Pilots for their generous sponsorship of the 2026 Maritime Leadership Scholarship. Their continued support demonstrates a strong commitment to investing in the next generation of maritime professionals along the Mississippi Gulf Coast.

Thanks to their sponsorship, the Propeller Club will award a $1,000 Maritime Leadership Scholarship to a deserving Jackson County high school senior who demonstrates academic excellence, leadership, and an interest in the maritime industry.

Applicants must:
• Be a high school senior attending a Jackson County school
• Maintain a minimum 3.0 GPA
• Submit a 1,500-word essay addressing the challenges and future of the maritime industry
• Provide letters of recommendation, including one from a counselor

📅 Application Deadline: April 15, 2026
🏆 Recipient Announced: May 2026

The Pascagoula Bar Pilots have long played a critical role in ensuring the safe and efficient movement of vessels through our harbor, and their investment in education helps ensure the maritime industry continues to thrive for generations to come.

For additional information or to apply, please contact:
📧 [email protected]

👏 Please join us in thanking the Pascagoula Bar Pilots for their continued leadership and support of maritime education in our community! ⚓

03/04/2026

We were proud to welcome the Pascagoula Mayor's Youth Council to Port Pascagoula today for a quick presentation and tour of our West Harbor and Singing River Island. Showing our local students the impact, opportunity, and operations happening right here at home never gets old.

Investing in the next generation starts with opening the gate. ⚓️

03/04/2026

Terminology Tuesday ⚓️ (an accidental day late)

Draft = how deep a vessel sits in the water, and how much water it needs to operate safely.

With a 42-foot draft in our East Harbor and 38 feet on the river, Port Pascagoula is built for deep water operations. That’s why we can support major industries like Chevron, HII, and Bollinger Shipyards and consistently rank among the Top 25 deep water ports in the nation, handling nearly 32 million tons of cargo each year.

Depth drives impact. 🌊