USACE Vicksburg District Welcomes Vessel Crew Boat BISHOP

Описание: The U.S. Army Corps of Engineers (USACE) Vicksburg District held a christening ceremony on Feb. 4 to officially welcome a new floating plant crew boat to its fleet.
The Vessel Crew Boat BISHOP is a 44-by-14-foot aluminum crew transfer vessel designed to support the Dredge Jadwin. With a 28-passenger capacity, the boat will ferry personnel and supplies along the Mississippi River, enhancing operational efficiency and mission readiness.
Nearly 80 family members, friends, and USACE employees attended the ceremony, which included speeches from District Commander Col. Jeremiah Gipson, former USACE Vicksburg District’s Chief of Operations Dennis Norris, and the Bishop family.
The crew boat is named BISHOP in honor of the late Charles Lewis Bishop Sr., who served the USACE Vicksburg District for 27 years before retiring in April 2007.
During his distinguished career, Bishop served as the contact pilot for channel reconnaissance, helping determine navigation channel alignment and dredging needs across district waterways. His extensive knowledge of the river system proved invaluable to mission success.
A retired U.S. Coast Guard Chief Boatswain’s Mate with 20 years of service, Bishop strengthened coordination between the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers and the Coast Guard—efforts that continue to benefit the program today. Safety was always his top priority, and he played a key role in implementing safety improvements on floating plants throughout the district. Throughout his tenure, Bishop demonstrated decisive leadership on numerous occasions; in one critical incident, his quick actions, calm demeanor, and focus on others helped save hundreds of lives.
“Naming this vessel BISHOP ensures that Mr. Bishop’s legacy continues forward — moving along these waterways, supporting our mission, and reminding every crew member who steps aboard of the standard he set. It is a fitting tribute to a man whose service, dedication, and commitment to safety exemplify the very best of the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers.” COL Gipson said.
Special attendees included Bishop’s daughter, Penny Adair, and his sons, Lewis and Brandon Bishop, along with other family members and distinguished guests. The Bishop family christened the boat by breaking a ceremonial bottle across the bow—a maritime tradition meant to bestow good fortune and safe passage for both the vessel and her crew. LTC David Morris, with the Mississippi Army National Guard, also said a prayer and a blessing for the new vessel.
"Our Dad was not only a dedicated and passionate captain, he was also an amazing father, husband, and friend. We were honored to take part in this momentous occasion and to celebrate his legacy," Adair said. "Seeing his dedication recognized in this way means so much to our family, and we know the BISHOP will continue to do his job on the river."

ABOUT THE VICKSBURG DISTRICT
The U.S. Army Corps of Engineers (USACE) Vicksburg District is engineering solutions for the nation’s toughest water resource challenges. One of USACE’s largest civil works districts, we cover a 68,000-square-mile area across portions of Mississippi, Arkansas and Louisiana that includes nine river basins, 10 major flood control reservoirs and more than 1,800 miles miles of levee. Our missions include infrastructure design and construction, flood risk management, navigation, ecosystem restoration, water supply, regulatory, recreation, hydropower, emergency operations and contingency operations support. Our workforce of 1,100 engineers, technical experts and other personnel are committed to the communities we serve.

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