PORT SIGNS AGREEMENT WITH CAPE FLEETING

SCOTT CITY - The Southeast Missouri Regional Port Authority has entered into an agreement with Cape Fleeting, Inc. that leases water frontage along the slackwater harbor for barge fleeting.

The announcement was made by Mysie Keene, chairman of the port's board of commissioners. She pointed out that the lease involves 2,580 feet of water frontage.

Robert W. Erlbacher II, president of the company, explained that the lease formalizes previous understandings and will help provide a more efficient operation at the port.

Dan Overbey, executive director of the port authority, said the company has two harbor tugs which moves barges to local loading or unloading facilities. Cape Fleeting has been providing the service at the port for a while, but there was no formal agreement.

"This is one of those things that needed to be done," said Overbey. "It was in the works and we finished it up."

Overbey said that for now Cape Fleeting can store barges anywhere inside the harbor that is not being used for other purposes.

"Hopefully, in the long term we'll have some industries using that spot and then we can move the fleeting back to other locations," noted Overbey.