polc lock curriculum

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Harbor and Harbor and Terminal District Terminal District 150 Marine St. 150 Marine St. Lake Charles, LA 70602 Lake Charles, LA 70602 (337) 439-3661 (337) 439-3661

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Prepared for the Port of Lake Charles, by Marketing Intern, John K. Monteith, Jr.

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Page 1: Polc Lock Curriculum

Lake Charles Harbor Lake Charles Harbor and Terminal Districtand Terminal District

150 Marine St. 150 Marine St.

Lake Charles, LA 70602Lake Charles, LA 70602

(337) 439-3661(337) 439-3661

Page 2: Polc Lock Curriculum

Navigation LocksNavigation Locks A navigation lock is a device for raising or lowering vessels A navigation lock is a device for raising or lowering vessels

between stretches of an inland waterway (manmade canal, between stretches of an inland waterway (manmade canal, river, etc.) which are at different geographical elevations.river, etc.) which are at different geographical elevations.

A lock is characterized by a single chamber in which a A lock is characterized by a single chamber in which a

vessel is driven in and the chamber is either flooded with vessel is driven in and the chamber is either flooded with water to lift the vessel to the higher water level or the water to lift the vessel to the higher water level or the water level is removed from the chamber to lower the water level is removed from the chamber to lower the vessel to the lower level for transit.vessel to the lower level for transit.

Locks are used to allow ships to navigate easily around Locks are used to allow ships to navigate easily around natural or manmade obstacles (dams) in rivers.natural or manmade obstacles (dams) in rivers.

Locks allow a canal to take a more direct line across terrain Locks allow a canal to take a more direct line across terrain that is not level.that is not level.

Page 3: Polc Lock Curriculum

Navigation LocksNavigation Locks

Locks consists of two sets of gates (doors) to hold the Locks consists of two sets of gates (doors) to hold the water, two tunnels (called sluices) for water to flow into and water, two tunnels (called sluices) for water to flow into and out of the lock, and a chamber that allows the water to rise out of the lock, and a chamber that allows the water to rise and fall to elevate or lower vessels. and fall to elevate or lower vessels.

Contrary to popular belief, most small to medium size locks Contrary to popular belief, most small to medium size locks do not use pumping systems to allow water into the do not use pumping systems to allow water into the chamber. Water is brought in and expelled from the chamber. Water is brought in and expelled from the chamber by gravity and the natural flow of water. Many chamber by gravity and the natural flow of water. Many locks, however, do utilize pumps to remove all water from locks, however, do utilize pumps to remove all water from the chamber to allow for maintenance and improvements.the chamber to allow for maintenance and improvements.

Page 4: Polc Lock Curriculum

Navigation LocksNavigation Locks Ascending a LockAscending a Lock

-All gates close. Top paddles (sluices) shut. -All gates close. Top paddles (sluices) shut. -Bottom paddles open so water level will lower -Bottom paddles open so water level will lower -Bottom gates open and vessel enters the chamber -Bottom gates open and vessel enters the chamber -Bottom gates and paddles close to seal off chamber -Bottom gates and paddles close to seal off chamber -Top paddles open to fill lock with water -Top paddles open to fill lock with water -As the boat rises, crew watch to make sure the ship doesn’t -As the boat rises, crew watch to make sure the ship doesn’t

get hung up or collide with the lock walls or gates get hung up or collide with the lock walls or gates -Top gates open and the vessel continues upstream-Top gates open and the vessel continues upstream

Descending a LockDescending a Lock-All gates close. Bottom paddles shut. -All gates close. Bottom paddles shut. -Top paddles open to fill lock to raise the water level -Top paddles open to fill lock to raise the water level -Top gates open and vessel enters-Top gates open and vessel enters-Top gates and top paddles close -Top gates and top paddles close -Bottom paddles open to empty lock of excess water to lower -Bottom paddles open to empty lock of excess water to lower water level water level -As the boat falls, crew watch to make sure the ship doesn’t strike -As the boat falls, crew watch to make sure the ship doesn’t strike

the sill, lock walls, gates, or the lock bottom the sill, lock walls, gates, or the lock bottom -Bottom gates open and the vessel continues downstream-Bottom gates open and the vessel continues downstream

Page 5: Polc Lock Curriculum

LOCKS LOCKS

A step by step diagram of a ship ascending A step by step diagram of a ship ascending a lock to a higher elevation.a lock to a higher elevation.

Page 6: Polc Lock Curriculum

LOCKSLOCKS

Page 7: Polc Lock Curriculum

LOCKSLOCKS

This is an above and side view of the basic This is an above and side view of the basic layout of a lock chamber. layout of a lock chamber.

Page 8: Polc Lock Curriculum

LOCKSLOCKS The upper gate The upper gate

of a lock of a lock chamber on chamber on the Panama the Panama Canal. Note Canal. Note the angle of the angle of the miter the miter gates to gates to compensate compensate for the water for the water pressure from pressure from the upstream the upstream water level.water level.

Page 9: Polc Lock Curriculum

LOCKSLOCKS

A lock chamber emptied for maintenance. A lock chamber emptied for maintenance.

Page 10: Polc Lock Curriculum

Navigation LocksNavigation Locks

Some waterways will have two locks in the same location. Some waterways will have two locks in the same location. These locks are known as “twins” or twinned locks. They These locks are known as “twins” or twinned locks. They facilitate maritime traffic moving in opposite directions, or facilitate maritime traffic moving in opposite directions, or multiple ships moving in the same direction at the same multiple ships moving in the same direction at the same time. This reduces vessel traffic and downtime of vessels.time. This reduces vessel traffic and downtime of vessels.

For extreme geographical elevation difference, multiple For extreme geographical elevation difference, multiple locks in close proximity, not necessarily adjoined, at locks in close proximity, not necessarily adjoined, at different elevations may be utilized in successive steps different elevations may be utilized in successive steps called “lock flights” to ascend and descend vessels.called “lock flights” to ascend and descend vessels.

Staircase locks are somewhat similar to lock flights in that Staircase locks are somewhat similar to lock flights in that they serve the same purpose, but differ in that the upper they serve the same purpose, but differ in that the upper gate of each lock doubles as the bottom gate for each gate of each lock doubles as the bottom gate for each adjoining lock. These locks adjoined due to sharing gates.adjoining lock. These locks adjoined due to sharing gates.

Page 11: Polc Lock Curriculum

LOCKSLOCKS

Aerial photograph of Aerial photograph of twinned locks on the twinned locks on the Panama Canal. Note the Panama Canal. Note the two ships traveling in two ships traveling in opposite directions.opposite directions.

This set of locks is actually This set of locks is actually a staircase lock because of a staircase lock because of the multiple adjoined the multiple adjoined chambers and the shared chambers and the shared gates. gates.

Page 12: Polc Lock Curriculum

Navigation LocksNavigation Locks Locks are sometimes combined with a dam. This is Locks are sometimes combined with a dam. This is

especially useful in hilly or mountainous regions such as the especially useful in hilly or mountainous regions such as the Columbia River region in the Pacific Northwest. This allows Columbia River region in the Pacific Northwest. This allows for vessel navigation of a waterway while the dam can be for vessel navigation of a waterway while the dam can be simultaneously used for such things as a reservoir or simultaneously used for such things as a reservoir or hydroelectric power.hydroelectric power.

Locks also aid in allowing ocean going vessels to travel Locks also aid in allowing ocean going vessels to travel inland to ports or other facilities that are located at an inland to ports or other facilities that are located at an altitude much higher (or lower) than sea level. In fact, the altitude much higher (or lower) than sea level. In fact, the St. Lawrence Seaway, which connects the Atlantic Ocean to St. Lawrence Seaway, which connects the Atlantic Ocean to the Great Lakes, utilizes a series of locks to allow vessels to the Great Lakes, utilizes a series of locks to allow vessels to be elevated to approximately 800 ft above sea level.be elevated to approximately 800 ft above sea level.

Locks in Southwest Louisiana are primarily used to protect Locks in Southwest Louisiana are primarily used to protect our agricultural interests by preventing salt water intrusion.our agricultural interests by preventing salt water intrusion.

Page 13: Polc Lock Curriculum

LOCKSLOCKS

Aerial photo of the John Day Lock and Aerial photo of the John Day Lock and Hydroelectric Dam on the Columbia River.Hydroelectric Dam on the Columbia River.

Page 14: Polc Lock Curriculum

LOCKSLOCKS

A picture of the Calcasieu Lock which is located at A picture of the Calcasieu Lock which is located at the intersection of the Intracoastal Waterway and the intersection of the Intracoastal Waterway and

the Calcasieu Ship Channel.the Calcasieu Ship Channel.

Page 15: Polc Lock Curriculum

Navigation LocksNavigation Locks

The Army Corps of Engineers (COE) is tasked with The Army Corps of Engineers (COE) is tasked with maintaining the water control systems of the maintaining the water control systems of the United States. This system includes locks. The United States. This system includes locks. The Corps is divided up through geographical district Corps is divided up through geographical district commands. commands.

Southwest Louisiana falls under the command of Southwest Louisiana falls under the command of the New Orleans District of the Army Corps of the New Orleans District of the Army Corps of Engineers.Engineers.

                                            

Page 16: Polc Lock Curriculum