Deep draft vessels cannot get north of N. Baton Rouge - the Old MS River bridge is too low, courtesy of H. P. Long.
The Hurt P Long bridge is plenty high enough to permit passage of ocean going traffic. How do you think all those naval vessels built at Avondale get out?
“Deep draft vessels cannot get north of N. Baton Rouge”
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Yes, the river is only for riverboats, not ships.
IIRC, many years ago there was the desire to bring a US navy ship up the river and dock it in Memphis as a museum.
After all, Millington, a suburb of Memphis is home to maybe the largest INLAND US navy base. It is, however, a naval air base, not at all related to the seas.
I do, however, remember as a child, seeing hordes of sailors
in there bright whites cruising the streets of downtown Memphis.
I think the problem with bringing a ship up the river was that it had to be done during spring floods, but at that time, they would not be able to clear the bridges.