Algiers Point Traffic control lights

There is no mention of the lights in Capt. Roy Streckfus' Harbour Guide for the Steamer Sidney, which was written in 1919... he was very thorough, so if they had been there then, he would have included them.

From a proposal to form the new VTS service in NOLA

A federally operated and locally adopted vessel traffic management
facility has been in place in the New Orleans Harbor since the 1930s.
In an effort to assist the mariner, safeguard the port, ensure good
order, and improve safety, the Algiers Point Control Lights were
implemented. This system has evolved from one that was operated by
local river pilots who stood watch using lanterns and whistle signals
to communicate when the Algiers Point was clear for traffic, to a 24
hour federally-staffed communication station with twin control light
towers (at Governor Nicholls Street Wharf and Gretna). Although, not
formally recognized as a VTS, it has provided longstanding traffic
management services from its inception.

Thanks, Judy -- that answers the question! In addition to the Governor Nicholls and Gretna Lights, there is also a Westwego Traffic light in the Six Mile Point area...this light mimics the Gretna Light. This was so that before radios were common, they could give the downbound traffic an early warning to slow down if they were bringing northbound traffic up....

On the Rhein River there are similar "traffic lights" at an extremely sharp bend near die Loreley. The current there is unbelievably swift, the river narrow, the hills high and the traffic dense. As I understand it, upstream boats are stopped while the downbound boats literally flush through.

Alan, is it really a light, or das Madchens goldenes Haar glistening????

Here's a brief story about the river's master storyteller, CCH:
Doc used to do a pre-trip announcement from the dining room microphone while we waited a few extra minutes past the stated departure time. You could always tell what color the Gov. Nic light was by which version he told. He'd tell about the function of the light and then:
1) he'd say we were awaiting clearance from the traffic light to get underway, and the narrator would point it out later. That meant the light was GREEN and he didn't want the passengers to see his 'fib'.
2) he'd point out the location of the light. That meant it was actually red, (although we didn't have to wait for it to change - we'd get verbal clearance to leave.)

Pix: red or green??? May 1984

Here you can see the traffic light on the Rhine river.

Carmen

Judy, I searched for das goldenes Haar, but the maidens were out to lunch and did not appear.

Maybe when they return from lunch they will be so kind as to explain the triangular signaling system lights on the three vertical boards.

Jim, die Maedchenen said, "Heimatschimmelsheftigkeit." Which, translated means, maybe Carmen or Franz knows. I do not, although I did see them. The pilot of the cruise boat and I smiled a lot, but were otherwise unable to fully understand each other.

Die Lorelei

For anyone totally confused by the reference to the golden haired Maedchen and the traffic lights on the Rhine, this area is a very dangerous one, hence the lights. However long before the lights arrived, the numerous shipwrecks were explained by the tale of Die Lorelei - a beautiful goldenhaired 'girl' in the water, whose beauty and shimmering hair distracted the mariners from their steering duties, which subsequently caused them to put their boats up onto the rocks in this bend. There's a beautiful German poem/song commemorating this tale...

Another Picture of Der Lorelei

Here's a picture approaching the Lorelei from downstream. You can see how narrow the river gets. The traffic light is locate on the extreme end of the point of land in front of the boat.