The Corps of Engineers Mississippi Valley New Orleans (MVN) continues responding to shoaling in Southwest Pass (SWP) deposited by elevated river stages that began in November 2018. There are two government hopper dredges (WHEELER and McFARLAND) working under Red Flag Emergency Call Outs.  The MVN was able to award Southwest Pass Hopper Dredge Rental Contract #5-2019, as converted through the Request For Proposal process, to Great Lakes Dredge & Dock.  The MVN will advertise a bid opening for Southwest Pass Hopper Dredge Rental Contract #6-2019 on Wednesday, February 20, 2019 in an effort to secure another industry hopper dredge.

UPDATE: TRANSIT RESTRICTIONS AT SOUTHWEST PASS:

The Crescent River Ports Pilots Association (CRPPA) have raised their maximum draft recommendation to 45 feet (freshwater) with the caveat of high tide transits for vessels over 44 feet.  There is also a one-way transit limitation for two vessels with drafts 40 feet or greater between Mile 4.5 Above Head of Passes (AHP) to Mile 1.5 AHP.

“-45’ft maximum draft, high tide with anything over 44’ft.

-One way with two vessels of 40’ft or greater between mile 1.5 to 4.5.”

The Bar Pilots maximum draft recommendation remains at 44 feet (freshwater) in response to severe shoaling at the Head of Passes.  This remains the controlling draft for all vessels transiting Southwest Pass. 

GOVERNMENT HOPPER DREDGE(S) IN SOUTHWEST PASS (SWP):

WHEELER:  The Corps’ hopper dredge WHEELER is presently dredging from Mile 4.4 AHP to Mile 3.3 AHP.

The WHEELER continues working under Red Flag Emergency Call Out #2-2019 (30 days) and is expected to begin Red Flag Emergency Call Out #3-2019 (30 days) over the weekend.

McFARLAND: The Corps’ hopper dredge McFARLAND is dredging from Mile 3.3 AHP to Mile 2.3 AHP under Red Flag Emergency Call Out #2-2019.  The McFARLAND began working under Red Flag assignment on February 8, 2019, the Red Flag was approved for 45-days (maximum) after no bids were received to Southwest Pass Hopper Dredge Rental Contract #3-2019.

INDUSTRY HOPPER DREDGE(S) IN SOUTHWEST PASS (SWP):

GLENN EDWARDS: The industry hopper dredge GLENN EDWARDS (Manson Construction) is dredging at the Head of Passes from Mile 1.0 AHP to Mile 0 (Head of Passes).  The GLENN EDWARDS commenced dredging on December 18, 2018 and is working under Southwest Pass Hopper Dredge Rental Contract #6-2018.  The MVN was able to modify the GLENN EDWARDS contract and the hopper dredge will now continue dredging until approximately March 6th.

NEWPORT:  The hopper dredge NEWPORT (Manson Construction) is dredging between assignments at the jetty end of SWP (from approximately Mile 17 BHP to 18.5 BHP) and Mile 4.5 Below Head of Passes (BHP) to Mile 5 BHP.  The NEWPORT began dredging under Southwest Pass Hopper Dredge Rental Contract #1-2019 in SWP on November 28, 2018.  The MVN intends to exercise the options on the NEWPORT’s contract to keep the hopper dredge working until approximately May 15th

TERRAPIN ISLAND:  The industry hopper dredge TERRAPIN ISLAND (Great Lakes Dredge & Dock) is expected to commence dredging in SWP on Monday, February 18, 2019 under Southwest Pass Hopper Dredge Rental Contract #5-2019.

The river crested on the Carrollton Gauge (New Orleans) at 15.66 feet at 1200 hours on January 23, 2019 and the new long-range forecasts predict an upcoming crest of 16.0 feet in early March.

The Carrollton Gauge (New Orleans) reading at 1200 hours was 13.54 feet with a 24-hour change of – 0.10 feet. 

The Baton Rouge Gauge reading at 1300 hours was 35.24 feet with a 24-hour change of + 0.12 feet.  

The graph below is reproduced from NOAA’s National Weather Service website and represents an experimental product to account for the complexity of accurately predicting long-range precipitation.  This forecast projects stage levels based on expected precipitation for 2 days (top) and 16 days (bottom) and was developed within the North American Ensemble Forecast System (NAEFS) computer model and highlights Quantitative Precipitation Forecasts (QPF).  Along with the forecasts, a shaded area is also provided to indicate uncertainty for the forecast each day in the future.   These plots are experimental and not an official forecast product.

Please see the attached reports for complete details related to transit restrictions and dredge assignments.

Lower Mississippi River (LMR) Dredging Update 21519

LMR Dredging Update 21519

The Corps of Engineers Mississippi Valley New Orleans (MVN) continues responding to shoaling in Southwest Pass (SWP) deposited by elevated river stages that began in November 2018. There are two government hopper dredges (WHEELER and McFARLAND) working under Red Flag Emergency Call Outs. The MVN was able to award Southwest Pass Hopper Dredge Rental Contract #5-2019, as converted through the Request For Proposal process, to Great Lakes Dredge & Dock. The MVN will advertise a bid opening for Southwest Pass Hopper Dredge Rental Contract #6-2019 on Wednesday, February 20, 2019 in an effort to secure another industry hopper dredge.

UPDATE: TRANSIT RESTRICTIONS AT SOUTHWEST PASS:

The Crescent River Ports Pilots Association (CRPPA) have raised their maximum draft recommendation to 45 feet (freshwater) with the caveat of high tide transits for vessels over 44 feet. There is also a one-way transit limitation for two vessels with drafts 40 feet or greater between Mile 4.5 Above Head of Passes (AHP) to Mile 1.5 AHP.

“-45’ft maximum draft, high tide with anything over 44’ft.
-One way with two vessels of 40’ft or greater between mile 1.5 to 4.5.”

The Bar Pilots maximum draft recommendation remains at 44 feet (freshwater) in response to severe shoaling in Southwest Pass. This remains the controlling draft for all vessels transiting Southwest Pass.

GOVERNMENT HOPPER DREDGE(S) IN SOUTHWEST PASS (SWP):

WHEELER: The Corps’ hopper dredge WHEELER is presently dredging from Mile 4.4 AHP to Mile 3.3 AHP. The WHEELER continues working under Red Flag Emergency Call Out #2-2019 (30 days) and is expected to begin Red Flag Emergency Call Out #3-2019 (30 days) over the weekend.

McFARLAND: The Corps’ hopper dredge McFARLAND is dredging from Mile 3.3 AHP to Mile 2.3 AHP under Red Flag Emergency Call Out #2-2019. The McFARLAND began working under Red Flag assignment on February 8, 2019, the Red Flag was approved for 45-days (maximum) after no bids were received to Southwest Pass Hopper Dredge Rental Contract #3-2019.

INDUSTRY HOPPER DREDGE(S) IN SOUTHWEST PASS (SWP):

GLENN EDWARDS: The industry hopper dredge GLENN EDWARDS (Manson Construction) is dredging at the Head of Passes from Mile 1.0 AHP to Mile 0 (Head of Passes). The GLENN EDWARDS commenced dredging on December 18, 2018 and is working under Southwest Pass Hopper Dredge Rental Contract #6-2018.The MVN was able to modify the GLENN EDWARDS contract and the hopper dredge will now continue dredging until approximately March 6th.

NEWPORT: The hopper dredge NEWPORT (Manson Construction) is dredging between assignments at the jetty end of SWP (from approximately Mile 17 BHP to 18.5 BHP) and Mile 4.5 Below Head of Passes (BHP) to Mile 5 BHP. The NEWPORT began dredging under Southwest Pass Hopper Dredge Rental Contract #1-2019 in SWP on November 28, 2018. The MVN intends to exercise the options on the NEWPORT’s contract to keep the hopper dredge working until approximately May 15th.

TERRAPIN ISLAND: The industry hopper dredge TERRAPIN ISLAND (Great Lakes Dredge & Dock) is expected to commence dredging in SWP on Monday, February 18, 2019 under Southwest Pass Hopper Dredge Rental Contract #5-2019.

CUTTERHEAD DREDGE(S) IN SOUTHWEST PASS (SWP):

R.S. WEEKS: The industry cutterhead dredge R.S. WEEKS (Weeks Marine) is presently dredging at approximately Mile 6.6 BHP. The cutterhead is expected to complete the assignment from Mile 5.0 BHP to Mile 6.75 BHP on the western side of the channel over the weekend. The cutterhead’s next assignment is from Mile 1.5 AHP to Mile 2 BHP on the western side of the channel. The cutterhead was moved from the previous assignment at Mile 10.5 BHP to 17.8 BHP after reaching approximately Mile 13.8 BHP. The cutterhead started dredging in SWP on December 15, 2018.

CAPTAIN FRANK: The industry cutterhead dredge CAPTAIN FRANK is expected to commence dredging at Mile 13.8 BHP to resume the assignment from Mile 10.5 BHP to Mile 17.8 BHP on Monday, February 18, 2019.

MVN HOPPER DREDGE CONTRACTS HISTORY FY 2019:

The MVN has advertised 6 hopper dredge bids eventually leading to 3 industry hopper dredge contracts and 3 Emergency Red Flag Call Outs:

  • Southwest Pass Hopper Dredge Rental Contract #6-2018 awarded to Manson Construction (NEWPORT to GLENN EDWARDS).
  • Southwest Pass Hopper Dredge Rental Contract #1-2019 awarded to Manson Construction (GLENN EDWARDS to NEWPORT).
  • Southwest Pass Hopper Dredge Rental Contract #2-2019 no bids, WHEELER on Red Flag Emergency Call Out #1-2019.
  • Southwest Pass Hopper Dredge Rental Contract #3-2019 no bids, McFARLAND Red Flag Emergency Call Out #2-2019.
  • Southwest Pass Hopper Dredge Rental Contract #4-2019 no bids, WHEELER Red Flag Call Out #3-2019 (30 days).
  • Southwest Pass Hopper Dredge Rental Contract #5-2019 one non-awardable bid, converted through the Request for Proposal process and awarded to Great Lakes Dredge & Dock (TERRAPIN ISLAND).