The U.S. Army Corps of Engineers (USACE) is working to restore the deficient reaches of the Mississippi River Ship Channel (MRSC) in the area of Southwest Pass with three industry hopper dredges and one government hopper dredge. The three industry hopper dredges BAYPORT, GLENN EDWARDS, NEWPORT and USACE’s hopper dredge WHEELER are working on assignments in the area of Southwest Pass. The dustpan dredges, JADWIN and WALLACE McGEORGE are working on the Crossings Above New Orleans.
SOUTHWEST PASS (SWP) TRANSIT RESTRICTIONS:
The controlling draft for all vessels transiting Southwest Pass remains 45 feet (freshwater).
The Bar Pilots increased their maximum draft recommendation to 45 feet (freshwater) on June 10, 2020.
The Federal Pilots raised their maximum draft recommendation to 45 feet (freshwater) on June 11, 2020.
The Crescent Pilots increased their maximum draft recommendation to 46 feet freshwater on May 30, 2020 apparently due to improving conditions in the area of Cubits Gap.
INDUSTRY HOPPER DREDGE(S) IN THE AREA OF SOUTHWEST PASS (SWP):
GLENN EDWARDS: The hopper dredge GLENN EDWARDS (Manson Construction) is dredging near Venice (Mile 13.0 Above Head of Passes [AHP] to Mile 12.0 AHP). The GLENN EDWARDS began dredging in Southwest Pass on March 20, 2020 under Southwest Pass Hopper Dredge Rental Contract #13-2019. This contract has been extended and the hopper dredge is now expected to complete work on approximately July 20, 2020.
NEWPORT: The hopper dredge NEWPORT (Manson Construction) is dredging from Mile 10.5 AHP to Mile 10.0 AHP. The NEWPORT began dredging under the first Gulf Coast Regional Hopper Dredge Contract 2020 on February 1, 2020. The NEWPORT will begin dredging on the Gulfport Ship Channel (Mississippi) under the Regional Contract upon completing the assignment in SWP (estimated to begin on June 30, 2020).
BAYPORT: The hopper dredge BAYPORT (Manson Construction) is dredging at the Head of Passes (Mile 1.5 AHP to Mile 0.25 Below Head of Passes [BHP]). The BAYPORT began dredging in SWP on June 18, 2020 and will work in SWP for approximately 30 days to complete hours on Calcasieu River Hopper Dredge Rental Contract 19C0076.
GOVERNNMENT HOPPER DREDGE(S) IN SOUTHWEST PASS (SWP):
WHEELER: The USACE hopper dredge WHEELER is dredging on assignment from Mile 12 BHP to Mile 15 BHP. The WHEELER commenced dredging under Southwest Pass Readiness Exercise #1-2020 at 0011 hours on June 24th the Readiness Exercise is scheduled to be completed on July 6th (2020).
CUTTERHEAD DREDGE(S) IN THE HOPPER DREDGE DISPOSAL AREA (HDDA):
Weeks Marine has utilized multiple cutterhead dredges on this project and all material removed from the HDDA has been beneficially placed in the Pass A’Loutre Wildlife Management Area (PALWMA). The cutterhead dredges have beneficially utilized approximately 13.1 million cubic yards (mcy) of material removed from the HDDA and restored roughly 1,040 acres. When this project is completed approximately 1,200 acres will have been restored in the PALWMA. A cutterhead dredge will resume work on the HDDA contract to remove the remaining 1.9 mcy of material once priority channel maintenance demands have been completed.
CUTTERHEAD DREDGE(S) AT THE NEW ORLEANS HARBOR:
CAPTAIN FRANK: Weeks Marine’s cutterhead dredge CAPTAIN FRANK is expected to commence dredging on the New Orleans Harbor Cutterhead Rental Contract #4-2019 later today. The CAPTAIN FRANK is working on assignment from Napoleon Avenue to Milan Street along the City Front Wharves.
DUSTPAN DREDGE(S) ON THE CROSSINGS ABOVE NEW ORLEANS:
The MVN is dredging to restore or maintain the central 250 feet of the channel (authorized width is 500 feet) on the Crossings Above New Orleans with two dustpan dredges.
WALLACE McGEORGE: The industry dustpan dredge continues dredging the central 250 feet of the channel at Red Eye Crossing (Mile 224 AHP). The WALLACE McGEORGE commenced dredging on the Crossings on Thursday, May 21, 2020. The WALLACE McGEORGE is scheduled to move downriver to begin dredging at Alhambra Crossing (Mile 190.5 AHP) on Friday, June 26th. The White Castle Anchorage (Mile 191.1 AHP to Mile 190.4 AHP) will be off limits for vessel usage beginning at noon on Friday (6/26/20) while the WALLACE McGEORGE is working at this location. A Marine Safety Information Bulletin issued by the U.S. Coast Guard is attached.
JADWIN: The dustpan dredge continues dredging the central 250 feet of channel at Belmont Crossing (Mile 154 .2 AHP). The JADWIN began dredging on the Crossings on Thursday, May 21, 2020.
HURLEY: The government dustpan dredge HURLEY is expected to commence dredging at Red Eye Crossing (Mile 224 AHP) by June 27, 2020.
The Carrollton Gauge (New Orleans) reading at 0700 hours today was 11.86 feet with a 24-hour change of – 0.29 feet.
NOAA’s National Weather Service’s Extended Streamflow Prediction (28-Day) for the Carrollton Gauge indicates a steady fall to 7.9 feet on July 22, 2020.
The Baton Rouge Gauge reading at 0800 hours today was 32.24 feet with a 24-hour change of – 0.66 feet.
