The dredge contractors for the Coastal Restoration Protection Authority’s Spanish Pass Marsh and Ridge Creation project, Weeks Marine, LLC intends to install a submerged dredge pipeline across the Mississippi River Ship Channel at approximately Mile 9.8 Above Head of Passes (AHP).
A complete closure of the Ship Channel from approximately Mile 11.0 AHP to Mile 9.0 AHP is expected to be implemented for a 12-hour closure to be scheduled from 0600 hours to 1800 hours on July 20, 2021. The second closure date listed below will only be used as a back-up closure and is not expected to be required if the pipeline is successfully installed during the first closure (July 20, 2021).
UPCOMING SCHEDULED CHANNEL CLOSURE(s):
TUESDAY, JULY 20, 2021:
0600 hours to 1800 hours: all vessels will most likely be restricted from transiting between Mile 11.0 AHP and Mile 9.0 AHP on the Mississippi River Ship Channel, the submerged dredge pipeline will be inserted across the Ship Channel and into a previously excavated trench. The intent is to allow east west shallow-draft traffic to move across the area through Baptiste Collette and the Venice Jump, the closure would be specific to the Ship Channel.
THURSDAY, JULY 22, 2021:
0600 hours to 1800 hours: all vessels will most likely be restricted from transiting between Mile 11.0 AHP and Mile 9.0 AHP on the Mississippi River Ship Channel, the submerged dredge pipeline will be inserted across the Ship Channel and into a previously excavated trench. The intent is to allow east west shallow-draft traffic to move across the area through Baptiste Collette and the Venice Jump, the closure would be specific to the Ship Channel.
Vessels needing to contact Weeks Marine during this time can reach the NOEL R (Crew Boat) on VHF Channel 67.
Vessels intending to arrive or depart the Mississippi River on the day of a scheduled closure must arrive at Venice (outbound) no later than 0500 hours or Pilottown (inbound) no later than 0400 hours on the morning of the scheduled closures.
(THE LISTED TIMES ARE TENTATIVE AND HAVE NOT BEEN VETTED BY THE APPLICABLE PILOT ASSOCIATION(S), AS OF THIS WRITING.)
The U.S. Coast Guard will soon issue a Marine Safety Information Bulletin (MSIB) detailing the official Ship Channel closure details in the immediate vicinity of this project.
