The dredge contractors for the dredge project in the Hopper Dredge Disposal Area (HDDA), Great Lakes Dredge and Dock (GLDD) encountered delays that have forced the previously scheduled channel closures dates to be adjusted.
The closures are needed to remove the submerged dredge pipeline from the HDDA project, the pipeline was installed across the Ship Channel in January 2021.
Accept this notice to confirm the proposed dates have been revised and the earliest the channel closures will begin is next week, Tuesday, August 31, 2021.
In order to remove the submerged dredge pipeline two channel closures will be required, one closure is needed to dredge over the top of the pipeline and the other is to remove the submerged dredge pipeline.
The Ship Channel is expected to be closed to all vessels from Mile 2.0 Above Head of Passes (AHP) to Mile 0 (Head of Passes) during the two scheduled 12-hour closures (0600 hours to 1800 hours).
UPDATED: ANTICIPATED CHANNEL CLOSURE:
TUESDAY, AUGUST 31, 2021:
0600 hours to 1800 hours: all vessels are expected to be restricted from transiting between Mile 2.0 AHP and Mile 0 (Head of Passes). During this closure the sediment over the submerged pipeline will be mechanically excavated by the cutterhead dredge ILLINOIS.
UPDATED: ANTICIPATED CHANNEL CLOSURE:
THURSDAY, SEPTEMBER 2, 2021:
0600 hours to 1800 hours: all vessels are restricted from transiting between Mile 2.0 AHP and Mile 0 (Head of Passes). During this closure the submerged pipeline will be refloated and removed from the excavated trench across the Ship Channel.
UPDATED: BACKUP CHANNEL CLOSURE: This closure would only be utilized if the pipeline retrieval operations could not be completed as scheduled above.
SATURDAY, SEPTEMBER 4, 2021:
0600 hours to 1800 hours: all vessels are expected to be restricted from transiting between Mile 2.0 AHP and Mile 0 (Head of Passes). This scheduled back-up closure would only be utilized if the scheduled operations above were not successful or were delayed.
The following day of closure limits are expected (based on previous experience): Vessels intending to arrive or depart the Mississippi River on the day of a scheduled closure must arrive at Pilottown (outbound) no later than 0400 hours or Southwest Pass Entrance Light (inbound) no later than 0330 hours on the morning of the scheduled closures.
The U.S. Coast Guard will issue a Marine Safety Information Bulletin (MSIB) that will cover the official transit and closure arrangements, the MSIB will be distributed upon receipt.
