The U.S. Army Corps of Engineers (USACE) has completed Fiscal Year 2023 channel maintenance dredging contracts on the Mississippi River Ship Channel (MRSC) in Southwest Pass from Fiscal Year. The cutterhead dredge CAPTAIN FRANK (Weeks Marine) completed the Hopper Dredge Disposal Area (HDDA) Contract to remove 6 million cubic yards of material on January 18, 2024. The beneficial use of dredged material from the HDDA project created approximately 500 acres of new marsh in the West Bay Receiving Area. The cutterhead dredge ALASKA (Great Lakes Dredge & Dock) completed dredging in Southwest Pass on Saturday (February 3, 2024) and the USACE hopper dredge WHEELER completed dredging under Readiness Exercise #1-2024 this morning.
CUTTERHEAD DREDGE(S) WORKING IN SOUTHWEST PASS (SWP):
ALASKA: The cutterhead dredge ALASKA (Great Lakes Dredge & Dock) completed channel maintenance dredging under Southwest Pass Cutterhead Dredge Contract #1-2023 in SWP on Saturday, February 3, 2024. The cutterhead dredge completed the last assignment from Mile 5.0 Below Head of Passes (BHP) to Mile 8.5 BHP along the right descending bank. The dredge material was placed behind the recently approved larger-sized foreshore rocks to help fortify this area in an attempt to permanently close off a recuring crevasse that has formed several times in this area along the western side of Southwest Pass.
USACE HOPPER DREDGE(S) WORKING IN THE AREA of SOUTHWEST PASS (SWP):
WHEELER: The USACE hopper dredge WHEELER completed work in SWP under Readiness Exercise #1-2024 from January 23 to February 5 (2024). The WHEELER is expected to complete four more Readiness Exercises in Fiscal Year 2024.
EARLY AWARD HOPPER DREDGE CONTRACTS 2023/2024:
GLENN EDWARDS: The USACE awarded the first of the two annual early award 2023/2024 hopper dredge contracts, Southwest Pass Hopper Dredge Contract #2-2023 to Manson Construction for the large hopper dredge GLENN EDWARDS. The hopper dredge is expected to begin dredging under this contact in late February.
DODGE ISLAND: The USACE awarded the second annual early award hopper dredge contract of 2023/2024 to Great Lakes Dredge & Dock. This is a regional contract for work on the Calcasieu and Mississippi Rivers. This Island Class hopper dredge is expected to work between the two deep-draft channels under Southwest Pass & Calcasieu Hopper Contact #11-2023. The DODGE ISLAND is presently expected to commence dredging in Southwest Pass in March (2024).
MAXIMUM DRAFT RECOMMENDATIONS PER PILOT ASSOCIATION:
(UNCHANGED SINCE July 7, 2023)
The updated maximum draft recommendation for each Pilot Association as adjusted due to the Mississippi River Ship Channel Deepening and a temporary reduction to 49 feet by the Bar Pilots are detailed below:
Associated Branch Pilots of the Port of New Orleans (Bar Pilots): The Bar Pilots returned their maximum draft recommendation to 50 feet (freshwater) on July 6, 2023. The Bar Pilots originally increased their maximum draft recommendation to 50 feet (freshwater) on March 16, 2022, prior to the temporary reduction from May 22 to July 6 (2023).
Crescent River Port Pilots Association (CRPPA): The CPPRA raised their maximum draft recommendation to 50 feet (freshwater) in coordination with the Bar Pilots on July 7, 2023. The CRPPA originally increased their maximum draft to 50 feet (freshwater) on July 20.
New Orleans Baton Rouge Steamship Pilots Association (NOBRA): The NOBRA returned their maximum draft recommendation to 50 feet (freshwater) from Mile 175 AHP to Mile 88 AHP on July 7, 2023. The maximum draft recommendation from Mile 175 to 180 remains 47 feet and from Mile 180 to Mile 233.8 it remains 45 feet.
Associated Federal Pilots and Docking Masters of Louisiana (Federal Pilots): The Federal Pilots increased their maximum draft recommendations to the following to match the draft adjustment to 50 feet by the other Pilot Associations.
- 50 feet from Sea Buoy to Mile 175 AHP
- 45 feet Mile 175 AHP to 232.4 AHP
- 40 feet Mile 232.4 AHP to 233.8 AHP
The controlling maximum freshwater draft for the MRSC from Mile 175 AHP (Smoke Bend) to the Southwest Pass Sea Buoy is 50 feet (freshwater) as adjusted on July 7, 2023.
MAXIMUM DRAFT RECOMMENDATIONS PER PILOT ASSOCIATION:
(UNCHANGED SINCE July 7, 2023)
The updated maximum draft recommendation for each Pilot Association as adjusted due to the Mississippi River Ship Channel Deepening and a temporary reduction to 49 feet by the Bar Pilots are detailed below:
Associated Branch Pilots of the Port of New Orleans (Bar Pilots): The Bar Pilots returned their maximum draft recommendation to 50 feet (freshwater) on July 6, 2023. The Bar Pilots originally increased their maximum draft recommendation to 50 feet (freshwater) on March 16, 2022, prior to the temporary reduction from May 22 to July 6 (2023).
Crescent River Port Pilots Association (CRPPA): The CPPRA raised their maximum draft recommendation to 50 feet (freshwater) in coordination with the Bar Pilots on July 7, 2023. The CRPPA originally increased their maximum draft to 50 feet (freshwater) on July 20.
New Orleans Baton Rouge Steamship Pilots Association (NOBRA): The NOBRA returned their maximum draft recommendation to 50 feet (freshwater) from Mile 175 AHP to Mile 88 AHP on July 7, 2023. The maximum draft recommendation from Mile 175 to 180 remains 47 feet and from Mile 180 to Mile 233.8 it remains 45 feet.
Associated Federal Pilots and Docking Masters of Louisiana (Federal Pilots): The Federal Pilots increased their maximum draft recommendations to the following to match the draft adjustment to 50 feet by the other Pilot Associations.
- 50 feet from Sea Buoy to Mile 175 AHP
- 45 feet Mile 175 AHP to 232.4 AHP
- 40 feet Mile 232.4 AHP to 233.8 AHP
The controlling maximum freshwater draft for the MRSC from Mile 175 AHP (Smoke Bend) to the Southwest Pass Sea Buoy is 50 feet (freshwater) as adjusted on July 7, 2023
Mississippi River Stages and Forecast Updates:
The Carrollton Gage (New Orleans) reading at 1300 hours today was 9.02 feet with a 24-hour change of + 0.46 feet. The National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration’s (NOAA) National Weather Service Extended Streamflow Prediction (28-Day) for the Carrollton Gage issued today forecasts stages will continue rise until cresting at 10.4 feet on February 14 and will then begin a slow fall to 6.4 feet on March 4 (2024).
The Baton Rouge Gage reading at 1300 hours was 27.36 feet with a 24-hour change + 0.53 feet. The National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration’s (NOAA) National Weather Service Extended Streamflow Prediction (28-Day) for the Baton Rouge Gauge issued today forecasts stages will continue to rise and crest at 30.9 feet on February 13 and will then begin a slow fall to 19.2 feet on March 4 (2024).
