The U.S. Army Corps of Engineers (USACE) is working to restore authorized channel dimensions on the Mississippi River Ship Channel (MRSC) in the area of Southwest Pass with an industry hopper dredge and a government hopper dredge. The industry hopper dredge BAYPORT and the USACE’s hopper dredge WHEELER are working on assignments in Southwest Pass. The dustpan dredges, HURLEY, JADWIN and WALLACE McGEORGE and the hopper dredge GLENN EDWARDS are working on the Crossings Above New Orleans. The focus on channel maintenance is shifting upriver to the Crossings Above New Orleans as Southwest Pass has been restored. The long-term river stage levels are projected to recede after a slight rise. The National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration’s National Weather Service’s Extended Streamflow Prediction (28-Day) issued today for the Baton Rouge Gauge predicts a drop from 23.64 feet to 19.05 feet on August 2, 2020 – a difference of 4.10 feet.
TRANSIT RESTRICTIONS IN THE AREA OF SOUTHWEST PASS:
The Crescent Pilots maximum draft recommendation was increased to 47 feet freshwater effective immediately as issued earlier today (Sunday, July 5, 2020). The Crescent Pilots previous draft recommendation was set at 46 feet (freshwater) on May 30, 2020.
The Bar Pilots increased their maximum draft recommendation to 47 feet (freshwater) on July 1, 2020.
Therefore, 47 feet freshwater is the controlling draft for vessels transiting the area of SWP.
INDUSTRY HOPPER DREDGE(S) IN THE AREA OF SOUTHWEST PASS (SWP):
NEWPORT: The hopper dredge NEWPORT (Manson Construction) dredged in SWP under the first Gulf Coast Regional Hopper Dredge Contract 2020 from February 1 to July 2 (2020). The NEWPORT will now complete dredging on the Gulfport Ship Channel (Mississippi) under the Regional Contract.
BAYPORT: The hopper dredge BAYPORT (Manson Construction) is dredging on assignment from Mile 1.0 Below Head of Passes (BHP) to Mile 3.5 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 12.5 BHP to Mile 15 BHP. The WHEELER commenced dredging under Southwest Pass Readiness Exercise #1-2020 on June 24th the Readiness Exercise is scheduled to be completed on July 6th (2020).
CUTTERHEAD DREDGE(S) AT THE NEW ORLEANS HARBOR:
CAPTAIN FRANK: Weeks Marine’s cutterhead dredge CAPTAIN FRANK began dredging on assignment from Napoleon Avenue to Milan Street City Front Wharves on June 26, 2020. The cutterhead is responding to New Orleans Harbor and Baptiste Collette Cutterhead Rental Contract #4-2019.
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.
HURLEY: The government dustpan dredge HURLEY continues dredging the central 250 feet at Red Eye Crossing (Mile 224 AHP). The HURLEY commenced dredging on the Crossings on June 29, 2020.
WALLACE McGEORGE: The industry dustpan dredge is dredging the central 250 feet of the channel at Alhambra Crossing (Mile 192 AHP). The White Castle Anchorage (Mile 191.1 AHP to Mile 190.4 AHP) remains off limits for vessel usage as noted in the attached Marine Safety Information Bulletin issued by the U.S. Coast Guard. The WALLACE McGEORGE commenced dredging on the Crossings on Thursday, May 21, 2020.
JADWIN: The government 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.
INDUSTRY HOPPER DREDGE(S) ON THE CROSSINGS ABOVE NEW ORLEANS:
GLENN EDWARDS: The industry hopper dredge GLENN EDWARDS (Manson Construction) completed dredging the central 250 feet at Medora Crossing (Mile 212 AHP) and has moved upriver to start dredging at Sardine Point Crossing (Mile 219 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 around July 20, 2020.
The Carrollton Gauge (New Orleans) reading at 1300 hours today was 8.04 feet with a 24-hour change of – 0.16 feet.
NOAA’s National Weather Service’s Extended Streamflow Prediction (28-Day) for the Carrollton Gauge issued today indicates a slight rise of a foot over the next ten days before beginning a steady fall to 6.7 feet on August 2, 2020.
The Baton Rouge Gauge reading at 1300 hours today was 23.47 feet with a 24-hour change of – 0.36 feet.
NOAA’s National Weather Service’s Extended Streamflow Prediction (28-Day) for the Baton Rouge Gauge issued today indicates a rise of approximately 3 feet over the next ten days before beginning a steady fall to 19.5 feet on August 2, 2020.
