The Corps of Engineers Mississippi Valley New Orleans (MVN) continues to respond to the shoaling in Southwest Pass and on the Crossings Above New Orleans created by the extended high river stages of early 2018. The MVN is actively dredging on the Crossings Above New Orleans with all three dustpan dredges and the government hopper dredge WHEELER working to restore the central 250 feet of the authorized channel width of 500 feet.
DRAFT RESTRICTIONS IN THE AREA OF SOUTHWEST PASS (SWP):
The Bar Pilots established their maximum draft recommendation at 44 feet effective at 1000 hours on Thursday, April 26, 2018.
The Crescent River Port Pilots Association increased their maximum draft recommendation to 44 feet (freshwater) on Monday, April 23, 2018.
The Federal Pilots revised their maximum draft recommendation to 44 feet (freshwater) on Thursday, April 26, 2018.
The controlling draft remains 44 feet freshwater for all three Pilot Associations navigating vessels in the area of SWP.
INDUSTRY HOPPER DREDGES IN SOUTHWEST PASS (SWP):
GLENN EDWARDS: The GLENN EDWARDS is presently dredging from Mile 5.0 Above Head of Passes (AHP) to Mile 2.5 AHP. The industry hopper dredge GLENN EDWARDS (Manson Construction) commenced dredging in SWP on April 17, 2018.
BAYPORT: The BAYPORT is presently dredging from Mile 0.5 AHP to the Head of Passes (Mile 0). The industry hopper dredge (Manson Construction) commenced dredging under Southwest Pass Hopper Dredge Rental Contract No. 3-2018 on Monday, March 12, 2018.
NEWPORT: The NEWPORT is presently dredging from 0.5 Below Head of Passes (BHP) to Mile 3.0 BHP. The industry hopper dredge (Manson Construction) commenced dredging in SWP on March 11, 2018 under Southwest Pass Hopper Dredge Rental Contract No. 2-2018.
GOVERNMENT HOPPER DREDGE IN SOUTHWEST PASS (SWP):
WHEELER: MVN’s hopper dredge WHEELER continues dredging the central 250 feet at Bayou Goula Crossing (Mile 198.2 AHP). The WHEELER will continue to work under the Red Flag approval until approximately June 2, 2018. The Red Flag was granted in response to receiving no industry bids to Southwest Pass Hopper Dredge Contract No. 4-2018.
CUTTERHEAD DREDGES IN SOUTHWEST PASS (SWP):
G.D. MORGAN: The industry cutterhead dredge G.D. MORGAN (Weeks Marine) continues to respond to Southwest Pass Cutterhead Dredge Rental Contract No. 2-2018. The cutterhead continues dredging from Mile 2.5 AHP to Mile 1.7 BHP and is presently at Mile 1.54 AHP. All material removed will be beneficially used and strategically placed to create new land alongside the western boundary of SWP.
ROBERT M. WHITE: The industry cutterhead dredge (Manson Construction) began dredging in SWP under Southwest Pass Cutterhead Dredge Rental Contract No. 1-2018 on March 16, 2018. The cutterhead is currently dredging from Mile 16.4 BHP to Mile 17.8 BHP. The ROBERT M. WHITE is now at approximately Mile 17.42 BHP. All material removed will be beneficially used and strategically placed to create new land alongside of SWP.
DUSTPAN DREDGES ON THE CROSSINGS ABOVE NEW ORLEANS:
HURLEY: The Corps’ dustpan dredge HURLEY continues dredging the central 250 feet of the channel at Red Eye Crossing (Mile 224 AHP). The dustpan dredge began dredging on the Crossings on Wednesday, May 16, 2018.
WALLACE McGEORGE: The industry dustpan dredge WALLACE McGEORGE continues dredging at Alhambra Crossing (Mile 192 AHP) and is now expected to complete this assignment by Sunday, June 3, 2018. The NOBRA and Federal Pilots are prohibiting vessel usage at the White Castle Anchorage (Mile 191.1 AHP to Mile 190.4 AHP) until the dustpan dredge completes this assignment.Managing the anchorage this way (keeping it clear) promotes navigational safety and allows the dredge to work without interruption. The WALLACE McGEORGE commenced dredging the central 250 feet at Alhambra Crossing on Friday, May 11, 2018.
JADWIN: The Corps’ dustpan dredge JADWIN continues dredging the central 250 feet at Belmont Crossing (Mile 154 AHP). The JADWIN is expected to complete this assignment on June 7, 2019. The NOBRA and Federal Pilots will work to anchor vessels in the Belmont Anchorage (Mile 154 AHP to Mile 152.9 AHP) “as far east as possible” in effort to keep the Belmont Anchorage accessible while the dustpan dredge is working this location. The JADWIN began dredging on the Crossings on Thursday, May 10, 2018.
