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 industry hopper dredge GLENN EDWARDS working to restore the central 250 feet of the authorized channel width (500 feet). The White Castle Anchorage (Mile 191.1 AHP to Mile 190.4 AHP) was reopened earlier today when the WALLACE McGEORGE moved upriver.
DRAFT RESTRICTIONS IN THE AREA OF SOUTHWEST PASS (SWP):
The Bar Pilots increased their maximum draft recommendation to 45 feet freshwater at 1000 hours on Wednesday, May 30, 2018. The previous maximum draft of 44 feet freshwater became effective at 1000 hours on Thursday, April 26, 2018.
The Crescent River Port Pilots Association increased their maximum draft recommendation to the 47 feet (freshwater).
The Federal Pilots also increased their maximum draft recommendation to 45 feet (freshwater) on May 30, 2018.
The controlling maximum draft recommendation for vessels transiting Southwest Pass remains 45 feet freshwater.
INDUSTRY HOPPER DREDGES IN SOUTHWEST PASS (SWP):
NEWPORT: The NEWPORT is presently dredging from 19.6 Below Head of Passes (BHP) to Mile 20.1 BHP on the jetty end. The industry hopper dredge (Manson Construction) commenced dredging in SWP on March 11, 2018 under Southwest Pass Hopper Dredge Rental Contract No. 2-2018. The NEWPORT is now expected to be released this weekend.
BAYPORT: The BAYPORT is presently dredging near Burwood Bayou from Mile 14.3 BHP to Mile 14.8 BHP. The industry hopper dredge (Manson Construction) commenced dredging under Southwest Pass Hopper Dredge Rental Contract No. 3-2018 on Monday, March 12, 2018. The BAYPORT is expected to complete this contract on or about June 9, 2018.
CUTTERHEAD DREDGES IN SOUTHWEST PASS (SWP):
G.D. MORGAN: The industry cutterhead dredge G.D. MORGAN (Weeks Marine) continues dredging from Mile 2.5 Above Head of Passes (AHP) to Mile 1.7 BHP on the right descending bank (westside) and is presently at Mile 0.86 AHP. The cutterhead continues to respond to Southwest Pass Cutterhead Dredge Rental Contract No. 2-2018. All material removed will be beneficially used and strategically placed to create new land alongside the western boundary of SWP.
ROBERT M. WHITE: The cutterhead dredge ROBERT M. WHITE (Manson Construction) is dredging from Mile 16.4 BHP to Mile 18.1 BHP on the left descending bank (eastside). The cutterhead dredge is presently working at Mile 17.96 BHP. The cutterhead began dredging in SWP under Southwest Pass Cutterhead Dredge Rental Contract No. 1-2018 on March 16, 2018. The cutterhead is now expected to complete this assignment by Saturday, June 9, 2018. 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 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 completed dredging at Alhambra Crossing (Mile 192 AHP) earlier today and is now dredging at Bayou Goula Crossing (Mile 198.2 AHP). The White Castle Anchorage (Mile 191.1 AHP to Mile 190.4 AHP) was reopened at noon today (Tuesday, June 5, 2018). The dustpan’s next assignment is Bayou Goula Crossing (Mile 198.2 AHP). The WALLACE McGEORGE commenced dredging on the Crossings on Friday, May 11, 2018.
JADWIN: The Corps’ dustpan dredge JADWIN is dredging the central 400 feet at Belmont Crossing (Mile 154 AHP). The NOBRA and Federal Pilots continue to assist by anchoring vessels in the Belmont Anchorage (Mile 154 AHP to Mile 152.9 AHP) “as far east as possible” in effort to keep the Anchorage accessible while the dustpan dredge is working this location. The JADWIN began dredging on the Crossings on Thursday, May 10, 2018.
INDUSTRY HOPPER DREDGE ON THE CROSSINGS ABOVE NEW ORLEANS:
GLENN EDWARDS: The industry hopper dredge GLENN EDWARDS (Manson Construction) continues dredging the central 250 feet of channel at Medora Crossing (Mile 212 AHP). The hopper dredge commenced dredging in SWP on April 17, 2018. The GLENN EDWARDS is expected to complete this contract on or about June 19, 2018.
CUTTERHEAD DREDGE AT THE NEW ORLEANS HARBOR:
MIKE HOOKS: The MVN has now issued the contractual Notice to Proceed to Mike Hooks, Inc. and is coordinating the cutterhead assignment with the representatives of the Port of New Orleans. The cutterhead dredge MIKE HOOKS will respond to this contract, the dredge is already working under contract directly for the Port of New Orleans.
