26
Nov
The BAR Pilots on watch voted on the issue today.
Effective as of 1000 (local) today:
“Vessels drafting 38’ or greater can enter SWP only during the period of ‘3 hours after low tide to 3 hours after high tide’.
Note:
Today’s Tides:
Low Tide – 0831
High Tide – 2244
The entry period begins at 1131 today.
The entry period ends at 0144 tomorrow morning.
LAMA will provide a table in the daily report.
Note:
Captain Miller has clarified that these measures are due to the presence of flocculation.
No draft restrictions are anticipated at this time as river levels are currently receding and current surveys show satisfactory water depth.
Reduced river levels generally resolve flocculation levels which will result in the end of the entry restrictions tided to tidal movements.
The official notice is attached.
RE: SOUTHWEST PASS, TRANSIT RESTRICTION DUE TO FLOCCULATION
The Bar Pilots for the Port of New Orleans restrict inbound vessels with a deep fresh water draft of Thirty-Eight feet (38) or greater to transit Southwest Pass from the Sea Buoy (Entrance Lighted Whistle Buoy “SW”) to mile 1.5 above Head of Passes “between 3 hours after low tide, to 3 hours after high tide at SWP”.
The restriction becomes effective at 1000 hours on November 26, 2018.
Nothing in the recommendations should be construed as limiting a pilot in the exercise of their judgment.
ASSOCIATED BRANCH PILOTS
