The Corps of Engineers Mississippi Valley New Orleans (MVN) continues responding to shoaling in Southwest Pass (SWP) deposited by elevated river stages that began in November 2018. There are two government hopper dredges (WHEELER and McFARLAND) working under Red Flag Emergency Call Outs. The MVN is preparing to operate the Bonnet Carre´ Spillway as the trigger point flow of 1.25 million cubic feet per second is anticipated. The initial opening of a few gates could occur as early as Wednesday, February 27, 2019.
TRANSIT RESTRICTIONS AT SOUTHWEST PASS:
The Crescent River Ports Pilots Association (CRPPA) maximum draft recommendation remains 45 feet (freshwater) with the caveat of high tide transits for vessels over 44 feet. There is also a one-way transit limitation for two vessels with drafts 40 feet or greater between Mile 4.5 Above Head of Passes (AHP) to Mile 1.5 AHP.
“-45’ft maximum draft, high tide with anything over 44’ft.
-One way with two vessels of 40’ft or greater between mile 1.5 to 4.5.”
The Bar Pilots maximum draft recommendation remains at 44 feet (freshwater) in response to severe shoaling in Southwest Pass. This remains the controlling draft for all vessels transiting Southwest Pass.
The Bar and Federal Pilots continue to utilize the flocculation-based transit restriction for all inbound vessels arriving Southwest Pass with a freshwater draft of 38-feet or greater. Inbound vessels with a draft of 38-feet or greater can only allowed enter SWP “between 3 hours after low tide, to 3 hours after high tide at SWP.”
INDUSTRY HOPPER DREDGE(S) IN SOUTHWEST PASS (SWP):
NEWPORT: The hopper dredge NEWPORT (Manson Construction) is dredging at the Venice Jump (Mile 10.5 AHP to Mile 10 AHP) under Southwest Pass Hopper Dredge Rental Contract #1-2019. The NEWPORT began dredging in SWP on November 28, 2018. The MVN intends to exercise the options on the NEWPORT’s contract to keep the hopper dredge working until approximately May 15th.
GLENN EDWARDS: The industry hopper dredge GLENN EDWARDS (Manson Construction) is dredging from Mile 1.0 AHP to Mile 1.0 Below Head of Passes (BHP).The GLENN EDWARDS commenced dredging on December 18, 2018 and is working under Southwest Pass Hopper Dredge Rental Contract #6-2018. The MVN was able to modify the GLENN EDWARDS contract and the hopper dredge will now continue dredging until approximately March 4th.
TERRAPIN ISLAND: The industry hopper dredge TERRAPIN ISLAND (Great Lakes Dredge & Dock) is dredging on two assignments, the first reach is on the jetty channel (Mile 21 BHP to Mile 22 BHP) and the second reach is from Mile 9.5 BHP to Mile 10.5 BHP. The TERRAPIN ISLAND began dredging under Southwest Pass Hopper Dredge Rental Contract #5-2019.
STUYVESANT: The industry hopper dredge STUYVESANT (Dutra Group) is expected to begin dredging under Southwest Pass Hopper Dredge Rental Contract #6-2019 next week.
GOVERNMENT HOPPER DREDGE(S) IN SOUTHWEST PASS (SWP): RED FLAG EMERGENCY CALL OUTS
McFARLAND: The Corps’ hopper dredge McFARLAND is dredging from Mile 4.5 AHP to Mile 3.5 AHP under Red Flag Emergency Call Out #2-2019. The McFARLAND began working under Red Flag assignment on February 8, 2019, the Red Flag was approved for 45-days (maximum) after no bids were received to Southwest Pass Hopper Dredge Rental Contract #3-2019.
WHEELER: The Corps’ hopper dredge WHEELER is presently dredging at Cubits Gap from Mile 3.5 AHP to Mile 2.0 AHP. The WHEELER is now working under Red Flag Emergency Call Out #3-2019.
CUTTERHEAD DREDGE(S) IN SOUTHWEST PASS (SWP):
R.S. WEEKS: The industry cutterhead dredge R.S. WEEKS (Weeks Marine) is presently at Mile 1.29 AHP and is dredging on assignment from Mile 1.5 AHP to Mile 2.0 BHP on the western side of the channel. The cutterhead started dredging in SWP on December 15, 2018.
CAPTAIN FRANK: The industry cutterhead dredge CAPTAIN FRANK is presently dredging at Mile 13.96 BHP. The cutterhead is working on assignment from Mile 10.5 BHP to Mile 17.8 BHP.
The river crested on the Carrollton Gauge (New Orleans) at 15.66 feet at 1200 hours on January 23, 2019 and the new long-range forecasts predict an upcoming crest of 17.0 feet on March 18, 2019.
The Carrollton Gauge (New Orleans) reading at 0500 hours was 15.34 feet with a 24-hour change of + 0.25 feet.
The Baton Rouge Gauge reading at 0600 hours was 38.77 feet with a 24-hour change of + 0.43 feet.
The graph below is reproduced from NOAA’s National Weather Service website and represents an experimental product to account for the complexity of accurately predicting long-range precipitation. This forecast projects stage levels based on expected precipitation for 2 days (top) and 16 days (bottom) and was developed within the North American Ensemble Forecast System (NAEFS) computer model and highlights Quantitative Precipitation Forecasts (QPF). Along with the forecasts, a shaded area is also provided to indicate uncertainty for the forecast each day in the future. These plots are experimental and not an official forecast product.
Please see the attached reports for complete details related to transit restrictions and dredge assignments.
Lower Mississippi River (LMR) Dredging Update 22519
The Corps of Engineers Mississippi Valley New Orleans (MVN) continues responding to shoaling in Southwest Pass (SWP) deposited by elevated river stages that began in November 2018. There are two government hopper dredges (WHEELER and McFARLAND) working under Red Flag Emergency Call Outs. The MVN is preparing to operate the Bonnet Carre ́ Spillway as the trigger point flow of 1.25 million cubic feet per second is anticipated. The initial opening of a few gates could occur as early as Wednesday, February 27, 2019.
TRANSIT RESTRICTIONS AT SOUTHWEST PASS:
The Crescent River Ports Pilots Association (CRPPA) maximum draft recommendation remains 45 feet (freshwater) with the caveat of high tide transits for vessels over 44 feet. There is also a one-way transit limitation for two vessels with drafts 40 feet or greater between Mile 4.5 Above Head of Passes (AHP) to Mile 1.5 AHP.
“-45’ft maximum draft, high tide with anything over 44’ft.
-One way with two vessels of 40’ft or greater between mile 1.5 to 4.5.”
The Bar Pilots maximum draft recommendation remains at 44 feet (freshwater) in response to severe shoaling in Southwest Pass. This remains the controlling draft for all vessels transiting Southwest Pass.
The Bar and Federal Pilots continue to utilize the flocculation-based transit restriction for all inbound vessels arriving Southwest Pass with a freshwater draft of 38-feet or greater. Inbound vessels with a draft of 38-feet or greater can only allowed enter SWP “between 3 hours after low tide, to 3 hours after high tide at SWP.”
INDUSTRY HOPPER DREDGE(S) IN SOUTHWEST PASS (SWP):
NEWPORT: The hopper dredge NEWPORT (Manson Construction) is dredging at the Venice Jump (Mile 10.5 AHP to Mile 10 AHP) under Southwest Pass Hopper Dredge Rental Contract #1-2019. The NEWPORT began dredging in SWP on November 28, 2018. The MVN intends to exercise the options on the NEWPORT’s contract to keep the hopper dredge working until approximately May 15th.
GLENN EDWARDS: The industry hopper dredge GLENN EDWARDS (Manson Construction) is dredging from Mile 1.0 AHP to Mile 1.0 Below Head of Passes (BHP). The GLENN EDWARDS commenced dredging on December 18, 2018 and is working under Southwest Pass Hopper Dredge Rental Contract #6-2018. The MVN was able to modify the GLENN EDWARDS contract and the hopper dredge will now continue dredging until approximately March 4th.
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BIG RIVER COALITION
INDUSTRY HOPPER DREDGE(S) IN SOUTHWEST PASS (SWP): (continued)
TERRAPIN ISLAND: The industry hopper dredge TERRAPIN ISLAND (Great Lakes Dredge & Dock) is dredging on two assignments, the first reach is on the jetty channel (Mile 21 BHP to Mile 22 BHP) and the second reach is from Mile 9.5 BHP to Mile 10.5 BHP. The TERRAPIN ISLAND began dredging under Southwest Pass Hopper Dredge Rental Contract #5-2019.
STUYVESANT: The industry hopper dredge STUYVESANT (Dutra Group) is expected to begin dredging under Southwest Pass Hopper Dredge Rental Contract #6-2019 next week.
GOVERNMENT HOPPER DREDGE(S) IN SOUTHWEST PASS (SWP): RED FLAG CALL OUTS
McFARLAND: The Corps’ hopper dredge McFARLAND is dredging from Mile 4.5 AHP to Mile 3.5 AHP under Red Flag Emergency Call Out #2-2019. The McFARLAND began working under Red Flag assignment on February 8, 2019, the Red Flag was approved for 45-days (maximum) after no bids were received to Southwest Pass Hopper Dredge Rental Contract #3-2019.
WHEELER: The Corps’ hopper dredge WHEELER is presently dredging at Cubits Gap from Mile 3.5 AHP to Mile 2.0 AHP. The WHEELER is now working under Red Flag Emergency Call Out #3-2019.
CUTTERHEAD DREDGE(S) IN SOUTHWEST PASS (SWP):
R.S. WEEKS: The industry cutterhead dredge R.S. WEEKS (Weeks Marine) is presently at Mile 1.29 AHP and is dredging on assignment from Mile 1.5 AHP to Mile 2.0 BHP on the western side of the channel. The cutterhead started dredging in SWP on December 15, 2018.
CAPTAIN FRANK: The industry cutterhead dredge CAPTAIN FRANK is presently dredging at Mile 13.96 BHP. The cutterhead is working on assignment from Mile 10.5 BHP to Mile 17.8 BHP.
Weeks Marine will determine which of the two cutterheads will return to complete the assignment at the Hopper Dredge Disposal Area (Head of Passes) after the present assignments are completed.
MVN HOPPER DREDGE CONTRACTS HISTORY FY 2019:
- Southwest Pass Hopper Dredge Rental Contract #6-2018 awarded to Manson Construction (NEWPORT to GLENN EDWARDS).
- Southwest Pass Hopper Dredge Rental Contract #1-2019 awarded to Manson Construction (GLENN EDWARDS to NEWPORT).
- Southwest Pass Hopper Dredge Rental Contract #2-2019 no bids, WHEELER on Red Flag Emergency Call Out #1-2019 (30-days).
- Southwest Pass Hopper Dredge Rental Contract #3-2019 no bids,McFARLAND Red Flag Emergency Call Out #2-2019 (45-days).
- Southwest Pass Hopper Dredge Rental Contract #4-2019 no bids,WHEELER Red Flag Call Out #3-2019 (30 days).
- Southwest Pass Hopper Dredge Rental Contract #5-2019 one non-awardable bid, converted through the Request for Proposal process and awarded to Great Lakes Dredge & Dock (TERRAPIN ISLAND).
- Southwest Pass Hopper Dredge Rental Contract #6-2019, was awarded to the Dutra Group for the hopper dredge
STUYVESANT.
