The U.S. Army Corps of Engineers Mississippi Valley New Orleans (MVN) plans to commence dredging on the Crossings Above New Orleans on Sunday, May 5, 2019. The MVN intends to start dredging at Red Eye Crossing and Alhambra Crossing. The information in bold below was included in the Lower Mississippi River (LMR) Dredging Update 42519 as issued yesterday and attached.
The White Castle Anchorage from Mile 191.1 AHP to Mile 190.4 AHP will not be available for vessel usage while the dustpan dredge WALLACE McGEORGE works at Alhambra Crossing (Mile 191 AHP). The MVN expects to get started on these two Crossings while the river is still high, the anchorage closure is expected to begin on Sunday, May 5, 2019.
This date is subject to change, but as of this writing the New Orleans – Baton Rouge Steamship Pilots Association (NOBRA) and the Federal Pilots and Docking Masters of Louisiana (Federal Pilots) plan to have the White Castle Anchorage cleared the morning of May 5th to promote navigational safety during dredging operations.
The date is subject to change based on the river forecast and changes to the schedule, members will be advised of any changes.
The best estimate is that the dustpan dredge (WALLACE McGEORGE) will be at Alhambra Crossing for two weeks once it starts (estimate only). The message is intended to give notice of the anchorage being off limits, updates will be issued as more precise information is available. The MVN plans to start working to clear the central 250 feet or so of these Crossings and move to other locations to do the same. There is a considerable amount of sediment to be removed from the majority of the Crossings, estimates of 25-30 feet in some locations.
The dredging operations to restore full channel dimensions (45 feet by 500 feet) on the Crossings will take 3-5 months with all three dustpan dredges working (HURLEY, WALLACE McGEORGE and JADWIN).
DUSTPAN DREDGE(S) ON THE CROSSINGS ABOVE NEW ORLEANS:
The MVN expects to start dredging with two dustpan dredges on the Crossings on Sunday May 5, 2019, tentative plans are for the HURLEY to start at Red Eye Crossing (Mile 224 AHP) and the WALLACE McGEORGE at Alhambra Crossing (Mile 191 AHP). The White Castle Anchorage (Mile 191.1 AHP to Mile 190.4 AHP) will be off limits for vessel usage during dredging operations at Alhambra Crossing, the closure of this anchorage is tentatively expected to last two weeks. Additional details will be circulated when finalized.
Lower Mississippi River (LMR) Dredging Update 42519
The Corps of Engineers Mississippi Valley New Orleans (MVN) continues responding to active shoaling in Southwest Pass (SWP) deposited by long-term high river stages (flood event). There are four industry hopper dredges, two industry cutterhead dredges and one government hopper dredge working in SWP.
UPDATED: TRANSIT RESTRICTIONS AT SOUTHWEST PASS (SWP):
The Bar Pilots maximum draft recommendation remains at 44 feet (freshwater) as established at 1000 hours on Wednesday, April 17, 2019.
The Crescent River Port Pilots also increased their maximum draft recommendation to 44 feet (freshwater) on Wednesday, April 17, 2019.
The Federal Pilots increased their maximum draft recommendation to 44 feet (freshwater) yesterday, Wednesday, April 24, 2019 as a result of improving conditions in Southwest Pass.
INDUSTRY HOPPER DREDGE(S) IN SOUTHWEST PASS (SWP):
BAYPORT: The industry hopper dredge is dredging at the Venice Jump from Mile 10.4 Above Head of Passes (AHP) to Mile 10.1 AHP. The hopper began working under Southwest Pass Hopper Dredge Rental Contract #6-2018 on Sunday, March 31, 2019 (Manson Construction has utilized three dredges: NEWPORT to GLENN EDWARDS now to the BAYPORT to complete this contract). The BAYPORT is now expected to complete this contract on April 29, 2019.
NEWPORT: ThehopperdredgeNEWPORT(MansonConstruction)ispresentlydredgingfrom Mile 2.3 AHP to Mile 1.2 AHP. The NEWPORT is working 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 in SWP until June 4, 2019.
GLENN EDWARDS: The industry hopper dredge is dredging on assignment at the Head of Passes (approximately Mile 0.6 AHP to Mile 0.8 Below Head of Passes [BHP]). The GLENN EDWARDS resumed dredging in SWP on Sunday, March 31, 2019 under Southwest Pass Hopper Dredge Rental Contract #7-2019. The contract should be completed around May 29, 2019.
STUYVESANT: TheindustryhopperdredgeSTUYVESANT(DutraGroup)isdredgingonthe jetty end of SWP (Mile 17.8 BHP to Mile 19.6 BHP). The STUYVESANT began dredging in SWP on Thursday, March 7, 2019 under Southwest Pass Hopper Dredge Rental Contract #6- 2019. This contract should keep the STUYVESANT in SWP until June 9, 2019 (approximately)
GOVERNMENT HOPPER DREDGE(S) IN SOUTHWEST PASS (SWP): RED FLAG EMERGENCY CALL OUTS:
WHEELER: MVN’s hopper dredge WHEELER is presently dredging in the area of the area of Cubits Gap (Mile 3.5 AHP to Mile 3.0 AHP). The WHEELER began working under Red Flag Emergency Call Out #4-2019 (30-days) on April 10, 2019.
CUTTERHEAD DREDGE(S) IN SOUTHWEST PASS (SWP):
R.S. WEEKS: The industry cutterhead dredge R.S. WEEKS (Weeks Marine) has completed the assignment from Mile 1.5 AHP to Mile 2.0 BHP. The cutterhead is in the process of relocating to the Hopper Dredge Disposal Area to resume that assignment once all equipment is relocated. The cutterhead worked on the navigation channel from December 15, 2018 to April 24, 2019.
CAPTAIN FRANK: The industry cutterhead dredge CAPTAIN FRANK is presently dredging at Mile 5.21 BHP. The cutterhead is working on assignment from Mile 4.9 BHP to Mile 6.1 BHP on the western side of the channel. The cutterhead started dredging in SWP on February 23, 2109.
DUSTPAN DREDGE(S) ON THE CROSSINGS ABOVE NEW ORLEANS:
The MVN expects to start dredging with two dustpan dredges on the Crossings on Sunday May 5, 2019, tentative plans are for the HURLEY to start at Red Eye Crossing (Mile 224 AHP) and the WALLACE McGEORGE at Alhambra Crossing (Mile 191 AHP). The White Castle Anchorage (Mile 191.1 AHP to Mile 190.4 AHP) will be off limits for vessel usage during dredging operations at Alhambra Crossing, the closure of this anchorage is tentatively expected to last two weeks. Additional details will be circulated when finalized.
