“Pilots report deteriorating conditions of channel, ships feeling it, lack of dredges….”
Captain Miller says there’s “nothing official” on any further, additional draft restrictions, but conditions have to be carefully monitored.
I’ve attached the latest Dredging Report.
Any updates will be shared upon receipt.
Lower Mississippi River (LMR) Dredging Update 61719
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 (historic flood event and precipitation levels). There are three hopper dredges working in the area of SWP (2 industry hoppers and 1 government hopper) and two dustpan dredges working on the Crossings. The MVN awarded Southwest Pass Hopper Dredge Rental Contract #10-2019 to the hopper dredge STUYVESANT (Dutra Group). The MVN received one bid to the advertisement of Southwest Pass Hopper Dredge Rental Contract #11-2019 last week, the bid could not be awarded.
TRANSIT RESTRICTIONS AT SOUTHWEST PASS (SWP):
- 1) The Bar Pilots maximum draft recommendation remains at 44 feet (freshwater) as established at 1000 hours on Wednesday, April 17, 2019.
- 2) The Crescent River Port Pilots maximum draft recommendation of 44 feet (freshwater) remains as established on Wednesday, April 17, 2019.
- 3) The Federal Pilots increased their maximum draft recommendation to 44 feet (freshwater) on Wednesday, April 24, 2019.
INDUSTRY HOPPER DREDGE(S) IN SOUTHWEST PASS (SWP):
STUYVESANT: The hopper dredge STUYVESANT (Dutra Group) is dredging on assignment from Mile 0.8 Above Head of Passes (AHP) to Mile 1.0 Below Head of Passes (BHP). The STUYVESANT began working under Southwest Pass Hopper Dredge Rental Contract #10-2019 on June 14, 2019 after completing Contract #6-2019. The hopper dredge STUYVESANT is scheduled for refueling and to undergo Coast Guard inspection (Certificate of Inspection) and be offline from June 20th to June 26th.
NEWPORT: The hopper dredge NEWPORT (Manson Construction) is dredging from Mile 5.0 BHP to Mile 6.5 BHP. The NEWPORT completed Southwest Pass Hopper Dredge Rental Contract #1-2019 and commenced dredging under Southwest Pass Hopper Dredge Rental Contract #8-2019. The NEWPORT began dredging in SWP on November 28, 2018.
GOVERNMENT HOPPER DREDGE(S) IN SOUTHWEST PASS (SWP):
WHEELER: MVN’s hopper dredge WHEELER is dredging at Cubits Gap from Mile 3.5 AHP to Mile 2.5 AHP under Red Flag Emergency Callout #5-2019. The WHEELER is scheduled to come to the dock at the New Orleans District tonight to refuel and return to SWP late on Wednesday, June 19th to resume dredging before the STUYVESANT’s scheduled departure.
CUTTERHEAD DREDGE(S) IN THE HOPPER DREDGE DISPOSAL AREA (HDDA):
R.S. WEEKS: The industry cutterhead dredge R.S. WEEKS (Weeks Marine) continues dredging in the Hopper Dredge Disposal Area and is beneficially using all material in the Pass A’Loutre Wildlife Management Area (PALWMA). The cutterhead dredged the Ship Channel (SWP) from December 15, 2018 to April 24, 2019 and began dredging in the HDDA on April 26, 2019. A total of 4.5 million cubic yards of material has now been beneficially placed in the PALWMA from the HDDA and has restored approximately 400 acres of sensitive wildlife habitat.
DUSTPAN DREDGE(S) ON THE CROSSINGS ABOVE NEW ORLEANS:
HURLEY: The Corps dustpan dredge HURLEY continues dredging operations on the central 250 feet of channel at Red Eye Crossing (Mile 224 AHP). The government dustpan dredge commenced dredging on the Crossings on May 4, 2019
WALLCE McGEORGE: The industry dustpan dredge WALLCE McGEORGE continues dredging operations on the central 250 feet of channel at Bayou Goula Crossing (Mile 198 AHP). The industry hopper dredge commenced dredging on the Crossings on May 9, 2019.
