LMR Dredging Update 71419.pdf

The Corps of Engineers Mississippi Valley New Orleans (MVN) has confirmed that the hopper dredges have resumed operation in the area of Southwest Pass (SWP).  The dustpan dredges on the Crossings remain idle but will resume dredging when weather conditions improve in the Baton Rouge area.  The MVN confirms that survey vessels are operating and focusing on key areas in SWP: Venice Jump, West Bay Diversion, Cubits Gap and the Head of Passes.  The updated surveys will be utilized to make decisions on draft recommendations and placement of the hopper dredges in SWP.

 

UPDATED: TRANSIT RESTRICTIONS AT SOUTHWEST PASS (SWP):

 The Bar Pilots have reduced their maximum draft recommendation to 40 feet (freshwater) as traffic resumed this morning based on the Coast Guard issuing Port Condition Normal (MSIB attached) at 0600 hours for the Mississippi River Ship Channel.  This will be the controlling maximum draft for all vessels transiting in the area of Southwest Pass until channel surveys are made available, indications are the surveys will be ready by 1800 hours tonight (Sunday, July 14, 2019).

 

INDUSTRY HOPPER DREDGE(S) IN SOUTHWEST PASS (SWP):

 NEWPORT:  The hopper dredge NEWPORT (Manson Construction) resumed dredging operations yesterday afternoon in the area of Cubits Gap (Mile 4 Above Head of Passes [AHP] to Mile 2 AHP).  The NEWPORT is now dredging under Southwest Pass Hopper Dredge Rental Contract #8-2019.  The NEWPORT began dredging in SWP on November 28, 2018.

STUYVESANT:  The industry hopper dredge STUYVESANT (Dutra Group) resumed dredging yesterday afternoon from Mile 0.5 AHP to Mile 1.5 Below Head of Passes. The STUYVESANT began dredging under Southwest Pass Hopper Dredge Rental Contract #10-2019 on June 14, 2019.

 

 GOVERNMENT HOPPER DREDGE(S) IN SOUTHWEST PASS (SWP):

 WHEELER: MVN’s hopper dredge WHEELER is transiting down river and will is expected to commence dredging from Mile 2.0 AHP to Mile 0.5 AHP under Red Flag Emergency Callout #5-2019 tonight.  The Red Flag was originally approved for 45-days with emergency dredging operations commencing on June 3, 2019.  The Red Flag was then extended on June 28, 2019 until August 31, 2019 after not being able to award the one bid received to Southwest Pass Hopper Dredge Rental Contract #11-2019.

 

CUTTERHEAD DREDGE(S) IN SOUTHWEST PASS (SWP):

 C.R. McCASKILL: Weeks Marine’s cutterhead dredge C.R. McCASKILL is expected to start dredging at Mile 1.0 AHP on the western channel toe by July 20, 2019 under Southwest Pass Cutterhead Dredge Rental Contract #2-2019.  However, the impacts now Hurricane Barry may alter this advertised start date.  

 CAPTAIN FRANK: Weeks Marine’s cutterhead dredge CAPTAIN FRANK is expected to start dredging at Mile 5.0 BHP on the western channel toe by July 24, 2019 under Southwest Pass Cutterhead Dredge Rental Contract #2-2019.  However, the impacts of Hurricane Barry may alter this advertised start date.  

 

CUTTERHEAD DREDGE(S) IN THE HOPPER DREDGE DISPOSAL AREA (HDDA):

R.S. WEEKS: The industry cutterhead dredge R.S. WEEKS (Weeks Marine) resumed dredging operation in the HDDA yesterday afternoon.

 

DUSTPAN DREDGE(S) ON THE CROSSINGS ABOVE NEW ORLEANS:

WALLCE McGEORGE: The industry dustpan dredge WALLCE McGEORGE is riding out the storm at Devils Swamp in the Baton Rouge Harbor (Mile 235 AHP).  The industry dustpan dredge commenced dredging on the Crossings on May 9, 2019.

 HURLEY: The Corps dustpan dredge HURLEY is riding out the storm at Red Eye Crossing on the left descending bank (Mile 223.5 AHP).  The government dustpan dredge commenced dredging on the Crossings on May 4, 2019

JADWIN: The Corps dustpan dredge JADWIN is riding out the storm at Belmont Crossing (Mile 154 AHP) on the right descending bank.  The government dustpan dredge commenced dredging on the Crossings on June 27, 2019.

 

The Carrollton Gauge (New Orleans) reading at 0900 hours was 16.27 feet, with a 24-hour change of – 0.39 feet. 

 

According to the National Weather Service the storm driven crest on the Carrollton Gauge reached 16.93 feet at 1400 hours on Saturday, July 12, 2019 the forecasts now predict the stage to remain steady over the next week and to then begin a slow fall reaching 14.1 feet by August 11, 2019.

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.

There are 168 bays still opened at the Bonnet Carré Spillway, no additional bays are expected to be opened. 

Please see the attached reports for complete details related to dredge locations (assignments), channel conditions and the latest information on now Tropical Storm Barry.

 

Tropical Storm BARRY – Navigation Restoration Conference Report – July 14, 2019

MSIB XIX-050: USCG COTP New Orleans MSIB – Set Port Condition Normal