RE: CORPS’ 2019 REVETMENT SCHEDULE AND TRANSIT RESTRICTIONS 112619

The latest schedule for the Corps’ Mississippi Valley New Orleans (MVN) 2019 Mississippi River Bank Stabilization program schedule (revetment and rock work), with applicable navigation restrictions, is listed below. The list of sites was revised limiting the priority revetment locations between Baton Rouge and New Orleans to two sites and three locations below New Orleans.

The Corps hosted a meeting, with representatives from the Corps’ Bank Stabilization Division, the U.S. Coast Guard (USCG), applicable Pilot Associations and the Coalition, to detail the scope of bank stabilization efforts and develop potential transit restrictions. During times of actual revetment work, the Mat Sinking Unit (MSU) extends from approximately 300 to 800 feet channelward from the bank. When the Unit is not folded in, it extends about 600 feet from the bank channelward. When it is folded in, the MSU extends 250 feet from the bank. The normal scheduled working times for the MSU are from 0600 hours to 1900 hours. In different locations the operations may be completed slightly before or after 1900 hours. The Corps agreed to Industry’s request to fold in the Mat Sinking Unit (MSU) at night on revetment locations that warranted concern. The Pilots and Coast Guard’s Lower Mississippi River Vessel Traffic Service will utilize the Contact Pilot on the MSU to coordinate vessel movements in the vicinity of these operations.

2019 Corps’ Revetment Schedule and Restrictions Locations Below New Orleans

The revetment operations at Port Sulphur have now been completed and the MSU is making preparations to move upriver to the Myrtle Grove (Mile 58.9 AHP) location. Revetment operations are expected to start at the Myrtle Grove location tomorrow morning, Wednesday, November 27, 2019. The USCG Safety Advisory restricting vessels to one-way traffic during working hours at Myrtle Grove is attached.

2019 Corps’ Revetment Schedule and Restrictions Locations Above New Orleans

Location	Mile (Right or Left)	2019 and 2020 Scheduled Date(s)	Restriction
Missouri Bend	219.3 RDB	December 12 to December 20 December 23	One-way transits with slow bell during working hours. MSU to fold in at night.
*Aben	172.5 RDB	December 2 to December 6 December 9 to December 12	*No traffic during adjusted working hours within VTS Measure conditions listed in attached MSIB.

The USCG in coordination with navigation representatives has developed the transit conditions that have been formulated in the attached MSIB declaring the Vessel Traffic Service Measure to accommodate deep-draft vessel movements during revetment operations at Aben /Bringier Point.

“The Captain of the Port New Orleans is issuing a safety advisory for the waters of the Lower Mississippi River from Mile Marker (MM) 171.5 Above Head of Passes (AHP) to MM 173.5 AHP. This advisory is needed to protect persons and vessels from the potential safety hazards associated with the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers (USACE) revetment operations occurring along the right descending bank (RDB) near MM 172.5 (Bringier Point). The revetment operations will be conducted daily from 5:00 A.M. – 3:00 P.M. local time from December 2 – 12, 2019, excluding the weekend. During times of actual revetment work, the Mat Sinking Unit (MSU) will extend approximately 300-800’ channel ward from the bank. At the conclusion of daily operations, the platform will be removed, and the channel will have no restrictions at night.

Beginning at 5:00 A.M. on December 2, 2019 this measure is in effect of each working day with the following provisions:

• All vessels (except as described below) are prohibited from entering a zone extending from MM 171.5 to MM 173.5 AHP LMR from 5:00 A.M. to 3:00 P.M.
• Fleet vessels and smaller tows less than 600 ft may be allowed one-way traffic around the MSU after contacting New Orleans Traffic and the ACOE on-scene pilots’ stationed on the M/VHARRISON or M/V WILLIAM JAMES via VHF-FM Channels 67 or 82 to make passing arrangements.

  From 3:00 P.M. to 5:00 A.M. of each working day.

• All traffic shall contact New Orleans Traffic to coordinate safe passage as required by 33 CFR161.65 (d).
• Down bound deep draft vessels shall contact New Orleans Traffic prior to passing White Castle Anchorage (MM 190 – 191) to verify the MSU has been removed from the channel.”

The planned 2019 revetment operations include work at several key locations where the banks have been compromised by the extended high river stages. The work dates were established to focus on the priority locations first. However, throughout the bank stabilization efforts changes based upon river stages and experience with vessel transits should be anticipated. The Corps, Coast Guard, Pilots and BRC will work closely with industry to ensure that changes are noted and distributed as warranted and available.

Safety Advisory – Myrtle Grove Revetment Operations MM 58.9 RDB AHP LMR

Myrtle Grove Revetment Ops Safery Advisory.pdf

The Captain of the Port New Orleans is issuing a safety advisory for the waters of the Lower Mississippi River from Mile Marker (MM) 57.9 Above Head of Passes (AHP) to MM 59.9 AHP. This advisory is needed to protect persons and vessels from the potential safety hazards associated with the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers (USACE) revetment operations occurring along the right descending bank (RDB) near MM 58.9 AHP (Myrtle Grove). The Mat Sinking Unit (MSU) and other associated equipment will be on-scene at Myrtle Grove on Tuesday, November 26, 2019 approximately 1800. The revetment operations will be conducted daily from 6:00 AM – 7:00 PM local from November 27 – 30, 2019. During times of actual revetment work, the Mat Sinking Unit (MSU) will extend approximately 600-800′ channelward from the bank. At the conclusion of daily operations, the platform will remain on-scene and will extend approximately 600′ from the RDB into the river at night.

Effective at 6:00 AM on November 27, 2019 this safety advisory is in effect with the following provisions:

* All vessels are restricted to one-way traffic from MM 57.9 to MM 59.9 AHP LMR from 6:00 AM to7:00 PM daily.
* All vessels shall transit at slowest safe speed to minimize wake from MM 57.9 to MM 59.9 AHPLMR.

* All vessels shall contact the USACE on-scene pilots stationed on the M/V HARRISON or M/VWILLIAM JAMES via VHF-FM Channels 67 or 82 to make passing arrangements.

Updates and/or changes will be disseminated via VTS email distribution and/or via Safety Broadcast Notice to Mariners.

For further information, contact:
Coast Guard Sector New Orleans Command Center: (504) 365-2200
Coast Guard Waterways Management: (504) 365-2280
Vessel Traffic Service Lower Mississippi River: (504) 365-2230, VHF FM Ch. 05A, 12, 67

MSIB_Vol_XIX_Issue_088_Revetment_MM_172.5.pdf