The U.S. Army Corps of Engineers (USACE) continues working to restore the deficient reaches of the Mississippi River Ship Channel (MRSC) in the area of Southwest Pass with two industry hopper dredges, a government hopper dredge and one industry cutterhead dredge. The industry hopper dredges GLENN EDWARDS and NEWPORT, the government hopper dredge WHEELER and the cutterhead dredge CAPTAIN FRANK are all working assignments in the area of Southwest Pass (SWP). The hopper dredge STUYVESANT is expected to arrive in SWP tomorrow. The MVN is dredging the central 250 feet of the channel (authorized width is 500 feet) on the Crossings Above New Orleans with two dustpan dredges.
SOUTHWEST PASS (SWP) TRANSIT RESTRICTIONS:
The Bar and Federal Pilots continue to recommend a maximum draft recommendation of 44 feet (freshwater) as implemented on May 14, 2020. The Crescent Pilots increased their maximum draft recommendation to 46 feet (freshwater) on May 30, 2020 apparently due to improving conditions in the area of Cubits Gap. The controlling draft recommendation for all vessels transiting Southwest Pass is 44 feet freshwater.
HOPPER DREDGE(S) IN SOUTHWEST PASS (SWP):
NEWPORT: The hopper dredge NEWPORT (Manson Construction) is dredging on assignment in the area of Cubits Gap (Mile 4.0 Above Head of Passes [AHP] to Mile 2.5 AHP). The NEWPORT began dredging under the first Gulf Coast Regional Hopper Dredge Contract 2020 on February 1, 2020. The NEWPORT is now expected to continue dredging on the MRSC until the arrival of the hopper dredge BAYPORT in mid-June. The NEWPORT will then begin dredging on the Gulfport Ship Channel (Mississippi) to complete work under the Regional Contract.
GLENN EDWARDS: The GLENN EDWARDS (Manson Construction) continues dredging on assignment at the Jetty End of SWP (Mile 18.2 BHP to Mile 19.5 BHP). The GLENN EDWARDS began dredging in Southwest Pass on March 20, 2020 under Southwest Pass Hopper Dredge Rental Contract #13-2019. The contract has been extended and the hopper dredge is now expected to complete work on approximately July 20, 2020.
STUYVESANT: The hopper dredge STUYVESANT (Dutra Group) arrival for Southwest Pass Hopper Dredge Rental Contract #5-2020 was delayed but is now expected to arrive SWP by tomorrow (June 2, 2020). The hopper dredge will work in SWP for approximately 30 days to complete this contract.
BAYPORT: The hopper dredge BAYPORT (Manson Construction) is expected to begin dredging in SWP by mid-June. The BAYPORT is expected to work in SWP for approximately 30 days to complete hours on a Calcasieu River Hopper Dredge Rental Contract.
GOVERNMENT HOPPER DREDGE(S) IN SOUTHWEST PASS (SWP):
WHEELER: The USACE’s hopper dredge WHEELER is dredging at the Head of Passes (Mile 2.5 AHP to Mile 1.0 Below Head of Passes [BHP]). The WHEELER’s usage is approved under Red Flag Emergency Callout #1-2020 for 60 days of utilization in response to not receiving any bids to Southwest Pass Hopper Dredge Rental Contract #2-2020 (February 6, 2020). The WHEELER began dredging in Southwest Pass on March 28, 2020 and is now expected to complete Red Flag #1-2020 the first week of June (maybe June 6, 2020). The MVN has tentatively scheduled Readiness Exercise #1-2020 from June 16th to July 6th.
CUTTERHEAD DREDGE(S) IN THE AREA OF SOUTHWEST PASS (SWP):
CAPTAIN FRANK: Weeks Marine’s cutterhead dredge CAPTAIN FRANK is dredging at Mile 16.52 BHP on assignment on the eastern side of the channel from Mile 15.8 BHP to Mile 18.0 BHP. The cutterhead commenced dredging in Southwest Pass on January 24, 2020 under Southwest Pass Cutterhead Dredge Rental Contract #3-2019.
CUTTERHEAD DREDGE(S) IN THE HOPPER DREDGE DISPOSAL AREA (HDDA):
CAPTAIN FRANK: The cutterhead dredge CAPTAIN FRANK (Weeks Marine) will resume dredging in the HDDA upon completion of their assignment in Southwest Pass. The project will beneficially place material removed from the HDDA in the Pass A’ Loutre Wildlife Management Area (PALWMA). The cutterhead dredges have previously removed and beneficially utilized approximately 13.10 million cubic yards (mcy) of material from the HDDA and restored roughly 1,048 acres. Supplemental funding allowed the MVN to increase the amount of material to be removed from the HDDA to a total of 15.075 mcy. When this project is completed later this year, approximately 1,200 acres will have been restored in the PALWMA.
DUSTPAN DREDGE(S) ON THE CROSSINGS ABOVE NEW ORLEANS:
WALLACE McGEORGE: The government dustpan dredge continues dredging the central 250 feet of the channel at Red Eye Crossing (Mile 224 AHP). The WALLACE McGEORGE commenced dredging on the Crossings at 1730 hours on Thursday, May 21, 2020.
JADWIN: The government dustpan dredge continues dredging the central 250 feet of the channel at Alhambra Crossing (Mile 190.5 AHP). The JADWIN began dredging on the Crossings at 2045 hours on Thursday, May 21, 2020. The JADWIN is expected to complete this first assignment at Alhambra Crossing by Wednesday morning and the White Castle Anchorage will be reopened for normal vessel usage at 0900 hours Wednesday (June 3, 2020).
The NOBRA and Federal Pilots will keep the White Castle Anchorage (Mile 191.1 AHP to Mile 190.4 AHP) clear of vessels while the JADWIN is working at Alhambra Crossing to promote navigational safety.
CUTTERHEAD DREDGE(S) AT THE NEW ORLEANS HARBOR:
The MVN held a bid opening for New Orleans Harbor Cutterhead Rental Contract #4-2019 on May 21, 2020 and the apparent low bidder was Weeks Marine. The MVN anticipates work on this contract will start in mid- to late-June but the start date could be adjusted due to lingering high river conditions.
The Carrollton Gauge (New Orleans) reading at 1400 hours today was 13.61 feet with a 24-hour change of + 0.12 feet.
NOAA’s National Weather Service’s Extended Streamflow Prediction (28-Day) for the Carrollton Gauge indicates a slight rise cresting at 14.2 feet and remaining steady before resuming a very slow fall to 12.0 feet on June 29, 2020.
The Baton Rouge Gauge reading at 1500 hours today was 36.01 feet with a 24-hour change of + 0.15 feet.
