The U.S. Army Corps of Engineers (USACE) is working to restore the deficient reaches of the Mississippi River Ship Channel (MRSC) in the area of Southwest Pass with two industry hopper dredges and one government hopper dredge. The industry hopper dredges BAYPORT and NEWPORT and the USACE’s hopper dredge WHEELER are working on assignments in the area of Southwest Pass. The dustpan dredges, JADWIN and WALLACE McGEORGE and the hopper dredge GLENN EDWARDS are working on the Crossings Above New Orleans and will soon be joined by the dustpan dredge HURLEY. The focus on channel maintenance is shifting upriver to the Crossings Above New Orleans as the water levels begin to rapidly recede. The National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration’s National Weather Service’s Extended Streamflow Prediction (28-Day) for the Baton Rouge Gauge predicts a drop from 28.28 feet to 20.1 feet on July 27, 2020 – a difference of 8.18 feet.
SOUTHWEST PASS (SWP) TRANSIT RESTRICTIONS:
The controlling draft for all vessels transiting Southwest Pass remains 45 feet (freshwater).
The Bar Pilots increased their maximum draft recommendation to 45 feet (freshwater) on June 10, 2020.
The Federal Pilots raised their maximum draft recommendation to 45 feet (freshwater) on June 11, 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.
INDUSTRY HOPPER DREDGE(S) IN THE AREA OF SOUTHWEST PASS (SWP):
BAYPORT: The hopper dredge BAYPORT (Manson Construction) is dredging in the area of Cubits Gap (Mile 3.5 Above Head of Passes [AHP] to Mile 3.0 AHP). The BAYPORT began dredging in SWP on June 18, 2020 and will work in SWP for approximately 30 days to complete hours on Calcasieu River Hopper Dredge Rental Contract 19C0076.
NEWPORT: The hopper dredge NEWPORT (Manson Construction) is dredging at the Head of Passes (Mile 1.0 AHP to Mile 1.0 Below Head of Passes [BHP]). The NEWPORT began dredging under the first Gulf Coast Regional Hopper Dredge Contract 2020 on February 1, 2020. The NEWPORT will begin dredging on the Gulfport Ship Channel (Mississippi) under the Regional Contract upon completing the assignment in SWP (estimated to depart on June 30, 2020).
GOVERNNMENT HOPPER DREDGE(S) IN SOUTHWEST PASS (SWP):
WHEELER: The USACE hopper dredge WHEELER is dredging on assignment from Mile 12 BHP to Mile 15 BHP. The WHEELER commenced dredging under Southwest Pass Readiness Exercise #1-2020 on June 24th the Readiness Exercise is scheduled to be completed on July 6th (2020).
CUTTERHEAD DREDGE(S) AT THE NEW ORLEANS HARBOR:
CAPTAIN FRANK: Weeks Marine’s cutterhead dredge CAPTAIN FRANK began dredging on assignment from Napoleon Avenue to Milan Street City Front Wharves on June 25, 2020. The cutterhead is responding to New Orleans Harbor Cutterhead Rental Contract #4-2019.
DUSTPAN DREDGE(S) ON THE CROSSINGS ABOVE NEW ORLEANS:
The MVN is dredging to restore or maintain the central 250 feet of the channel (authorized width is 500 feet) on the Crossings Above New Orleans.
HURLEY: The government dustpan dredge HURLEY is expected to commence dredging at Red Eye Crossing (Mile 224 AHP) later today (June 29, 2020).
WALLACE McGEORGE: The industry dustpan dredge is transiting downriver from Red Eye Crossing to begin dredging the central 250 feet of the channel at Alhambra Crossing (Mile 192 AHP). The White Castle Anchorage (Mile 191.1 AHP to Mile 190.4 AHP) remains off limits for vessel usage as noted in the attached Marine Safety Information Bulletin issued by the U.S. Coast Guard. The WALLACE McGEORGE commenced dredging on the Crossings on Thursday, May 21, 2020.
JADWIN: The government dustpan dredge continues dredging the central 250 feet of channel at Belmont Crossing (Mile 154 .2 AHP). The JADWIN began dredging on the Crossings on Thursday, May 21, 2020.
INDUSTRY HOPPER DREDGE(S) ON THE CROSSINGS ABOVE NEW ORLEANS:
GLENN EDWARDS: The industry hopper dredge GLENN EDWARDS (Manson Construction) is taking on fuel but will resume dredging operations on assignment at Medora Crossing (Mile 212 AHP) later today. The GLENN EDWARDS began dredging in Southwest Pass on March 20, 2020 under Southwest Pass Hopper Dredge Rental Contract #13-2019. This contract has been extended and the hopper dredge is now expected to complete work on approximately July 20, 2020.
The Carrollton Gauge (New Orleans) reading at 1000 hours today was 10.36 feet with a 24-hour change of – 0.41 feet.
NOAA’s National Weather Service’s Extended Streamflow Prediction (28-Day) for the Carrollton Gauge issued today indicates a steady fall to 7.6 feet on July 27, 2020.
The Baton Rouge Gauge reading at 1100 hours today was 28.28 feet with a 24-hour change of – 1.00 feet.
NOAA’s National Weather Service’s Extended Streamflow Prediction (28-Day) for the Baton Rouge Gauge issued today indicates a steady fall to 20.1 feet on July 27, 2020.
