The U.S. Army Corps of Engineers (USACE) is working to restore authorized channel dimensions on 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 Southwest Pass. The dustpan dredges, HURLEY, JADWIN and WALLACE McGEORGE and the hopper dredge GLENN EDWARDS are working on the Crossings Above New Orleans. The focus on channel maintenance is shifting upriver to the Crossings Above New Orleans as the river stage levels begin to rapidly recede. The National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration’s National Weather Service’s Extended Streamflow Prediction (28-Day) issued today for the Baton Rouge Gauge predicts a drop from 26.32 feet to 18.07 feet on July 29, 2020 – a difference of 8.25 feet.
TRANSIT RESTRICTIONS IN THE AREA OF SOUTHWEST PASS:
The Bar Pilots increased their maximum draft recommendation to 47 feet (freshwater) effective immediately earlier today. The Bar Pilots implemented a maximum draft recommendation of 45 feet (freshwater) on June 10, 2020 that was increased today. The official Notice as issued by the Bar Pilots is attached.
The Crescent Pilots maximum draft recommendation remains at 46 feet freshwater as established on May 30, 2020.
Therefore, 46 feet freshwater remains the controlling draft for vessels transiting the area of SWP at this time.
INDUSTRY HOPPER DREDGE(S) IN THE AREA OF SOUTHWEST PASS (SWP):
NEWPORT: The hopper dredge NEWPORT (Manson Construction) is dredging at the Head of Passes (Mile 0.8 Above Head of Passes [AHP] to Mile 0.8 Below Head of Passes [BHP]). The NEWPORT began dredging under the first Gulf Coast Regional Hopper Dredge Contract 2020 on February 1, 2020 and is now expected to complete the work in SWP tomorrow night (July 2, 2020). The NEWPORT is expected to begin dredging on the Gulfport Ship Channel (Mississippi) under the Regional Contract upon departing SWP.
BAYPORT: The hopper dredge BAYPORT (Manson Construction) is dredging on assignment from Mile 1.0 BHP to Mile 3.5 BHP. 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.
GOVERNNMENT HOPPER DREDGE(S) IN SOUTHWEST PASS (SWP):
WHEELER: The USACE hopper dredge WHEELER is dredging on assignment from Mile 12.5 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 26, 2020. The cutterhead is responding to New Orleans Harbor and Baptiste Collette 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 continues dredging the central 250 feet at Red Eye Crossing (Mile 224 AHP). The HURLEY commenced dredging on the Crossings on June 29, 2020.
WALLACE McGEORGE: The industry dustpan dredge is 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) continues dredging the central 250 feet at Medora Crossing (Mile 212 AHP). 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 around July 20, 2020.
The Carrollton Gauge (New Orleans) reading at 1500 hours today was 9.33 feet with a 24-hour change of – 0.43 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 1600 hours today was 26.11 feet with a 24-hour change of – 0.98 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.
