The U.S. Army Corps of Engineers (USACE) is focusing channel maintenance efforts on the Crossings Above New Orleans as Southwest Pass has mostly been restored to authorized channel dimensions. The dustpan dredges: HURLEY, JADWIN and WALLACE McGEORGE and the hopper dredge BAYPORT are all working on the Crossings Above New Orleans.
TRANSIT RESTRICITIONS FOR SOUTHWEST PASS (SWP):
The Bar Pilots reported that at least two vessels bumped bottom while transiting SWP. The Bar Pilots issued a transit restriction that went into effect immediately on July 31, 2020 for all vessels with freshwater drafts of 46 feet or greater. Specifically, all vessels with freshwater drafts of 46 feet or greater must transit 3 hours before or after the daily high tide. The USACE is working to identify the areas of shoaling with coordinated channel surveys and to review options for a hopper dredge assignment.
TRANSIT RESTRICITIONS ON THE CROSSINGS:
THE ONE-WAY TRANSIT AND ANCHORAGE RESTRICTIONS AT GRAMERCY HAVE ALL BEEN RESCINDED. The hopper dredge BAYPORT was able to restore full channel dimensions in the Gramercy area and the one-way transit VTS Measure was cancelled by the U.S. Coast Guard. The NOBRA pilots have confirmed the restrictions on the use of the Grandview Anchorages has been removed effective immediately (for now).
History: The NOBRA Pilots reported severe shoaling in the area of a recent grounding and a VTS Measure was implemented near Mile 147 AHP. The U.S. Coast Guard implemented one-way traffic with no meeting or overtaking between ocean going vessels with drafts 38 feet or greater from Mile 148 AHP to Mile 145 AHP.
The NOBRA Pilots had closed Middle Grandview Anchorage (Mile 147.2 AHP to Mile 146.8 AHP) and Lower Grandview Anchorage (Mile 146.7 AHP to Mile 146.4 AHP) in order to promote navigational safety. In order to manage with limited available anchorage spots NOBRA requested that vessels with drafts of 30 feet or greater remain below New Orleans until sailing into an upriver berth. The USACE, NOBRA and Federal Pilots worked closely with the U.S. Coast Guard to dredge the deficient reaches of the channel and to promote navigational safety until the channel is restored. RESCINDED BY NOBRA
DUSTPAN DREDGE(S) ON THE CROSSINGS ABOVE NEW ORLEANS:
The MVN continues dredging to restore or maintain at least the central 250 feet of the channel (authorized width is 500 feet) on the Crossings Above New Orleans as river stages continue to fall.
WALLACE McGEORGE: The industry dustpan dredge is now dredging the central 250 feet of the channel at Baton Rouge Front (Mile 232.0 AHP). The WALLACE McGEORGE commenced dredging on the Crossings on Thursday, May 21, 2020.
HURLEY: The government dustpan dredge HURLEY continues dredging the central 250 feet of channel at Red Eye Crossing (Mile 224 AHP). The HURLEY commenced dredging on the Crossings on June 29, 2020 departed for Victoria Bend on July 18 and resumed dredging on the Crossings on August 3, 2020.
JADWIN: The government dustpan dredge commenced dredging full channel width (500 feet) at Belmont Crossing (Mile 154.0 AHP) this morning. The JADWIN began dredging on the Crossings on Thursday, May 21, 2020
INDUSTRY HOPPER DREDGE(S) ON THE CROSSINGS ABOVE NEW ORLEANS:
BAYPORT: The hopper dredge BAYPORT (Manson Construction) is now dredging the central 250 feet of channel at Sardine Point (Mile 219.0 AHP). The hopper dredge completed work at Gramercy (Mile 148 AHP to Mile 146 AHP) late yesterday afternoon. The BAYPORT’s contract has been extended, the hopper dredge is now expected to complete this contract on approximately August 15, 2020. The BAYPORT commenced dredging on the Crossings on July 9, 2020.
GOVERNMENT HOPPER DREDGE(S) IN THE AREA OF SOUTHWEST PASS:
WHEELER: The MVN’s hopper dredge WHEELER is in dry dock being repaired but expected to return to dredging next week. The WHEELER is scheduled to work in SWP under Readiness Exercise #2-2020 from August 11, 2020 to September 1, 2020.
The Carrollton Gauge (New Orleans) reading at 1400 hours today was 4.56 feet with a 24-hour change of + 0.22 feet.
NOAA’s National Weather Service’s Extended Streamflow Prediction (28-Day) for the Carrollton Gauge issued today indicates a rise of about 1.0 feet and then beginning a slow fall to 3.7 feet on
September 5, 2020.
The Baton Rouge Gauge reading at 1000 hours today was 15.39 feet with a 24-hour change of + 0.65 feet.
NOAA’s National Weather Service’s Extended Streamflow Prediction (28-Day) for the Baton Rouge Gauge issued today indicates a rise of about 2.0 feet and the beginning a slow fall to 11.8 feet on
September 5, 2020.
