The Big River Coalition’s U.S. Army Corps of Engineers (USACE) 2020/2021 Revetment Schedule and Transit Restrictions Update 11520 is here and includes an updated schedule of work for the remaining revetment operations.

The U.S. Coast Guard also issued the attached Marine Safety Information Bulletin (MSIB) to document the required transit restrictions for the upcoming work at Poydras (Mile 84.8 Above Head of Passes [AHP]) on the left descending bank (ldb).

The revetment operations will remain idle until resuming at the Poydras location at 0600 hours on Monday, November 9, 2020; however, the equipment will be moved downriver into place alongside the Lower Nine Mile Point Anchorage on Sunday, November 8, 2020.

Therefore, the MSIB details the that Lower Nine Mile Point Anchorage will not be available for normal vessel usage beginning on Sunday, November 8, 2020.  The transit restrictions included in the attached MSIB are reproduced below.  Please review complete details in the MSIB.

Effective at 6:00 AM on November 08, 2020 and continuing until the revetment work at Poydras location is completed, vessels shall not anchor within the Lower 9 Mile Point Anchorage (MM 83 to MM 85 AHP) as this area is needed for the staging of the USACE quarters barge and other revetment equipment.

Effective at 6:00 AM on November 09, 2020 and continuing until the revetment work at Poydras location is completed, this safety advisory is in effect with the following provisions:

• All vessels are restricted to one-way traffic from MM 83.8 to MM 85.8 AHP LMR during the revetment operations listed above.
• All vessels shall transit at slowest safe speed to minimize wake and proceed with caution.
• All vessels shall contact the USACE on-scene pilots stationed on the M/V HARRISON or MN

WILLIAM JAMES via VHF-FM Channels 67 or 82 to make passing arrangements.

Please note that the transit restrictions for the Plaquemine Bend and St. Gabriel revetment operations will heavily impact vessel traffic through the immediate area, both are scheduled in January 2021.

The restrictions at both locations are expected to be the same:

“No southbound traffic and northbound traffic is limited to 25 feet or less during working hours.  The Mat Sinking Unit will fold in at night – no night time transit restrictions are expected.”