The U.S. Army Corps of Engineers (USACE) Mississippi Valley New Orleans (MVN) District’s Lock and Waterway Status 60-Day Forecast as issued today (Monday, April 5, 2021) is here..
The updated or revised status reports are highlighted in bold and lists conditions on the Inner Harbor Navigational Canal (IHNC), Bayou Sorrel, Port Allen, Bayou Beouf, Old River and Algiers Locks and the East and West Calumet Floodgates.
INNER HARBOR NAVIGATION CANAL (IHNC):
The IHNC Lock will operate with intermittent navigational closures of up to 6-hours possible on weekdays (Monday through Friday) between 0845 hours and 1500 hours from May 31 to July 2 (2021).
“Inner Harbor Navigation Canal (IHNC) Lock will have intermittent closures to navigation (up to 6 hours), Mondays through Fridays, between 8:45 a.m. and 3:00 p.m., beginning on 31 May 2021 and continuing through 2 July 2021.”
The USACE continues with construction activities that includes periods of hot work (welding) and continues to operate with the conditions listed below:
“Inner Harbor Navigation Canal (IHNC) Lock mariners are advised that there is on-going construction, which includes hot work, at the forebay and tailbay of the Inner Harbor Navigation Canal (IHNC) Lock. Vessels shall adhere to the following:
- Use extreme caution when entering and exiting the lock especially in the vicinity of the construction and keeping a safe distance from the construction.
- Navigate at a dead-slow speed with no wake whether workers are present or not.
- Use bumpers while locking.”
BAYOU SOREREL LOCK
Due to dredging operations scheduled from June 8 to July 6 (2021) in close proximity to the Bayou Sorrel Lock transiting vessels are advised to expect possible delays:
“Bayou Sorrel Lock will be impacted and likely experiencing delays beginning on approximately 8 June 2021 and continuing until approximately 6 July 2021 due to dredging operations in the vicinity of Bayou Sorrel Lock, in the Gulf Intracoastal Waterway (GIWW) Morgan City-Port Allen Alternate Route, from the lock southward approximately 3 miles, including the flared connection between the alternate route and east access channel.
The dredge will work 24 hours a day, 7 days a week.
PORT ALLEN LOCK:
The repairs to the damaged sections of the floating Northeast guidewall at the Port Allen Lock continues and the transit restrictions listed below remain in effect due to the ongoing repairs:
“Port Allen Lock’s NE Floating Guidewall is near repaired but has some remaining work to be addressed later.
As a result, the following restrictions are in place until further notice:
WESTBOUND RESTRICTIONS
| • All tows with more than one barge are required to use an assist vessel with a line attached at the head of the tow.
• Single barge tows will be permitted to lock westbound without an assist vessel. • Do not attempt to “pivot” on the guidewall, therefore, vessels must flatten-out before making contact with the guidewall. |
BAYOU BEOUF LOCK:
The chamber guidewall of the Bayou Beouf Lock is being replaced and the work will be conducted during daylight closures to navigation from Monday through Friday until approximately October 31, 2021.
“Bayou Boeuf Lock is closed to navigation from 7 am until 7 pm (Daylight Hours), Mondays thru Fridays until approximately 31 October 2021 to construct the new south side chamber guide wall.”
OLD RIVER LOCK:
The Old River Lock will be operated with the restrictions below until approximately September 30, 2021.
“The Old River Lock emergency bulkhead lowering carriage repairs, and the locking procedures have been extended through 30 September 2021.
Until approximately 30 Sept 2021, the following restrictions/instructions are required for passage:
- Tows are to enter the Lock at DEAD SLOW speed.
- All tows are restricted to no longer than 1100’ in length.
- All tows will line up along the floating guide wall before proceeding.
- Two line-handlers with life vests and bumpers will be required on both approach and exiting of the Lock.
- Vessels must be moored by bow and stern lines to floating timberheads.”
ALGIERS LOCK:
The Algiers Lock continues to operate with during normal locking hours and mariners are advised to avoid the unstable dolphin structure adjacent to the upstream river end guide wall:
“Algiers Lock is currently open to navigation with normal locking hours of operation. Continuing until further notice, mariners are advised to avoid the dolphin at the end of the canal end long guide wall; the dolphin is unstable and a hazard to mariners.”
EAST and WEST CALUMET FLOODGATES:
The East and West Calumet Floodgates remain closed due to heavy siltation in the channel:
“Continuing until further notice, East and West Calumet Floodgate will remain closed to navigation due to heavy siltation in the channel making it unsafe for navigation.”
Please see the linked attached for complete details.
