The U.S. Army Corps of Engineers (USACE) Mississippi Valley New Orleans (MVN) District’s Lock and Waterway Status 60-Day Forecast as issued yesterday (Monday, July 19, 2021) is here.
The updated or revised status reports are highlighted in bold and lists conditions on the Inner Harbor Navigation Canal (IHNC), Berwick, Port Allen, Bayou Beouf, Old River, and Algiers Locks and the East and West Calumet Floodgates.
INNER HARBOR NAVIGATION CANAL (IHNC):
The USACE has advised that the mooring bits along the long guidewall on the canal end of the IHNC Lock are unstable, please note the listed restrictions below and attached.
“Inner Harbor Navigation Canal (IHNC) Lock mariners are advised that the mooring bits located in the long guidewall on the canal end of the Inner Harbor Navigation Canal (IHNC) Lock are very unstable; you may use the wall to line up on when locking but DO NOT tie off on the mooring bits.”
The USACE continues with construction and repair activities at the IHNC Lock 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 tail bay 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.”
BERWICK LOCK:
The guidewall of the Berwick Lock will be repaired during intermittent daylight closures scheduled to last until July 31, 2021.
“Berwick Lock is closed intermittently during daylight hours from 6:00 a.m. to 6:00 p.m., for necessary guidewall repairs. Work began on 06 July 2021 and will continue through 31 July 2021.”
PORT ALLEN LOCK:
The repairs to the damaged sections of the floating Northeast guidewall at the Port Allen Lock continue 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.
| 5. 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 but 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.
Tow restrictions are still in place in both directions to a maximum width and length of 54 feet W by 700 feet L or 70 feet W by 600 feet L. Mariners are advised to continue to avoid the end of the long, river end, guide wall, which is also 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.”
