Please accept this update regarding upcoming scheduled channel closure(s) on the Mississippi River Ship Channel, the schedule has been adjusted once again.
The dredge contractors for the Coastal Restoration Protection Authority’s Spanish Pass Marsh and Ridge Creation project, Weeks Marine, LLC intend to install a submerged dredge pipeline across the Mississippi River Ship Channel at approximately Mile 9.8 Above Head of Passes (AHP). Weeks Marine has asked to delay the anticipated closure(s) until early August, the updated schedule is listed below.
A complete closure of the Ship Channel from approximately Mile 10.3 AHP to Mile 9.0 AHP is now expected to be implemented for a 12-hour closure to be scheduled from 0600 hours to 1800 hours on Tuesday, August 10, 2021.
The second closure date listed below (August 12) will only be used as a back-up closure and is not expected to be required if the pipeline is successfully installed during the first closure (August 10, 2021).
UPCOMING SCHEDULED CHANNEL CLOSURE(S):
TUESDAY, AUGUST 10, 2021:
0600 hours to 1800 hours: all vessels would be restricted from transiting between Mile 10.3 AHP and Mile 9.0 AHP on the Mississippi River Ship Channel, the submerged dredge pipeline will be inserted across the Ship Channel into a previously excavated area. The intent is to allow east west shallow-draft traffic to move across the area through Baptiste Collette and the Venice Jump, the closure would be specific to the Ship Channel.
THURSDAY, AUGUST 12, 2021: (Will only be utilized if the dredge pipeline operations are not completed on August 10, 2021.)
0600 hours to 1800 hours: all vessels would be restricted from transiting between Mile 10.3 AHP and Mile 9.0 AHP on the Mississippi River Ship Channel, the submerged dredge pipeline will be inserted across the Ship Channel and a previously excavated area. The intent is to allow east west shallow-draft traffic to move across the area through Baptiste Collette and the Venice Jump, the closure would be specific to the Ship Channel.
Vessels intending to arrive or depart the Mississippi River on the day of a scheduled closure must arrive at Boothville (outbound) no later than 0500 hours or Southwest Pass Entrance Light (inbound) no later than 0330 hours on the morning of the scheduled Ship Channel closure(s).
These closures have been rescheduled a few times as Weeks works through some continuing challenges, the corridor the pipeline will be inserted into is going to require a cutterhead dredge to complete the excavation. The cutterhead dredge C.R. McCASKILL is presently working in the New Orleans Harbor and will move downriver to excavate the pipeline corridor in early August.
Vessels needing to contact Weeks Marine for details during these operations can reach the NOEL R (Crew Boat) on VHF Channel 67 or Channel 82.
The U.S. Coast Guard will issue a Marine Safety Information Bulletin (MSIB) prior to the final closure dates, detailing the official Ship Channel closure information related to this submerged dredge pipeline installation project.
