Vessel Traffic Service (VTS) Lower Mississippi River, in accordance with the Navigation Safety Regulations, Code of Federal Regulations Title 33, Subpart 161.11, will establish a series of VTS measures for all waters of the Lower Mississippi River from Mile Marker (MM) 9.0 to MM 10.3 Above Head of Passes (AHP). These measures are needed to protect persons and vessels from the potential safety hazards associated with the installation of a submerged dredge pipeline across the Mississippi River in the vicinity of Spanish Pass Mississippi River Navigation Channel Crossing and are in effect with the following provisions:
- August 17, 2021 from 6:00 a.m. to 6:00 p.m. local time: all vessels are restricted from transiting between MM 9.0 and MM 10.3 AHP.
- Alternate date: August 19, 2021 from 6:00 a.m. to 6:00 p.m. local time: all vessels are restricted from transiting between MM 9.0 and MM 10.3 AHP.
This closure does not restrict vessel traffic entering/exiting the LMR at MM 10.4 AHP (The Jump).
To coordinate tow traffics going between the Jump & Baptiste Collette, all vessels shall contact the on-scene M/V NOEL R on VHF channel 67 or the POC with Weeks Marine, Matthew Henry at: 985-237-5050.
Updates and/or changes to the published schedule will be broadcast via Broadcast Notice to Mariners and/or industry-wide email.
Vessels intending to arrive or depart the Mississippi River on the day of a closure must arrive at Boothville (outbound) no later than 5:00 a.m. or Southwest Pass Entrance Light (inbound) no later than 3:30 a.m. on the morning of the closure.
For additional information, contact:
Sector New Orleans Waterways Management: (504) 365-2280, SecNOLA-WPM@uscg.mil
Sector New Orleans Command Center (24 hour): (504) 365-2200
Vessel Traffic Center (24 Hour): (504) 365-2514 or VHF-FM channels 5A, 12 or 67
