The dredge contractors for the dredge project in the Hopper Dredge Disposal Area (HDDA), Great Lakes Dredge and Dock (GLDD) plan to remove the submerged dredge pipeline that was installed across the Ship Channel in January 2021.  

In order to remove the submerged dredge pipeline two channel closures will be required, one closure is needed to dredge over the top of the pipeline and the other is to remove the submerged dredge pipeline.

The Ship Channel is expected to be closed to all vessels from Mile 1.4 Above Head of Passes (AHP) to Mile 1.2 AHP during the two scheduled 12-hour closures (0600 hours to 1800 hours).

ANTICIPATED CHANNEL CLOSURE:

THURSDAY, AUGUST 26, 2021:

0600 hours to 1800 hours: all vessels are expected to be restricted from transiting between Mile 2.0 AHP and Mile 0 (Head of Passes). During this closure the sediment over the submerged pipeline will be mechanically excavated by the cutterhead dredge ILLINOIS.  

ANTICIPATED CHANNEL CLOSURE:

SUNDAY, AUGUST 29, 2021: 

0600 hours to 1800 hours: all vessels are restricted from transiting between Mile 2.0 AHP and Mile 0 (Head of Passes). During this closure the submerged pipeline will be refloated and removed from the excavated trench across the Ship Channel.    

BACKUP CHANNEL CLOSURE: This closure would only be utilized if the pipeline retrieval operations were not completed as scheduled above.

          TUESDAY, AUGUST 31, 2021:

0600 hours to 1800 hours: all vessels are expected to be restricted from transiting between Mile 2.0 AHP and Mile 0 (Head of Passes). This scheduled back-up closure would only be utilized if the scheduled operations above were not successful or were delayed.  

The following day of closure limits are expected (based on previous experience).  Vessels intending to arrive or depart the Mississippi River on the day of a scheduled closure must arrive at Pilottown (outbound) no later than 0400 hours or Southwest Pass Entrance Light (inbound) no later than 0330 hours on the morning of the scheduled closures.

The Channel Crossing Pipeline Removal Plan as provided by GLDD is here for more details on the pipeline retrieval operations.  

The U.S. Coast Guard is preparing a Marine Safety Information Bulletin (MSIB) that will cover the official transit and closure arrangements, the MSIB will be distributed upon receipt.