The U.S. Army Corps of Engineers (USACE) Mississippi Valley New Orleans (MVN) District’s Lock Status and Post HURRICANE IDA Waterway Recovery Status as issued today (Friday, October 1, 2021) is here.
The updated or revised report details post-Hurricane Ida status updates for the Freshwater Bayou, Bayou Sorrel Lock, Inner Harbor Navigational Canal (IHNC), Port Allen, Bayou Boeuf, Old River and Algiers Locks.
The USACE noted that the post-Hurricane Ida dredging operation on the GIWW continues with over 2 miles of the choked waterway dredged and indicates that a second dredge will soon be joining the recovery effort.
The recommend checking details at the following link and noted it works best on Google Chrome (I was unable to open it in Chrome or Safari.)
FRESHWATER BAYOU LOCK:
The USACE continues rock placement efforts for shoreline protection with intermittent delays to navigation during daylight hours”
“Commencing on 28 September 2021 and continuing through approximately 18 October 2021, a Hired Labor Unit will be placing rock at multiple locations at Freshwater Bayou Lock. Mariners
will have intermittent delays to navigation from 7:00 a.m. to 5:00 p.m., each day.
BAYOU SORREL LOCK:
The USACE notes that mariners should avoid the southwest guidewall, mariners are urged to use extreme caution as detailed below:
“Bayou Sorrel Lock’s Southwest Guidewall is in a state of incipient failure, which could result in a lock closure should it be impacted by transiting vessel traffic.
MARINERS ARE URGED TO USE EXTREME CAUTION while entering the lock to minimize possibility of impact to the guide wall as the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers (USACE) evaluates options to stabilize the situation.
Navigation interests should consider using an assist vessel if they feel it is needed to avoid impacting the wall during transit. A contract for a new guidewall and dolphin to replace the current configuration was awarded by the USACE on Friday, 24 September 2021, but interim measures will need to be undertaken while the USACE awaits construction to begin in the next several months.”
INNER HARBOR NAVIGATION CANAL (IHNC):
The USACE reports damage to mooring bits on the Canal end of the IHNC Lock, note below for exact details:
“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.
PORT ALLEN LOCK:
The repairs to the floating guidewall continue, the restrictions are listed below:
“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 repairs at the Bayou Beouf Lock have resumed, the repair work will be conducted during scheduled 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 noted below as the emergency bulkhead repairs have resumed and been extended, completion is now expected by February 28, 2022.
“The Old River Lock emergency bulkhead lowering carriage repairs, and the locking procedures have been extended through 28 February 2022.
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 during normal locking hours and mariners are advised to avoid the unstable dolphin structure adjacent to the upstream river end guidewall:
“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 guidewall; 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.”
The following additional information offering a status update of multiple navigation channels was attached to today’s report:
MVN NAVIGATION STATUS DASHBOARD
13 September 2021, 0800
2021 Hurricane Season Reporting
The Mississippi River is now OPEN throughout MVN without restrictions;
Mariners are advised to exercise caution in the vicinity of underwater obstructions GIWW is OPEN throughout MVN except the following:
- GIWW is CLOSED from MM 18 WHL to MM 20 WHL due to shoaling.
- GIWW is OPEN with Restrictions from MM 21 to 33 WHL due to shoaling and debris. 5 work units with 6 excavators, 1 bucket dredge plus a clamshell bucket arrived onsite late on 07 and 08 Sept 2021 and began removal of the shoal/debris at MM 19.5 WHL. An additional bucket dredge from MVK ARRIVED on site 11 Sept 2021.
A contract cutterhead dredge is scheduled to arrive on site 15-16 Sept 2021, PENDING contract modification completion, to address both reaches of shoaling. MVD approved repurposing supplemental funds to cover the initial immediate funding need. Completion of dredging operations at MM 19.5 is expected to be at END of September; Dredging operations from MM 21 to 33 WHL is expected to take a month (Completion ~ 31 October 2021); US Coast Guard – MSU Houma set ONE WAY traffic restrictions in the vicinity of MM 21-24 WHL due to significant tree debris and set ONE WAY traffic and draft of 7 feet restrictions between MM 25-33 WHL due to a NEW reported shoaling 2000 on 07 Sept 2021; GIWW Morgan City to Port Allen Alternate Route is now OPEN.
Atchafalaya River is OPEN with restrictions at Stouts Pass due to shoaling.
The Houma Navigation Canal is OPEN North of Bayou Provost; Bayou Lafourche is now OPEN south of Leeville as of 2000 hrs, 07 Sept 2021 and The Louisiana Offshore Oil Port (LOOP) is CLOSED. Belle Pass is now OPEN for 24/7 Operations as of 2200 11 Sept 2021;
Port Fourchon is now OPEN for 24/7 Operations as of 2200 11 Sept 2021; Obstruction Removal and Dredging Coordination ongoing on SE Waterways
Please see the link for complete details.
