UPDATE 27MAY2022:

Captain Wattigney,

Please accept this email as verification that the Board of Examiners for NOBRA (BOE) rescinds its current High Water Safety restriction as outlined in correspondence sent to you on May 22, 2022 as the Carrollton gage has reached 12’ and falling. Specifically, the current restriction states “all mooring and unmooring operations at all mid-stream transfer facilities and any berth that requires the use of a mooring boat shall be restricted to daylight hours.”

According to the Vessel Traffic Center (VTC), the river stage at the Carrollton gage was 11.9’ this morning. The afternoon reading was 11.8 and the river stage at Carrollton is predicted to continue to fall.  Consequently, the aforementioned High Water Restriction should be rescinded immediately.  Please advise NOBRA dispatch and any other applicable party of the recission.

Thank you for your cooperation.  Please contact me if you have any questions.

Sincerely,

Capt. Casey E. Clayton, President

Board of Examiners for the

New Orleans-Baton Rouge Steamship Pilots Association

for the Mississippi River
3421 N. Causeway Blvd, Suite 103
Metairie, LA 70002

__________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________

ORIGINAL POST:

NOBRA Letter 22MAY2022

The Board of Examiners for New Orleans – Baton Rouge Steamship Pilots for the Mississippi River (hereinafter “Board of Examiners” or “Board”) is the sole competent pilotage authority statutorily created for the purpose of regulating, supervising and overseeing the NOBRA Pilots as authorized by La. R. S. 34:1041, et seq. and Title 46 – Professional and Occupational Standards, Part LXX. River Pilots, Subpart 3. Board of Examiners for the New Orleans and Baton Rouge Steamship Pilots, et seq. 
 
This Board is charged by the Louisiana Legislature with the responsibility of promoting the health, safety, and welfare of the citizens of the state of Louisiana and maintaining safety of maritime commerce along the Mississippi River. Due to the safety sensitive nature of the duties performed by state commissioned NOBRA pilots, this Board has a strong commitment to the public and maritime industry. 
 
According to Vessel Traffic New Orleans the Carrollton gage read 12.17’ at 1500 today, May 22, 2022 and is predicted to hold steady at 12’ or higher for the next several days. Therefore, in order to further enhance the safety and well-being of the citizens of Louisiana, as well as to prevent any imminent peril to public health, safety and welfare, and to achieve and maintain reliable, safe and efficient pilotage services, effective immediately, and continuing until the Carrollton gage reaches twelve (12) feet and falling, this Board implements the following Mississippi River safety restriction(s):
 
        “Mooring and unmooring operations at all 
         mid-stream transfer facilities and any berth
         that requires the use of a mooring boat 
         shall be restricted to daylight hours.”
 
Please pass this information on to all necessary parties. Thank you in advance for your assistance with the implementation of the restriction(s).  Should you have any questions, comments or require additional information, please do not hesitate to contact me.
 
Sincerely, 
Capt. Casey E. Clayton, President
Board of Examiners for the
New Orleans-Baton Rouge Steamship Pilots Association
for the Mississippi River