The U.S. Army Corps of Engineers (USACE) has commenced Fiscal Year 2024 channel maintenance dredging with the hopper dredge GLENN EDWARDS (Manson Construction) working under the first of the two early award hopper dredge contracts (Awarded in Fiscal Year 2023 for Work in Fiscal Year 2024). The USACE hopper dredge WHEELER is expected to dredge under Readiness Exercise #2-2024 next week. The second early award hopper dredge contract has the DODGE ISLAND (Great Lakes Dredge & Dock) expected to commence dredging in late March.
INDUSTRY HOPPER DREDGES WORKING IN SOUTHWEST PASS:
GLENN EDWARDS: The USACE awarded the first of the two annual early award 2023/2024 hopper dredge contracts, Southwest Pass Hopper Dredge Contract #2-2023 to Manson Construction for the large hopper dredge GLENN EDWARDS. The GLENN EDWARDS commenced dredging at the Head of Passes on March 4 (2024) under this contract. The dredge continues working on assignment from Mile 2.2 Above Head of Passes (AHP) to Mile 1.0 Below Head of Passes (BHP)
DODGE ISLAND: The USACE awarded the second annual early award hopper dredge contract Southwest Pass & Calcasieu Hopper Dredge Contract #11-2023 to Great Lakes Dredge & Dock. The DODGE ISLAND will work this regional contract with assignments on the Calcasieu and Mississippi Rivers. The DODGE ISLAND continues working on assignment on the Calcasieu but is expected to commence dredging in Southwest Pass by the end of the month (March 2024).
USACE HOPPER DREDGE(S) WORKING IN THE AREA of SOUTHWEST PASS (SWP):
WHEELER: The USACE hopper dredge WHEELER is expected to work in SWP under Readiness Exercise
#2-2024 from March 12 to April 1 (2024). The WHEELER is expected to complete three additional Readiness Exercises in Fiscal Year 2024.
MAXIMUM DRAFT RECOMMENDATIONS PER PILOT ASSOCIATION:
(UNCHANGED SINCE July 7, 2023)
The updated maximum draft recommendation for each Pilot Association as adjusted due to the Mississippi River Ship Channel Deepening and a temporary reduction to 49 feet by the Bar Pilots are detailed below:
Associated Branch Pilots of the Port of New Orleans (Bar Pilots): The Bar Pilots returned their maximum draft recommendation to 50 feet (freshwater) on July 6, 2023. The Bar Pilots originally increased their maximum draft recommendation to 50 feet (freshwater) on March 16, 2022, prior to the temporary reduction from May 22 to July 6 (2023).
MAXIMUM DRAFT RECOMMENDATIONS PER PILOT ASSOCIATION:
(UNCHANGED SINCE July 7, 2023) (continued)
Crescent River Port Pilots Association (CRPPA): The CPPRA raised their maximum draft recommendation to 50 feet (freshwater) in coordination with the Bar Pilots on July 7, 2023, after also reducing their maximum draft to 49 feet (freshwater).
New Orleans Baton Rouge Steamship Pilots Association (NOBRA): The NOBRA returned their maximum draft recommendation to 50 feet (freshwater) from Mile 175 AHP to Mile 88 AHP on July 7, 2023. The maximum draft recommendation from Mile 175 to 180 remains 47 feet and from Mile 180 to Mile 233.8 it remains 45 feet.
Associated Federal Pilots and Docking Masters of Louisiana (Federal Pilots): The Federal Pilots increased their maximum draft recommendations to the following to match the draft adjustment to 50 feet by the other Pilot Associations.
- 50 feet from Sea Buoy to Mile 175 AHP
- 45 feet Mile 175 AHP to 232.4 AHP
- 40 feet Mile 232.4 AHP to 233.8 AHP
The controlling maximum freshwater draft for the MRSC from Mile 175 AHP (Smoke Bend) to the Southwest Pass Sea Buoy is 50 feet (freshwater) unadjusted since July 7, 2023.
Mississippi River Stages and Forecast Updates:
The Carrollton Gage (New Orleans) reading at 1300 hours today was 5.49 feet with a 24-hour change of – 0.05 feet. The National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration’s (NOAA) National Weather Service Extended Streamflow Prediction (28-Day) for the Carrollton Gage issued today forecasts stages will continue a slow rise to 7.3 feet on March 25 and then begin a slow fall to 6.2 feet on April 5 (2024).
The Baton Rouge Gage reading at 1300 hours was 18.24 feet with a 24-hour change – 0.39 feet. The National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration’s (NOAA) National Weather Service Extended Streamflow Prediction (28-Day) for the Baton Rouge Gauge issued today forecasts stages will continue a slow rise to 21.9 feet on March 25 and then resume a slow fall to 18.5 feet on April 5 (2024).
