The Corps of Engineers Mississippi Valley New Orleans (MVN) is responding to shoaling in Southwest Pass (SWP) created by the elevated river stages. There are two industry hopper dredges and one industry cutterhead dredge working to restore and maintain the Ship Channel in SWP. The M/V ANGLO ALEXANDRIA (bulk carrier) went aground yesterday at approximately 0900 hours at Mile 3.29 Above Head of Passes (AHP) and was refloated at 1742 hours yesterday afternoon.
TRANSIT RESTRICTIONS AT CUBITS GAP:
The U.S. Coast Guard’s Vessel Traffic Service Lower Mississippi River (VTS LMR) established a VTS measure limiting sea-going deep draft vessels to a maximum allowable freshwater draft of 42 feet and implemented one-way traffic from Mile 4 AHP to Mile 2 AHP. The VTS Measure was put in place after the M/V ANGLO ALEXANDRIA was refloated and new channel surveys were made available to show the extreme shoaling in the area of Cubits Gap. The VTS measure was established at 2200 hours on Friday, January 4, 2019 (attached).
INDUSTRY HOPPER DREDGE(S) IN SOUTHWEST PASS (SWP):
NEWPORT: The hopper dredge NEWPORT (Manson Construction) is dredging at the Venice Jump (Mile 10.5 AHP to Mile 10 AHP) on the western channel edge. The NEWPORT is dredging under Southwest Pass Hopper Dredge Rental Contract #1-2019 in SWP on November 28, 2018.
GLENN EDWARDS: The hopper dredge GLENN EDWARDS (Manson Construction) is dredging at Cubits Gap from approximately Mile 3.5 AHP to Mile 2.5 AHP. The hopper dredge’s assignment includes the area of the M/V ANGLO ALEANDRIA’s grounding yesterday. The GLENN EDWARDS commenced dredging on December 18, 2018 and is now working under Southwest Pass Hopper Dredge Rental Contract #6-2018.
The Carrollton Gauge (New Orleans) reading at 0800 hours today was 13.18 feet with a 24-hour change of + 0.13 feet.
The Baton Rouge Gauge reading at 0900 hours today was 34.46 feet with a 24-hour change of + 0.45 feet.
The graph below is reproduced from NOAA’s National Weather Service website and represents an experimental product to account for the complexity of accurately predicting long-range precipitation. This forecast projects stage levels based on expected precipitation for 2 days (top) and 16 days (bottom) and was developed within the North American Ensemble Forecast System (NAEFS) computer model and highlights Quantitative Precipitation Forecasts (QPF). Along with the forecasts, a shaded area is also provided to indicate uncertainty for the forecast each day in the future. These plots are experimental and not an official forecast product.
Please see the attached reports for complete details related to transit restrictions and dredge assignments.
Lower Mississippi River (LMR) Dredging Update 1519.pdf
Lower Mississippi River (LMR) Dredging Update 1519
The Corps of Engineers Mississippi Valley New Orleans (MVN) is responding to shoaling in Southwest Pass (SWP) created by the elevated river stages. There are two industry hopper dredges and one industry cutterhead dredge working to restore and maintain the Ship Channel in SWP. The M/V ANGLO ALEXANDRIA (bulk carrier) went aground yesterday at approximately 0900 hours at Mile 3.29 Above Head of Passes (AHP) and was refloated at 1742 hours yesterday afternoon.
TRANSIT RESTRICTIONS AT CUBITS GAP:
The U.S. Coast Guard’s Vessel Traffic Service Lower Mississippi River (VTS LMR) established a VTS measure limiting sea-going deep draft vessels to a maximum allowable freshwater draft of 42 feet and implemented one-way traffic from Mile 4 AHP to Mile 2 AHP. The VTS Measure was put in place after the M/V ANGLO ALEXANDRIA was refloated and new channel surveys were made available to show the extreme shoaling at Cubits Gap. The VTS measure was established at 2200 hours on Friday, January 4, 2019 (attached).
TRANSIT RESTRICTIONS SOUTHWEST PASS (SWP):
The Bar Pilots continue to utilize the flocculation based transit restriction for all inbound vessels arriving Southwest Pass with a freshwater draft of 38-feet or greater. Inbound vessels with a draft of 38-feet or greater are only allowed to enter SWP “between 3 hours after low tide, to 3 hours after high tide at SWP.” The restriction became effective at 1000 hours on, Monday, November 26, 2018. The official notice as released by the Bar Pilots is attached, please refer to it for complete details.
The Federal Pilots implemented a similar flocculation based restriction for inbound vessels with a draft of 38-feet or greater on November 27, 2018. The official notice is also attached.
INDUSTRY HOPPER DREDGE(S) IN SOUTHWEST PASS (SWP):
NEWPORT: The hopper dredge NEWPORT (Manson Construction) is dredging at the Venice Jump (Mile 10.5 AHP to Mile 10 AHP) on the western channel edge. The NEWPORT is dredging under Southwest Pass Hopper Dredge Rental Contract #1-2019 in SWP on November 28, 2018.
GLENN EDWARDS: The hopper dredge GLENN EDW ARDS (Manson Construction) is dredging at Cubits Gap from approximately Mile 3.5 AHP to Mile 2.5 AHP. The hopper dredge’s assignment includes the area of the M/V ANGLO ALEANDRIA’s grounding yesterday. The GLENN EDWARDS commenced dredging on December 18, 2018 and is now working under Southwest Pass Hopper Dredge Rental Contract #6-2018.
CUTTERHEAD DREDGE(S) IN SOUTHWEST PASS (SWP):
R.S. WEEKS: The industry cutterhead dredge R.S. WEEKS (Weeks Marine) is presently dredging at approximately Mile 12.41 Below Head of Passes (BHP) on the eastern channel edge. The cutterhead began dredging on assignment from Mile 10.5 BHP to 14 BHP on December 15, 2018. The R.S. WEEKS removed 2 million cubic yards (mcy) of material from the Hopper Dredge Disposal Area (HDDA) before being released from that contract (remove a total of 12 mcy from the HDDA) to respond to Southwest Pass Cuttherhead Rental Contract #1-2019.
The R.S. WEEKS is expected to return to the HDDA contract in February 2019 when it is relieved by the cutterhead dredge CAPTAIN FRANK.
United States Coast Guard
VTS LMR Measure 1419 2200[1].pdf
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 VTS Measure for the waters of the Lower Mississippi River from Mile Marker (MM) 02 Above Head of Passes (AHP) to MM 04 AHP. This Measure is needed to protect persons and vessels from the potential safety hazards associated with silting in the deep water channel in the vicinity of Cupits Gap.
Effective 2200 on Friday, January 04, 2019, this Measure is in effect with the following provisions:
- Sea-going deep draft vessels are restricted to a maximum allowable freshwater draft of 42 feet and one-way traffic from MM 02 to MM 04 AHP at all times until further notice.
Mariners are urged to exercise caution when transiting this area. For further information, contact:
Coast Guard Sector New Orleans Command Center: (504) 365-2200Coast Guard Waterways Management: (504) 365-2280
Vessel Traffic Service Lower Mississippi River: (504) 365-2230, VHF FM Ch. 05A, 11,12, 67
Associated Branch Pilots
Bar Pilot Flocculation Notice 112618.pdf
RE: SOUTHWEST PASS, TRANSIT RESTRICTION DUE TO FLOCCULATION
The Bar Pilots for the Port of New Orleans restrict inbound vessels with a deep fresh water draft of Thirty-Eight feet (38) or greater to transit Southwest Pass from the Sea Buoy (Entrance Lighted Whistle Buoy “SW”) to mile 1.5 above Head of Passes “between 3 hours after low tide, to 3 hours after high tide at SWP”.
The restriction becomes effective at 1000 hours on November 26, 2018.
Nothing in the recommendations should be construed as limiting a pilot in the exercise of their judgment.
ASSOCIATED BRANCH PILOTS
Federal Pilots
Fed Pilots SWP Entry Restrictions Nov 2018.pdf
To Whom It May Concern:
Due to the presence of flocculation; effective immediately, The Federal Pilots of Louisiana recommendthat any inbound vessels with a fresh water draft of 38’ or greater shall enter SWP 3 hours after low tide to 3hours after high tide.
