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 three dredges, one industry hopper, one government hopper and one industry cutterhead working to restore and maintain the Ship Channel in SWP.
TRANSIT RESTRICTIONS AT CUBITS GAP:
At 2030 hours on Saturday, January 5, 2019, the U.S. Coast Guard’s Vessel Traffic Service Lower Mississippi River (VTS LMR) revised the previously established VTS Measure from Mile 4 Above Head of Passes (AHP) to Mile 2 AHP. The VTS Measure was originally enacted after the grounding of the M/V ANGLO ALEXANDRIA. The update to the VTS Measure increased the maximum allowable freshwater draft for all sea-going deep draft vessels to 44 feet and implemented one-way traffic with no meeting or overtaking for vessels with drafts 40 feet or greater from Mile 4 AHP to Mile 2 AHP.
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.
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 industry hopper dredge GLENN EDWARDS (Manson Construction) has moved into the Upper Venice Anchorage to undergo repairs that are expected to last 3-4 days. The MVN worked to mobilize the WHEELER ahead of schedule to allow it to dredge Cubits Gap the most deficient reach of the channel, while the GLENN EDWARDS was being repaired. The GLENN EDWARDS commenced dredging on December 18, 2018 and is working under Southwest Pass Hopper Dredge Rental Contract #6-2018.
WHEELER: The Corp’s hopper dredge WHEELER commenced dredging under Readiness Exercise #1-2019 this morning at Cubits Gap from Mile 3.5 AHP to Mile 2.5 AHP. The Readiness Exercise is expected to last until approximately January 21, 2019.
The Carrollton Gauge (New Orleans) reading at 0400 hours today was 13.55 feet with a 24-hour change of + 0.11 feet.
The Baton Rouge Gauge reading at 0500 hours today was 35.08 feet with a 24-hour change of + 0.06 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 1719.pdf
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 three dredges, one industry hopper, one government hopper and one industry cutterhead working to restore and maintain the Ship Channel in SWP.
TRANSIT RESTRICTIONS AT CUBITS GAP:
At 2030 hours on Saturday, January 5, 2019, the U.S. Coast Guard’s Vessel Traffic Service Lower Mississippi River (VTS LMR) revised the previously established VTS Measure from Mile 4 Above Head of Passes (AHP) to Mile 2 AHP. The VTS Measure was originally enacted after the grounding of the M/V ANGLO ALEXANDRIA. The update to the VTS Measure increased the maximum allowable freshwater draft for all sea-going deep draft vessels to 44 feet and implemented one-way traffic with no meeting or overtaking for vessels with drafts 40 feet or greater from Mile 4 AHP to Mile 2 AHP.
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.
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 industry hopper dredge GLENN EDWARDS (Manson Construction) has moved into the Upper Venice Anchorage to undergo repairs that are expected to last 3-4 days. The MVN worked to mobilize the WHEELER ahead of schedule to allow it to dredge Cubits Gap the most deficient reach of the channel, while the GLENN EDWARDS was being repaired. The GLENN EDWARDS commenced dredging on December 18, 2018 and is working under Southwest Pass Hopper Dredge Rental Contract #6-2018.
WHEELER: The Corp’s hopper dredge WHEELER commenced dredging under Readiness Exercise #1-2019 this morning at Cubits Gap from Mile 3.5 AHP to Mile 2.5 AHP. The Readiness Exercise is expected to last until approximately January 21, 2019.
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 12.5 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.
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.
