The CBP Area Port Director has extended a blanket Delay in Departure for those vessels unable to depart the lower Mississippi River because of daily
U.S. Coast Guard River Closures due to dense fog conditions.

See below.

Sincerely,
Ronald W. Branch, CAPT. USCG (Ret.) 
President
Louisiana Maritime Association (LAMA) 
Ron.branch@louisianamaritime.org  
Desk:  (504) 899-5535
Cell:   (330) 760-0786
Website:  The Watch Stander 

SUBJECT: Extended Blanket Delay in Departure Due to Daily LMR Closures – Dense Fog Conditions

Blanket Delay in Departure:
The CBP Area Port Director has extended a blanket Delay in Departure for those vessels unable to depart the lower Mississippi River because of daily U.S. Coast Guard River Closures due to dense fog conditions.

This blanket Delay in Departure grants additional time for vessels to depart port after 11:59 PM on Wednesday February 6, 2019.

All vessels currently held in port due to river closures have until Saturday February 9, 2019 at 11:59 PM to depart without having to surrender and cancel previously granted clearances.

There is no requirement to have a Vessel Entrance and Clearance Specialist (VECS) stamp/annotate a vessel’s clearance “Delay in Departure” when a blanket Delay in Departure is authorized.

A delay in departure does not provide additional time for filing complete outbound manifests and export declarations.

Direct questions about this trade notice to Chief Denise Emmer at (504) 670-2052 or via e-mail at denise.emmer@cbp.dhs.gov

Mark S. Choina
Port Director, Acting
Port of New Orleans
New Orleans Field Office
U.S. Customs and Border Protection
(504) 670-2287 Office