The revetment operations at the Aben/Bringier Point (Mile 172.5 AHP) location will cease as scheduled by 1200 hours (noon) today (Friday, December 6, 2019).
There will be no revetment operations or related transit restrictions over the weekend.
The operations at Aben/Bringier Point will resume at 0500 hours on Monday, December 9, 2019 under the conditions implemented in the updated Marine Information Safety Bulletin as issued by the USCG on December 5, 2019. The new MSIB is attached and reproduced below:
Updated VTS Measure – Aben Revetment Operations at Bringier Point, MM 172.5 RDB AHP LMR
The Captain of the Port New Orleans is issuing a safety advisory for the waters of the Lower Mississippi River from Mile Marker (MM) 171.5 Above Head of Passes (AHP) to MM 173.5 AHP. This advisory is needed to protect persons and vessels from the potential safety hazards associated with the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers (USACE) revetment operations occurring along the right descending bank (RDB) near MM 172.5 (Bringier Point). The revetment operations will be conducted daily from 5:00 A.M. – 4:00 P.M. local time from December 5 – 18, 2019, excluding the weekend of December 7 and 8. During times of actual revetment work, the Mat Sinking Unit (MSU) will extend approximately 300-800′ channel ward from the bank. At the conclusion of daily operations, the platform will be removed, and the channel will have no restrictions at night.
Beginning at 5:00 A.M. on December 5, 2019 this measure is in effect of each working day with the following provisions:
-All vessels (except as described below) are prohibited from entering a zone extending from MM 171.5to MM 173.5 AHP LMR from 5:00 A.M. to 4:00 P.M.
-Northbound deep-draft vessels less than 600 ft length and less than 27 ft draft may transit around the MSU after contacting New Orleans Traffic and the ACOE on scene pilots stationed on the M/VHARRISON or M/V WILLIAM JAMES via VHF-FM Channels 67 or 82 to make passing arrangements.
-Fleet vessels and tows less than 600 ft long may be allowed one-way traffic around the MSU after contacting New Orleans Traffic and the ACOE on-scene pilots’ stationed on the M/V HARRISON or M/V WILLIAM JAMES via VHF-FM Channels 67 or 82 to make passing arrangements.
From 4:00 P.M. to 5:00 A.M. of each working day.
-All traffic shall contact New Orleans Traffic to coordinate safe passage as required by 33 CFR 161.65(d).
-Southbound deep draft vessels shall contact New Orleans Traffic prior to passing White Castle Anchorage (MM 190 – 191) to verify the MSU has been removed from the channel.
This Marine Safety Information Bulletin supersedes MSIB Volume XIX, Issue 88, VTS Measure –
Bringier Point / Aben Revetment Operations MM 172.5 RDB AHP LMR, dated 25 November 2019.
RE: CORPS’ 2019 REVETMENT SCHEDULE AND TRANSIT RESTRICTIONS 12619
Corps 2019 Revetment Schedule and Transit Restrictions 12619.pdf
The latest schedule for the Corps’ Mississippi Valley New Orleans (MVN) 2019 Mississippi River Bank Stabilization program schedule (revetment and rock work), with applicable navigation restrictions, is listed below. The list of sites was revised limiting the priority revetment locations between Baton Rouge and New Orleans to two sites and three locations below New Orleans. The three locations below New Orleans were completed.
The Corps hosted a meeting, with representatives from the Corps’ Bank Stabilization Division, the U.S. Coast Guard (USCG), applicable Pilot Associations and the Coalition, to detail the scope of bank stabilization efforts and develop potential transit restrictions. During times of actual revetment work, the Mat Sinking Unit (MSU) extends from approximately 300 to 800 feet channelward from the bank. When the Unit is not folded in, it extends about 600 feet from the bank channelward. When it is folded in, the MSU extends 250 feet from the bank. The normal scheduled working times for the MSU are from 0600 hours to 1900 hours. In different locations the operations may be completed slightly before or after 1900 hours. The Corps agreed to Industry’s request to fold in the Mat Sinking Unit (MSU) at night on revetment locations that warranted concern. The Pilots and Coast Guard’s Lower Mississippi River Vessel Traffic Service will utilize the Contact Pilot on the MSU to coordinate vessel movements in the vicinity of these operations.
The revetment mat sinking operations at Aben/Bringier Point began on Tuesday, December 3, 2019 and the original transit restrictions were adjusted. These changes are officially noted in the attached Marine Information Safety Bulletin (MSIB). The mat sinking operations are scheduled to cease at noon today and there will be no work at this location over the weekend. Revetment operations will resume at 0500 hours on Monday, December 9, 2019, no transit restrictions are expected when the MSU is not working.
2019 Corps’ Revetment Schedule and Restrictions Locations Above New Orleans
|
Location |
Mile (Right or Left)
|
2019 and 2020 Scheduled Date(s) |
Restriction |
|
Missouri Bend |
219.3 RDB |
December 19 to December 22 December 26 to December 30 |
One-way transits with slow bell during working hours. MSU to fold in at night. |
|
*Aben(Bringier Point)
|
172.5 RDB |
December 3 to December 6 December 9 to December 18 |
*Conditions listed in the updated MSIB as released December 5, 2019. |
The USCG in coordination with navigation representatives has developed the transit conditions that have been formulated in the attached MSIB declaring the Vessel Traffic Service Measure to accommodate deep-draft vessel movements during revetment operations at Aben/Bringier Point (Mile 172.5 AHP).
The following is reproduced from the updated MSIB:
“Updated VTS Measure – Aben Revetment Operations at Bringier Point, MM 172.5 RDB AHP LMR
The Captain of the Port New Orleans is issuing a safety advisory for the waters of the Lower Mississippi River from Mile Marker (MM) 171.5 Above Head of Passes (AHP) to MM 173.5 AHP. This advisory is needed to protect persons and vessels from the potential safety hazards associated with the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers (USACE) revetment operations occurring along the right descending bank (RDB) near MM 172.5 (Bringier Point). The revetment operations will be conducted daily from 5:00 A.M. – 4:00 P.M. local time from December 5 – 18, 2019, excluding the weekend of December 7 and 8. During times of actual revetment work, the Mat Sinking Unit (MSU) will extend approximately 300-800′ channel ward from the bank. At the conclusion of daily operations, the platform will be removed, and the channel will have no restrictions at night.
Beginning at 5:00 A.M. on December 5, 2019 this measure is in effect of each working day with the following provisions:
-All vessels (except as described below) are prohibited from entering a zone extending from MM 171.5to MM 173.5 AHP LMR from 5:00 A.M. to 4:00 P.M.
-Northbound deep-draft vessels less than 600 ft length and less than 27 ft draft may transit around the MSU after contacting New Orleans Traffic and the ACOE on scene pilots stationed on the M/VHARRISON or M/V WILLIAM JAMES via VHF-FM Channels 67 or 82 to make passing arrangements. (emphasis applied).
-Fleet vessels and tows less than 600 ft long may be allowed one-way traffic around the MSU after contacting New Orleans Traffic and the ACOE on-scene pilots’ stationed on the M/V HARRISON or M/V WILLIAM JAMES via VHF-FM Channels 67 or 82 to make passing arrangements. (emphasis applied).
From 4:00 P.M. to 5:00 A.M. of each working day.
-All traffic shall contact New Orleans Traffic to coordinate safe passage as required by 33 CFR 161.65(d).
-Southbound deep draft vessels shall contact New Orleans Traffic prior to passing White Castle Anchorage (MM 190 – 191) to verify the MSU has been removed from the channel.
This Marine Safety Information Bulletin supersedes MSIB Volume XIX, Issue 88, VTS Measure –
Bringier Point / Aben Revetment Operations MM 172.5 RDB AHP LMR, dated 25 November 2019.”
The planned 2019 revetment operations include work at several key locations where the banks have been compromised by the extended high river stages. The work dates were established to focus on the priority locations first. However, throughout the bank stabilization efforts changes based upon river stages and experience with vessel transits should be anticipated. The Corps, Coast Guard, Pilots and BRC will work closely with industry to ensure that changes are noted and distributed as warranted and available.
