The U.S. Army Corps of Engineers (USACE) continues working to restore the deficient reaches of the Mississippi River Ship Channel (MRSC) in the area of Southwest Pass with two industry hopper dredges and one industry cutterhead dredge. The hopper dredges GLENN EDWARDS, NEWPORT and the cutterhead dredge CAPTAIN FRANK are working on assignments in the area of Southwest Pass. The dustpan dredges, JADWIN and WALLACE McGEORGE, are working on the Crossings Above New Orleans.
SOUTHWEST PASS (SWP) TRANSIT RESTRICTIONS:
The Bar Pilots increased their maximum draft recommendation to 45 feet (freshwater) on June 10, 2020. The Federal Pilots increased their maximum draft recommendation to 45 feet (freshwater) on June 11, 2020.
The Crescent Pilots increased their maximum draft recommendation to 46 feet freshwater on May 30, 2020 apparently due to improving conditions in the area of Cubits Gap.
The controlling draft for all vessels transiting Southwest Pass is 45 feet (freshwater).
INDUSTRY HOPPER DREDGE(S) IN THE AREA OF SOUTHWEST PASS (SWP):
GLENN EDWARDS: The hopper dredge GLENN EDWARDS (Manson Construction) continues dredging in the Venice area (Mile 13.0 Above Head of Passes [AHP] to Mile 12.0 AHP). The GLENN EDWARDS began dredging in Southwest Pass on March 20, 2020 under Southwest Pass Hopper Dredge Rental Contract #13-2019. This contract has been extended and the hopper dredge is now expected to complete work on approximately July 20, 2020.
NEWPORT: The hopper dredge NEWPORT (Manson Construction) is now dredging on assignment in the area of the Head of Passes (Mile 1.0 AHP to Mile 1.0 Below Head of Passes [BHP]). The NEWPORT began dredging under the first Gulf Coast Regional Hopper Dredge Contract 2020 on February 1, 2020. The NEWPORT will start dredging on the Gulfport Ship Channel (Mississippi) to complete work under the Regional Contract upon departing SWP (later this month).
STUYVESANT: The hopper dredge STUYVESANT (Dutra Group) departed SWP this morning. The STUYVESANT began working under Southwest Pass Hopper Dredge Rental Contract #5-2020 on July 2, 2020. The STUYVESANT was under contract to work in SWP for approximately 30 days. However, the contract was modified (shortened) since the hopper dredge also had contractual obligations on other channels (over extended).
BAYPORT: The hopper dredge BAYPORT (Manson Construction) is expected to begin dredging in SWP by June 17, 2020. The BAYPORT will work in SWP for approximately 30 days to complete hours on Calcasieu River Hopper Dredge Rental Contract 19C0076.
GOVERNNMENT HOPPER DREDGE(S) IN SOUTHWEST PASS (SWP):
WHEELER: The USACE hopper dredge WHEELR is tentatively scheduled to resume dredging under Southwest Pass Readiness Exercise #1-2020 from June 23 to July 6 (2020).
CUTTERHEAD DREDGE(S) IN THE AREA OF SOUTHWEST PASS (SWP):
CAPTAIN FRANK: Weeks Marine’s cutterhead dredge CAPTAIN FRANK continues dredging at Mile 17.46 BHP on assignment on the eastern side of the channel from Mile 15.8 BHP to Mile 18.0 BHP. The cutterhead commenced dredging in Southwest Pass on January 24, 2020 under Southwest Pass Cutterhead Dredge Rental Contract #3-2019. The CAPTAIN FRANK will commence dredging in the New Orleans Harbor upon completion of this assignment.
CUTTERHEAD DREDGE(S) IN THE HOPPER DREDGE DISPOSAL AREA (HDDA):
Weeks Marine has utilized multiple cutterhead dredges on this project and all material removed from the HDDA has been beneficially placed in the Pass A’Loutre Wildlife Management Area (PALWMA). The cutterhead dredges have beneficially utilized approximately 13.1 million cubic yards (mcy) of material removed from the HDDA and restored roughly 1,040 acres. When this project is completed approximately 1,200 acres will have been restored in the PALWMA. A cutterhead dredge will resume work on the HDDA contract to remove the remaining 1.9 mcy of material once priority channel maintenance demands have been completed. The MVN also received supplemental funding for Fiscal Year 2020 (FY 2020) sufficient to issue another HDDA contract, the bid advertisement will be opened later this calendar year.
DUSTPAN DREDGE(S) ON THE CROSSINGS ABOVE NEW ORLEANS:
The MVN is dredging to restore or maintain the central 250 feet of the channel (authorized width is 500 feet) on the Crossings Above New Orleans with two dustpan dredges.
WALLACE McGEORGE: The industry dustpan dredge continues dredging the central 250 feet of the channel at Red Eye Crossing (Mile 224 AHP). The WALLACE McGEORGE commenced dredging on the Crossings on Thursday, May 21, 2020.
JADWIN: The dustpan dredge continues dredging the central 250 feet of channel at Belmont Crossing (Mile 154 .2 AHP). The JADWIN began dredging on the Crossings on Thursday, May 21, 2020.
HURLEY: The government dustpan dredge HURLEY is expected to commence dredging at Red Eye Crossing (Mile 224 AHP) early next week. The WALLACE McGEORGE will move upriver to Baton Rouge Front (Mile 230.5 AHP) just prior to the HURLEY’s arrival.
CUTTERHEAD DREDGE(S) AT THE NEW ORLEANS HARBOR:
CAPTAIN FRANK: The MVN confirmed that Weeks Marine was awarded New Orleans Harbor Cutterhead Rental Contract #4-2019. The cutterhead dredge CAPTAIN FRANK will honor this contract and is expected to start dredging in the New Orleans Harbor around June 22nd.
The Carrollton Gauge (New Orleans) reading at 1400 hours today was 14.52 feet with a 24-hour change of – 0.22 feet.
NOAA’s National Weather Service’s Extended Streamflow Prediction (28-Day) for the Carrollton Gauge indicates a steady fall to 9.2 feet on July 13, 2020.
