The Corps’ Mississippi Valley New Orleans (MVN) District’s Lock and Waterway Status 60-Day Forecast as issued today (Wednesday, August 12, 2020) is here.
The updated or revised status reports are highlighted in bold and lists conditions on the Inner Harbor Navigation Canal (IHNC), Algiers, Bayou Sorrel, Old River and Bayou Beouf Locks and the East and West Calumet Floodgates.
IHNC LOCK:
The IHNC Lock will be closed to navigation as scheduled during daylight hours (0700 hours to 1900 hours) continuing through tomorrow (August 13) to complete guide wall repairs:
“IHNC Lock will be closed to navigation 12 and 13 August 2020 during daylight hours from 7 am to 7 pm due to pile driving and welding work along the long guide wall on the river end of the structure. NOTE: During hours of operation, the cautionary navigation bulletin 20-143, below, shall still be adhered to.”
The dewatering of the IHNC Lock is expected to begin on August 31, 2020, the dewatering is scheduled to last approximately 60-days. The alternate route for shallow draft traffic is through Baptiste Collette, the cutterhead dredge CAPTAIN FRANK is dredging along this shallow-draft channel now to ensure sufficient draft for barge and tow traffic. Dewatering of the IHNC Lock is typically scheduled to last between 60 to 90 days.
“IHNC Lock will be closed to navigation around the clock, 24hrs per day beginning 31 August 2020 and lasting approximately 60 days while the structure is dewatered for major repair work.”
The IHNC Lock is undergoing construction that includes hot work in the area of the forebay and tailbay all vessels are to use extreme caution when transiting, full details are:
“Effective immediately and continuing until further notice, mariners are advised that there is on-going construction, which includes hot work, at the forebay and tail bay of the Inner Harbor Navigation Canal (IHNC) Lock. All vessels are to use extreme caution when entering and exiting the lock from either end and keep a safe distance when in the vicinity of the construction. Navigate at a safe, dead-slow speed as to not create a wake and use bumpers.”
ALGIERS LOCK:
The Algiers Lock will be impacted by scheduled daytime closures from 0700 hours to 1830 hours beginning on Wednesday (July 29, 2020) and lasting through August 22, 2020. The daytime closures are needed to complete repairs to an unstable dolphin and along the guide wall:
“The work closure has been extended through 22 August 2020. Algiers Lock will be closed to navigation during daylight hours from 7 am to 6:30 pm each day for repairs to the river end dolphin and guide wall until the 22nd of August.”
- Current tow restrictions are still in effect around the clock as stated below per Navigation Bulletin #20-133.
- When daytime closures go in effect, the restrictions will remain in effect during nighttime hours when lock is open.”
And continuing, (previously enacted)
The Algiers Lock is presently operating with special restrictions in place due the unstable condition of the dolphin structure adjacent to the upstream river end guide wall:
“Effective immediately at Algiers Lock and continuing until further notice, mariners are advised to avoid the dolphin and the end of the long river end guide wall. The dolphin adjacent to the end of the upstream, river end guide wall is unstable and is a hazard to mariners. Tows in both directions are restricted to a maximum length of 600 feet.”
OLD RIVER LOCK:
The tainter valve on the Old River Lock will be removed and replace during scheduled daylight closures from June 22nd to September 30th (2020):
“Commencing on or about 22 June 2020 and continuing through 30 September 2020, mariners will be subject to intermittent delays to navigation (up to 12 hours) at Old River Lock. The closures will occur during daylight hours between 7:00 a.m. and 5:00 p.m. Reference Navigation Bulletin #20-46 (below) for special instructions during operating hours.”
And continuing,
The Old River Lock requires the following procedures as repairs to the Bulkhead Lowering Carriage are conducted, the work has now been extended until September 30, 2020:
“The following procedures currently in effect have been extended through approximately 30 Sep 2020.
Due to repairs on the Lock Emergency Bulkhead Lowering Carriage, tows entering the Lock are urged to use extreme caution while approaching and entering the lock chamber. While approaching the Lock, the following are required for passage:
- Tows are to enter the Lock at DEAD SLOW speed.
- All tows are restricted to no longer than 1100’ in length.
- All tows will line up along the floating guide wall before proceeding.
- Two line-handlers with life vests and bumpers will be required on both approach and exiting of the Lock.
- Vessels must be moored by bow and stern lines to floating timberheads.”
BAYOU BOEUF LOCK:
The replacement of the Bayou Boeuf Lock’s Chamber Guide Wall continues with daytime closures and is scheduled to be completed in October 2020 with full details reproduced below:
“As of Wednesday, 11 Sep 2019 Bayou Boeuf Lock is closed to navigation from 7 am until 7 pm (Daylight Hours), Mondays thru Thursdays until approximately 26 Oct 2020 to construct the new south side chamber guide wall.”
EAST and WEST CALUMET FLOODGATES:
The East and West Calumet Floodgates remain closed due to heavy siltation in the channel:
“Continuing until further notice, East and West Calumet Floodgate will remain closed to navigation due to heavy siltation in the channel making it unsafe for navigation.”
