The Corps’ Mississippi Valley New Orleans (MVN) District’s Lock and Waterway Status 60-Day Forecast as issued Wednesday, November 4, 2020 is here.
The updated or revised status reports are highlighted in bold and lists conditions on the Inner Harbor Navigation Canal (IHNC), Old River, Algiers and Bayou Beouf Locks, the Calcasieu River Ship Channel and the East and West Calumet Floodgates.
INNER HARBOR NAVIGATION CANAL LOCK:
The IHNC Lock remains closed to navigation as the dewatering began on September 4, 2020 and is now expected to be completed on November 25, 2020:
“IHNC Lock is closed to navigation around the clock, 24hrs per day until approximately 25 November 2020 while the structure is dewatered for major repair work.”
CALCASIEU RIVER SHIP CHANNEL:
The Calcasieu Ship Channel continues to operate with a maximum draft restriction of 36 feet freshwater due to a sunken barge obstruction that is schedule to be salvaged by November 15, 2020.
“There is a 36′ draft restriction on the Calcasieu River Ship Channel until removal of the sunken rock barge, which is on target for 15 Nov or sooner.”
OLD RIVER LOCK:
The restrictions related to the Lowering Carriage as noted below will continue until approximately December 31, 2020:
“Tows entering Old River Lock are urged to use extreme caution while approaching and entering the lock chamber. Until approximately 31 December 2020, the following restrictions/instructions 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 guidewall 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.”
ALGIERS LOCK:
The Algiers Lock continues to operate with special restrictions in place due the unstable condition of the dolphin structure adjacent to the upstream river end guide wall:
“Algiers Lock is currently open to navigation with normal locking hours of operation. However, tows are restricted in both directions to a maximum width and length of 54 feet W by 700 feet L or 70 feet W by 600 feet L. Mariners are advised to continue to avoid the end of the long, river end, guide wall. It is unstable and a hazard to mariners.”
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.”
