This MSIB supersedes MSIB 28 – Carrollton Gauge at 15 Feet and Falling.

Highlights include:

Restrictions no longer in effect:

• Specific stricter barge fleeting standards.
• Specific high-water requirements for vessels in South Pass and SW Pass.
• Specific VTS Measure for barge fleets.

Restrictions remaining in effect:

• Traffic control lights remain energized.
• Vessel check-in with VTS requirements.
• Deep Draft vessels must have 3 means to hold position.
• 48-Hour advance notice of cargo transfers mid-stream or in designated anchorages.

The complete MSIB is shown below:

When the Carrollton Gauge indicates a Mississippi River Stage of 12 feet on the fall, the following regulations are no longer in effect:

1. 33 CFR 165.803 (m) requires stricter barge fleeting standards on the Lower Mississippi River.
2. 33 CFR 165.810 (b)(2) describes high-water requirements for all vessels operating in the Lower Mississippi River below mile 233.9 AHP including South Pass and Southwest Pass.
3. A U.S. Coast Guard Vessel Traffic Service (VTS) Measure is being established in accordance with the Navigation Safety Regulations, Code of Federal Regulations Title 33, Subpart 161.11, to enhance the safety of barge fleets. The 33 CFR 165.803 regulations requiring stricter barge fleeting standards on the Lower Mississippi River are being extended to include all barge fleets from Head of Passes to mile marker (MM) 255 Above Head of Passes (AHP).

The following regulations remain in effect:

1. In accordance with 33 CFR 161.65, the Governor Nicholls Harbor Traffic Control Light 94, Gretna
   Harbor Traffic Control Light 97 and the Westwego Traffic Light 102 will be energized.
2. The Harbor Traffic Control Lights are located at:
   Governor Nicholls Light, MM 94.3, AHP, LDB, LMR (LLNR 13855/34770), Gretna Light, MM 96.6, AHP, RDB, LMR (LLNR 13880/34795), and Westwego Traffic Light, MM 101.4, AHP, RDB, LMR (LLNR13950).
3. The Governor Nicholls Navigation Light 94 and the Gretna Navigation Light 97 will be extinguished while Traffic Control Lights are operating.
4. Downbound vessels: Check in with Vessel Traffic Service Lower Mississippi River (call sign “New Orleans Traffic”) no lower than the Huey P Long Bridge, MM 106.1, AHP (SHIPS and TOWS), and the Marlex Terminal, MM 99.0, AHP (SHIPS and TOWS).
5. Upbound vessels: Check in with “New Orleans Traffic” no higher than the Algiers Canal Forebay, MM 88.0, AHP (SHIPS), Industrial Canal, MM 92.7, AHP (SHIPS and TOWS), and Crescent Towing Smith Fleet, MM 93.5, AHP (TOWS).
6. In accordance with 33 CFR 160.111 (c), the COTP has determined that during periods of high water, unless moored to a shore side facility or mooring buoys, all deep draft vessels must have three means to hold position. An example would be two fully operational anchors and the propulsion system in standby. Should a vessel lose an anchor or become inoperable with no redundant capabilities available, such as aft anchors or two main engines, a third means of holding position could be via tug assist.
7. All cargo transfers authorized in designated anchorages as noted in 33 CFR 110.195, as well as mid- stream cargo transfers, are required to submit for review a Notice of Midstream Transfer 48-hours prior to commencing transfer operations within the Captain of the Port New Orleans (COTP) zone. Midstream cargo transfers may be conducted at the designated anchorages within the New Orleans COTP zone as defined by 33 CFR 110.195(a), with exception of the General Anchorage (MM 90.1 – 90.9 AHP) and the Quarantine Anchorage (MM 90.9 – 91.6 AHP). This requirement does NOT affect:
   1. Vessel to vessel transfers which take place at a Coast Guard regulated facility.
   2. Bunkers or delivery of ships stores.
   3. Cargo operations which take place in a designated and established mid-stream buoy system.

Anyone wishing to conduct vessel to vessel cargo transfers not specifically exempted as noted above, should contact the Sector New Orleans Facility Compliance Branch at (504) 365-2370 or by e-mail at Facilitiesnola@uscg.mil. A Midstream Transfer Notice form was supplied, identified as MSIB XVIII Issue 008a.

Mariners should also familiarize themselves with MSIB XV, Issue 13 “Vessel Anchoring Capabilities”.
This Marine Safety Information Bulletin supersedes Volume XVIII, Issue 028 “Carrollton Gauge at 15 Feet and Falling,” originally published on March 30, 2018.