The U.S. Army Corps of Engineers (USACE) has now completed the Phase 1 dredging for the historic project to deepen the Mississippi River Ship Channel (MRSC) to 50 feet. The Phase 1 section of the Ship Channel extends from Venice at Mile 13 Above Head of Passes (AHP) to Mile 22 Below Head of Passes (BHP). However, the USACE has uncovered some anomalies with pipelines crossing under the Ship Channel in the area of Venice, mainly between Mile 12 AHP and Mile 11 AHP. Due to the information uncovered the USACE is reaching out to pipeline owners in the area to verify the depth over the pipelines in this corridor before the Ship Channel can officially be opened to a deepened draft (50 Feet).
This afternoon the Crescent Pilots increased their maximum draft recommendation to 47 feet freshwater effectively immediately after it was reduced to 46 feet freshwater on May 5, 2021. The notice was shared earlier today by the Crescent River Port Pilots’ as implanted by their Safe Navigation Committee of Louisiana for the state-commissioned river port pilots:
“Based on the current conditions, the maximum recommended freshwater draft is 47’ effective immediately. Thanks.”
MISSISSIPPI RIVER SHIP CHANNEL DEEPENING PHASE 1:
The Phase 1 areas of the Ship Channel have all been deepened to 50 feet through the use of the four dredges listed below. The USACE utilized three contracts to deepen the Ship Channel from Venice to the Gulf of Mexico (Phase 1). The USACE expects to complete the deepening project in four progressive upriver phases to the upper end of the MRSC at Mile 233.8 AHP (Baton Rouge). The details on the dredge contracts worked under Phase 1 of the historic river deepening project are detailed below:
Southwest Pass Cutterhead Dredge Rental Contract #1-2020: was awarded to Weeks Marine on August 20, 2020. The cutterhead dredge CAPTAIN FRANK dredged under this contract from
September 11, 2020 to March 3, 2021 and the E.W. ELLEFSEN dredged on this deepening contract from November 18, 2020 and completed the last assignment on March 19, 2021.
Southwest Pass Cutterhead Dredge Rental Contract #2-2020: was awarded to Manson Construction on August 27, 2020. The cutterhead dredge ROBERT M. WHITE worked on this contract from October 23, 2020 until completion on March 18, 2021.
Southwest Pass Hopper Dredge Rental Contract #9-2020: was awarded to Manson Construction on September 21, 2020. The GLENN EDWARDS worked under this deepening contract from
January 14, 2021 to May 7, 2021.
INDUSTRY HOPPER DREDGES WORKING IN THE AREA OF SOUTHWEST PASS (SWP):
STUYVEASNT: The industry hopper dredge STUYVESANT (Dutra Group) continues working on assignment from Mile 13.0 AHP to Mile 12.0 AHP. The STUYVEASNT is working under Southwest Pass Hopper Dredge Rental Contract #6-2020 that was awarded to the Dutra Group in Fiscal Year 2020 to perform channel maintenance in Fiscal Year 2021. The STUYVESANT began work under this contract on March 24, 2021.
NEWPORT: The industry hopper dredge NEWPORT (Manson Construction) is dredging on assignment at Cubits Gap (Mile 3.5 AHP to Mile 2.5 AHP). The NEWPORT is working under Southwest Pass Hopper Dredge Rental Contract #7-2020 that was awarded to the Manson Construction in Fiscal Year 2020 to perform channel maintenance in Fiscal Year 2021. The NEWPORT began work under this contract on April 3, 2021.
GLENN EDWARDS: The GLENN EDWARDS (Manson Construction) is working on channel maintenance at the Head of Passes (Mile 1.0 AHP to Mile 1.0 BHP). The hopper dredge is now working under Southwest Pass Hopper Dredge Rental Contract #3-2020 that was awarded in Fiscal Year 2020 to perform channel maintenance in Fiscal Year 2021. The GLENN EDWARDS began work under this contract on May 7, 2021.
GOVERNMENT HOPPER DREDGES WORKING IN SOUTHWEST PASS (SWP):
WHEELER: The USACE’s hopper dredge WHEELER continues working on assignment in SWP from Mile 11.6 BHP to Mile 15.1 BHP. The WHEELER began work under Readiness Exercise #1-2021 on April 25, 2021 and is expected to complete this Readiness Exercise on May 17, 2021.
CUTTERHEAD DREDGE(S) IN THE HOPPER DREDGE DISPOSAL AREA (HDDA):
ILLINOIS: The cutterhead dredge ILLINOIS (Great Lakes Dredge and Dock) has removed and beneficially used approximately 5.5 million cubic yards (mcy) of material from the HDDA under Hopper Dredge Disposal Area Cutterhead Rental Contract #1-2019. The contract includes the removal of 10 mcy in the base with options to add an additional 4 mcy. The project is expected to be completed by early 2022. The material is beneficially being used in the West Bay Receiving Area through a submerged dredge pipeline that will have to be removed up completion of the project. The pipeline retrieval will require at least one complete closure on the Ship Channel in the immediate vicinity of the submerged pipeline (Mile 2.0 AHP to Mile 0 – the Head of Passes).
The Carrollton Gauge (New Orleans) reading at 1900 hours today was 11.58 feet with a 24-hour change of + 0.23 feet. The latest crest recorded on the Carrollton Gauge was 15.44 feet at 1700 hours on April 16, 2021. The National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration’s (NOAA) National Weather Service Extended Streamflow Prediction (28-Day) for the Carrollton Gauge issued today forecasts stages to continue a slow rise to 12.3 feet on May 20 and then to begin a slow fall to 9.7 feet on June 8 (2021).
The Baton Rouge Gauge reading at 1400 hours today was 31.26 feet with a 24-hour change of + 0.24 feet. The National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration’s (NOAA) National Weather Service Extended Streamflow Prediction (28-Day) for the Baton Rouge Gauge issued today predicts stages to continue a slow rise to 33.50 feet on May 19 and then to begin a slow fall to 26.3 feet on June 8 (2021).
