The Corps of Engineers Mississippi Valley New Orleans (MVN) continues to respond to the shoaling in Southwest Pass as related to the extended high river stages of early 2018. The MVN has commenced dredging operations with all three dustpan dredges on the Crossings Above New Orleans. Please see below for complete details and note the restrictions on vessel usage in both the White Castle and Belmont Anchorages.

DRAFT RESTRICTIONS IN THE AREA OF SOUTHWEST PASS (SWP):

• The Bar Pilots established their maximum draft recommendation at 44 feet effective at 1000 hours on Thursday, April 26, 2018.
• The Crescent River Port Pilots Association increased their maximum draft recommendation to 44 feet (freshwater) on Monday, April 23, 2018.
• The Federal Pilots revised their maximum draft recommendation to 44 feet (freshwater) on Thursday, April 26, 2018.
• The controlling draft remains 44 feet freshwater for all three Pilot Associations navigating vessels in the area of SWP.

INDUSTRY HOPPER DREDGES IN SOUTHWEST PASS (SWP):

• BAYPORT: The industry hopper dredge (Manson Construction) commenced dredging under Southwest Pass Hopper Dredge Rental Contract No. 3-2018 on Monday, March 12, 2018. The BAYPORT is presently dredging from Mile 1.5 Above Head of Passes (AHP) to Mile 0.5 Below Head of Passes (BHP).
• NEWPORT: The industry hopper dredge (Manson Construction) commenced dredging in SWP on March 11, 2018 under Southwest Pass Hopper Dredge Rental Contract No. 2-2018. The NEWPORT is presently dredging from 0.5 BHP to Mile 1.0 BHP.
• GLENN EDWARDS: The industry hopper dredge GLENN EDWARDS (Manson Construction) commenced dredging in SWP on April 17, 2018. The GLENN EDWARDS is presently dredging from Mile 7.0 BHP to Mile 8.0 BHP.

GOVERNMENT HOPPER DREDGE IN SOUTHWEST PASS (SWP):

• WHEELER: MVN’s hopper dredge WHEELER is dredging from Mile 3.5 AHP to Mile 2.75 AHP. The WHEELER began dredging on March 31, 2018 and is s approved for 60 days of dredging under the Red Flag or Emergency Call Out Procedure in response to no bids being received from the dredging industry to Southwest Pass Hopper Dredge Contract No. 4-2018.
  CUTTERHEAD DREDGES IN SOUTHWEST PASS (SWP):
• G.D. MORGAN: The industry cutterhead dredge G.D. MORGAN continues to respond to Southwest Pass Cutterhead Dredge Rental Contract No. 2-2018 for Weeks Marine. The cutterhead commenced dredging from Mile 2.5 AHP to Mile 1.0 BHP on Saturday, May 12, 2018. The cutterhead is presently at Mile 2.28 AHP, all material removed will be beneficially used and strategically placed to create new land alongside the western boundary of SWP.
• ROBERT M. WHITE: The industry cutterhead dredge (Manson Construction) began dredging in SWP under Southwest Pass Cutterhead Dredge Rental Contract No. 1-2018 on March 16, 2018. The cutterhead is dredging from Mile 16.4 BHP to Mile 17.8 BHP. The cutterhead is now at approximately Mile 16.65 BHP. All material removed will be beneficially used and strategically placed to create new land alongside of SWP.

DUSTPAN DREDGES ON THE CROSSINGS ABOVE NEW ORLEANS:

• HURLEY: The government dustpan dredge HURLEY commenced dredging the central 250 feet of the channel at Red Eye Crossing (Mile 224 AHP) today (Wednesday, May 16, 2018). The full channel width on the Crossings is 500 feet, the dustpans are working to restore and maintain the central half of the channel.
• WALLACE McGEORGE: The industry dustpan dredge WALLACE McGEORGE commenced dredging the central 250 feet at Alhambra Crossing (Mile 192 AHP) on Friday, May 11, 2018. The NOBRA and Federal Pilots are prohibiting vessel usage at the White Castle Anchorage (Mile 191.1 AHP to Mile 190.4 AHP) until the dustpan dredge completes this assignment. The dustpan is expected to be at this location until early June, keeping the anchorage clear promotes navigational safety and allows the dredge to work without interruption.
• JADWIN: The Corps’ dustpan dredge JADWIN commenced dredging the central 250 feet at Belmont Crossing (Mile 154 AHP) on Thursday, May 10, 2018. The NOBRA and Federal Pilots will work to anchor vessels in the Belmont Anchorage (Mile 154 AHP to Mile 152.9 AHP) “as far east as possible” in effort to keep the Belmont Anchorage accessible while the dustpan dredge is working this location.

The Carrollton Gauge reading at 1300 hours today was 11.87 feet, with a 24-hour change of – 0.26 feet.

The Baton Rouge Gauge reading at 1400 hours today was 31.26 feet, with a 24-hour change of – 0.62 feet.