Waterway Status – Temporary Waterway Transit Requirements and Closure between MM 9.0 – MM 10.3 AHP LMR (Update 1)
Vessel Traffic Service (VTS) Lower Mississippi River, in accordance with the Navigation Safety Regulations, Code of Federal Regulations Title 33, Subpart 161.11, will establish a series of VTS measures for all waters of the Lower Mississippi River from Mile Marker (MM) 9.0 to MM 10.3 Above Head of Passes (AHP). These measures are needed to protect persons and vessels from the potential safety hazards associated with the removal of a submerged dredge pipeline across the Mississippi River in the vicinity of Spanish Pass Mississippi River Navigation Channel Crossing and are in effect with the following provisions:
• June 19, 6:00 a.m. to June 20, 6:00 a.m. local time: all vessels are restricted to one-way traffic between MM 9 and MM 10.3 AHP. Mariners shall contact the on-scene pilot onboard the M/V ELDA A via VHF 16 or 67 or (985) 258-4232 to coordinate passing arrangements.
• June 20, from 6:00 a.m. to 6:00 p.m. local time: all vessels are prohibited from transiting between MM 9.0 and MM 10.3 AHP.
• (Back-up Date) June 22, from 6:00 a.m. to 6:00 p.m. local time: all vessels are prohibited from transiting between MM 9.0 and MM 10.3 AHP.
Vessels intending to arrive or depart the Mississippi River on the day of a closure must arrive at Boothville (outbound) no later than 5:00 a.m. or Southwest Pass Entrance Light (inbound) no later than 3:30 a.m. on the morning of the closure.
This closure does not restrict vessel traffic entering/exiting the LMR at MM 10.4 AHP (The Jump).
Updates and/or changes to the published schedule will be broadcast via Broadcast Notice to Mariners and/or industry-wide email.
For additional information, contact:
Sector New Orleans Waterways Management: (504) 365-2280, SecNOLA-WPM@uscg.mil
Sector New Orleans Command Center (24 hour): (504) 365-2200
Vessel Traffic Center (24 Hour): (504) 365-2514 or VHF-FM channels 5A, 12 or 67
