Notices

Good day,

Please find below Mississippi River daily report for February 7, 2024

A Daily Publication of the New Orleans Board of Trade

07:15 hrs. - 02/07/2024

New information (Except for the Air Draft, River Stages, and Vessel Information)is highlighted in Green

The Controlling Draft for Deep Draft Vessels is 50 Feet

There is one dredge working in Southwest Pass.

Current Closures:
The river is closed at Mile 199 due to Corps of Engineers Revetment Operations. The closure will be in effect until 19:00 this evening. This closure is scheduled to take place each day through Feb 14th.

Upcoming Closures:
The river will be closed from Mile 93 to Mile 96 on Monday, February 12th from 18:00 – 19:00 for a fireworks display.

Pilot Recommendations:
Bar Pilots: Recommended maximum loading draft: 50 Feet.

Crescent Pilots: Recommended maximum loading draft: 50 Feet.

NOBRA Pilots: Recommended loading draft is as follows: 50 feet from New Orleans to Mile 175 ; 47 Feet from Mile 175 - Mile 180; 45 feet from Mile 180 to Mile 234. Vessels with a draft of 41 feet or greater are required to transit the Baton Rouge Harbor (Mile 180 - Mile 234) during daylight hours only.

NOBRA Pilots – Revetment Operations: In addition to the restrictions highlighted in the navigational restrictions chart below, the NOBRA Pilots will put the following into effect during the operations at Manchac and St. Gabriel. “Any ship 41 feet or greater choosing to traverse the restricted zone at nighttime between NM 180 AHP through NM 234 AHP shall utilize two pilots. The first pilot will accept the original orders and apply the change rules applicable to their order. The second pilot ordered will be assigned to northbound vessels at a Burnside Change. The same will be applicable for any second pilot making a southbound change at Burnside. The second pilot on a southbound change shall depart the vessel at Burnside.”

NOBRA Pilots - High Interest Vessels
Vessels classified as HIGH Interest by the Coast Guard, A Federal Authority, Any State Authority, or the NOBRA Board of Directors, may require 2 pilots and be limited to daylight transit only along the NOBRA Route. Any customer of the NOBRA Pilots, docks, berths, moorings, agents, owner, or owner representative may petition the NOBRA Board of Directors to establish or remove the HIV classification. PER THE NOBRA PILOTS, A VESSEL ONLY REQUIRING A CREW CONTROL SECURITY PLAN (CCSP) BY THE COAST GUARD WILL NOT BE SUBJECT TO THE 2 PILOT RULE.

Federal Pilots: Recommended maximum loading draft:50 feet from the Sea Buoy to Mile 175; 45 feet from Mile 175 – Mile 232.4; and 40 feet from Mile 232.4 – Mile 233.8.

Waterways Status – MARDI GRAS Festivities – New Orleans, LA
Mardi Gras festivities will be held in New Orleans, LA beginning on February 10, 2024, and lasting through February 14, 2024. As part of the celebrations, multiple events will be taking place on or adjacent to the Lower Mississippi River (LMR). In anticipation of these events, the U.S. Coast Guard Captain of the Port New Orleans, under the authority of the Ports and Waterways Safety Act, will be establishing the following security and safety zones:

• Temporary Security Zone - Mardi Gras Celebration
a. Date and time: from noon on February 10, 2024, through 11:59 p.m. on February 13, 2024.
b. Location: all navigable waters within 400 yards of the Left Descending Bank (LDB) between Mile Marker (MM) 94.4 & MM 95.1

• Temporary Safety Zone - Lundi Gras Fireworks Display
a. Date and time: February 12, 2024, from 6:00 p.m. until 7:00 p.m.
b. Location: all navigable waters between MM 93 and MM 96, near Algiers Point in New Orleans, LA

All vessels are prohibited from entering the security and safety zones unless they have been granted permission by the Captain of the Port New Orleans or the designated representative. All vessels requesting permission to enter or transit through these zones must contact the designated representative on VHF-FM Channel 12, 16, or 67. Each designated representative will evaluate and allow vessels to transit through the safety zone on a case-by-case basis.

CARROLLTON GAUGE AT 8 FEET AND RISING
The Carrollton Gauge reads 8 feet and rising, the following operating requirements are in effect:

As per 33 CFR 161.65, the Governor Nicholls traffic light, Gretna Harbor traffic light, and Westwego traffic lights are energized. The Governor Nicholls Navigation Light and Gretna Navigation Light are extinguished.
As required by 33 CFR 165.810(b)(3), tows are prohibited from transiting VTS special areas by a vessel with insufficient power to permit ready maneuverability and safe handling (unable to maintain an average speed of at least 3 MPH (2.6 knots).
For all vessels operating in the Lower Mississippi River (LMR) below Mile Marker (MM) 233.9 Above Head of Passes (AHP), including South Pass and Southwest Pass, additional high-water requirements are found in Title 33 of the Code of Federal Regulations (CFR) 165.810.
All Deep Draft vessels to include Ocean-going Towing vessels should have three means to hold position unless moored to shore or a mooring buoy.
Downbound Ocean-going Towing vessels towing on the hawser should consult with the appropriate pilot association to determine the need for assist tug.
Towing vessels should review MSIB Vol XIX Issue 007 titled Towing Vessel Safety Advisory During High Water, issued 15 January 2019 for additional provisions.

Lower Mississippi River Bridges Air-Draft Calculations:

The above clearances were calculated this morning using gauge readings provided by the Army Corps of Engineers. As a guide the pilots require at least an additional 3 feet of clearance for the Vessel's Air Draft. The individual pilot assigned to the vessel will make the final determination of the vessel's allowable clearance. Actual clearance should be verified when ordering pilot services.

NOAA PORTS INFORMATION:
To Access the NOAA Ports System for the Lower Mississippi River, go to the following link: http://tidesandcurrents.noaa.gov/ports/index.shtml?port=lm

National Information:
Marsec Level – 1

VESSELS SCHEDULED TO ARRIVE IN THE NEXT 24 HOURS:

VESSELS SCEHDULED TO DEPART IN THE NEXT 24 HOURS:

Weather / Marine Zone Forecast

U.S. Corps of Engineers:
VELOCITY READING (NEW ORLEANS) - 2.8 Knots
Mississippi River - Projection- Based off 48 Hours of Forecast Rainfall

Mississippi River - NOLA Projection- Based off 16 Days of Forecast Rainfall (Experimental)-

Weather Information:
15-Day Weather Forecast:
New Orleans area 15-Day Forecast: http://www.accuweather.com/us/la/new-orleans/70112/forecast-15day.asp?partner=accuweather&traveler=0&zipchg=1&metric=0
Baton Rouge area 15-Day Forecast: http://www.accuweather.com/us/la/baton-rouge/70801/forecast-15day.asp?partner=accuweather&traveler=0&zipchg=1&metric=0

NOAA Fog Forecast:

Port / Terminal Restrictions

Disclaimer: For quality assurance purposes please note well that while the information contained in this website is regularly vetted for accuracy it is not intended to replace the local knowledge or expertise pertaining to port conditions of our marine operations personnel.