Please find below Mississippi River daily report for September 15, 2025
A Daily Publication of the New Orleans Board of Trade
07:05 hrs. - 09/15/2025
New information (Except for the Air Draft, River Stages, and Vessel Information) is highlighted in Green
General Information: The Controlling Draft for Deep Draft Vessels is 50 Feet. There are three dredges working in the crossings above New Orleans.
Pilot Recommendations: Bar Pilots: Recommended maximum loading draft: 50 Feet. Crescent Pilots: Recommended maximum loading draft: 50 Feet. The Crescent Pilots Safe Navigation committee recommends that any vessel with a LOA of 950’ or greater or a beam of 140’ or greater be assigned two pilots while transiting between Point Celeste Light, Mile 52.8 and Southport Light, Mile 104.7 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 - 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.
Coast Guard Notices: Low Water Safety Advisory: LMR MM 219 TO MM 237 AHP LMR (12’ and Falling) 1. As a result of the Baton Rouge gauge expected to read 12 feet and continue to fall, the COTP New Orleans has issued a low water safety advisory for all waters of the Lower Mississippi River (LMR) from Mile 167 Above Head of Passes (AHP) to Mile 303 AHP. This safety advisory is effective immediately with the following provisions in accordance with the Waterways Action Plan Baton Rouge Annex:
2. LMR MM 167 – 303:
A. Commercial vessel operators shall be aware of falling river-level conditions and monitor Coast Guard safety broadcasts announcing known navigation hazards.
B. Tow sizes and vessel drafts from cargo loading should be adjusted as necessary to meet decreasing channel depths.
C. Pilots and Masters of oceangoing vessels should review facility docking procedures prior to arrival in port.
D. All vessels should transit in the charted navigational channel to the greatest extent possible.
E. All vessels should consider staffing vessels with their most experienced crews.
F. Report missing aids to navigation to the Sector New Orleans Command Center at (504) 365-2209.
3. 81 Mile Point, LMR MM 177 – 179:
A. In accordance with 33 CFR 161.65(e), all vessels moving or intending to move in the 81 Mile Point VTS Special area shall comply with the reporting requirements detailed in the VTS LMR User Manual or in 33 CFR 161.65 by contacting “New Orleans Traffic” on VHF FM Channel 05A.
B. Mariners are also advised of the increased possibility of shoaling in this area and should use extreme caution while transiting.
4. College Town Light, LMR MM 225 – 228.3:
A. All towing vessels are advised to keep flat on the bank and provide a wide berth to deep-draft vessel traffic.
5. Highway 190 Bridge LMR MM 234:
A. When navigating the Upper Baton Rouge (190) bridge, mariners should refer to the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers’ Lower Mississippi River Chart No. 73 which states, that the Port Allen span is navigable when the Baton Rouge River gauge is above 15’. Current river levels do not support using this span.
For further information, contact the following: Vessel Traffic Service Lower Mississippi River: (504) 365-2514, VHF-FM CH 1005 (05A), CH 12, CH 67 Coast Guard Baton Rouge Waterways Management: (225) 298-5400 x 230 Coast Guard Sector New Orleans Waterways Management: (504) 365-2278 Coast Guard Sector Command Center New Orleans (24 hours): (504) 365-2209
VTS Safety Measure – Neptune Pass Stone Work – MM 23-24, AHP 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) 23.0 to MM 24.0, Above Head of Passes (AHP). These measures are needed to protect persons and vessels from the potential safety hazards associated with the work to construct the Neptune Pass Inlet Structure, and are in effect with the following provisions:
Starting on May 5th, 2025, at 6:00 a.m. and continuing through October 5th, 2025: • All vessels shall transit at their slowest safe speed between MM 23 and MM 24. • All vessels shall avoid overtaking or meeting within 1,000 feet of the work barges. • Ostrica Anchorage will be CLOSED for the duration of this work. • These restrictions are in place 24/7.
Work will take place during daylight hours. During working hours, the anchor spread will be extended at a maximum of 600 feet from the Left Descending Bank of the Mississippi River.
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.
U.S. Corps of Engineers: VELOCITY READING (NEW ORLEANS) 1.5 Knots Mississippi River - Projection- Based off 48 Hours of Forecast Rainfall
Lower Mississippi River Forecast Center - Low Water Advisory With the Lower Ohio and Mississippi Rivers reaching critical low stage/flow levels in the extended 28 day period, we will resume weekly issuances of the LMRFC Ohio & Miss River status report.
We are currently above 2024 and 2023 levels for September 10, but look to continue a downward trend. The 16 day NAEFS Mean cumulative rainfall graphic is also included and shows no rainfall in the next two weeks that would slow recessions on the River. Our 16 day and official 2 day Mississippi River forecasts are basically the same. Locations below Baton Rouge are not referenced because they will be mostly regulated by tide levels as we approach low stages.
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.
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