Notices

Please find below Mississippi River daily report for October 7, 2025

A Daily Publication of the New Orleans Board of Trade

06:55 hrs. - 10/07/2025

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.
Alliance Anchorage is closed and one way traffic from Mile 63.65 - Mile 63.91 is in effect due to construction of the saltwater barrier.

Pilot Recommendations:
Bar Pilots: Recommended maximum loading draft: 50 Feet.
The Board of Examiners for the Bar Pilots recommend LNG ships transiting Southwest Pass be trimmed by the stern.

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:
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:
• 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.

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 SCHEDULED TO DEPART IN THE NEXT 24 HOURS:

Weather / Marine Zone Forecast

U.S. Corps of Engineers:
VELOCITY READING (NEW ORLEANS) 1.5 Knots
Mississippi River - Projection- Based off 48 Hours of Forecast Rainfall

Saltwater Barrier Construction:
Construction of the barrier continues. Initial plans for the barrier, which is located at Mile 63.7 AHP, are to build it to 55 feet below the water line. Once construction to 55 feet is complete, the Corps will monitor salinity levels to determine if additional height is required. If additional height is required a notch in the barrier will be provided to allow for the passage of deep draft vessels.

MARINE SAFETY INFORMATION BULLETIN
VTS Safety Measure – Saltwater Barrier Sill Construction –MM 63.7 AHP LMR
The Captain of the Port New Orleans is issuing Vessel Traffic Service (VTS) Safety Measures to protect persons and vessels from the potential safety hazards associated with the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers’ construction of a Saltwater
Barrier Sill at Lower Mississippi River Mile Marker (MM) 63.7 Above Head of Passes (AHP). The following channel restrictions will be in effect beginning on September 28 at 10:00 a.m.
1) All vessels are limited to one way traffic from MM 63.65 to 63.91 AHP confined to a channel 600’ wide. The channel follows the Left Descending Bank (LDB) and is marked on its West side by four white buoys with fixed
white all-around lights.
- All vessels transiting this zone shall check-in with and take direction from the Contact Pilot onboard the J.S.
CHATRY 30 minutes prior to arrival on Channel 67 & 72.
- All vessels shall transit at their slowest safe speed between MM 63.5 to 65 AHP.
- Alliance Anchorage is closed to all traffic.
- The Contact Pilot is the Coast Guard’s Designated Representative.
- These measures will remain in effect until rescinded/adjusted at a future date.
Contact pilots are on-site 24/7 aboard the dredge throughout operations and can be contacted with the following:
Bruno L. Touchard (Day Shift) 985-215-9798
Damon R. Williams (Night Shift) 504-756-9821
Johnathan Crockett is the Project Manager on site and can be reached at 224-221-9834.
All are reminded that future draft restrictions may be required as a result of the sill’s final height. The U.S. Coast Guard
will coordinate closely with the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers to provide updates as soon as that information becomes
available.

Weather Information:
Tropical Weather Information: