A Daily Publication of the New Orleans Board of Trade

• Ocean going vessels must use tug escorts with adequate horsepower alongside while transiting above the I-10 Bridge to the dock, as well as departing the dock and transiting southbound past the I-10 Bridge.
• Pilot Associations shall notify VTS LMR prior to oceangoing vessels transiting the area.
• Only one ocean going vessel at a time will be allowed to be underway between the I-10 Bridge and the US-190 Bridge.
• Ocean going vessels shall not anchor in the upper half mile of the Baton Rouge General Anchorage. The Pilot must notify VTS if it is necessary to anchor any vessel in the remainder of the anchorage. 

Bar Pilots High Water Restrictions in Place:
Due to severe flocculation Pilots on station are recommending a transit time of 5 hours before to 2 hours after high tide for inbound ships with 38' or greater.

Crescent Pilots High Water Restrictions to remain in place until Carrollton Gauge reaches 14 feet and falling.

• No vessel is to anchor in General Anchorage except in an emergency
• No head down berthing (Special Service may be available in certain cases)
• No stern first in Chalmette Slip (Special Service may be available in certain cases)
• Vessels with draft of 30 feet or greater are prohibited from anchoring at 9 and12 Mile Anchorages. 
• The minimum distance between vessels at 9 and 12 Mile Anchorage shall be 1000 feet.
• Midstream mooring restrictions enacted by line handling services concerning the safety of the mooring crew shall be observed by Crescent Pilots
• Vessels at mid-stream moorings are required to maintain a pilot until it is determined, by the pilot onboard, that the vessel is secure and no longer requires pilot assistance.
• Chalmette Slip - Vessels berthed at Sections “D” and “E” should be moved if another vessel must berth or sail form Sections “C” or “F”. 

• Mooring/unmooring operations at all mid-stream transfer facilities and any berth that requires the use of a mooring boat along the NOBRA Pilot’s Route shall be restricted to daylight hours.

• Mile 233 AHP to Mile 90.5 AHP southbound vessels will be daylight only.
• Mile 166 AHP – Mile 233.2 – All vessels will be daylight only
• Vessels anchoring in NOBRA’s area responsibility with a draft of 38 feet or greater must maintain a pilot on board while at anchor
• Pilots dispatched to ensure a vessel remains stable at a safe berth shall serve no mor than six consecutive bridge hours

 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 - 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.

1. All tows greater than 600’ (excluding the towboat) are required to employ an assist vessel of at least 1200 horsepower (HP) when entering or exiting the Port Allen Lock.
2. All tows exiting Port Allen Lock into the LMR intending to turn northbound shall use an assist vessel of at least 1200 HP or proceed southbound below MM 221 if topping around unassisted before heading north.
3. Approval must be granted by VTS LMR prior to exiting Port Allen Lock and turning northbound.
4. If a vessel is unable to meet HP requirements and permission is obtained to enter the RNA from VTS LMR, then an assist vessel of at least 1200 HP is mandatory for entering and exiting.
5. Tows are required to have 280 HP per standard loaded barge on canal tows entering/exiting the Locks. Empty barges may be calculated at ½ the horsepower requirements to that of a loaded barge when computing the overall horsepower requirement. Towing vessels with Z-drive propulsion type may be treated as having a horsepower 20% greater than its engine’s rating for the purpose of this calculation. VTS has authority to grant exceptions to these requirements up to 400 HP based on conditions and the size of the tow.
6. The Port Allen Lock has a max tow size of 1050 feet, including the towboat.  

1. Tows greater than 600 feet in length are advised to use a minimum 1200 HP assist vessel when topping around.
2. Tows between 300 feet and 600 feet in length are advised to use a 1000 HP assist vessel when topping around.
3. Tows less than 300 feet in length are advised to use an 800 HP assist vessel when topping around.  

1. Ocean going vessels must use tug escorts with adequate horsepower alongside while transiting above the I-10 Bridge to the dock, as well as departing the dock and transiting southbound past the I-10 Bridge.
2. Pilot Associations shall notify VTS LMR prior to oceangoing vessels transiting the area.
3. Only one ocean going vessel at a time will be allowed to be underway between the I-10 Bridge and the US-190 Bridge.
4. Ocean going vessels shall not anchor in the upper half mile of the Baton Rouge General Anchorage. The Pilot must notify VTS LMR if it is necessary to anchor any vessel in the remainder of the anchorage.
5. Ocean going vessels must contact VTS LMR on VHF FM Ch. 12 with ETA to Richard Powell Range light (MM 218.4) and check in again at MM 219.
6. Oceangoing vessels departing this area must contact the VTS LMR prior to departure.  

1. All vessels should stay 300 to 400 feet off the left descending bank within ½ mile of 81-Mile Point (MM 178 – 179) to avoid dangerous eddies.
2. Mariners are advised to proceed with caution in the vicinity of Bringier Point (MM 172-173) and Plaquemine Point (MM 206-208) where dangerous eddies have been previously reported.
3. Although the above locations have had eddies specifically reported, mariners are advised to be continuously on the lookout for irregular currents which may pose a threat to navigation throughout the LMR.

• 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. 

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: