Please find below Mississippi River daily report for July 29, 2025
A Daily Publication of the New Orleans Board of Trade
07:00 hrs. - 07/29/2025
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 four dredges working in Southwest Pass and two 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: 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.
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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