High River Conditions Exist

Tuesday, May 30, 2017

Morning Report

Navigation Conditions

High river conditions exist.

2017 High Water Restrictions

NOTE: The USCG Sector New Orleans has posted all High Water MSIB restrictions here.

Instructions: When Homepage opens:

1. Select ‘Port Directory’,

2. Using drop-down option, select ‘New Orleans’,

3. Under ‘Waterways Management’, select ‘High Water 2017’.

NOAA's crest forecast for river stages:

Baton Rouge:

Appears to have crested @ 40.5’ this am, May 30.

Will be @ 40.0’ and falling on June 3.

New Orleans:

Appears to have crested @ 16.4’ on May 29.

Will be @ 16.0’ and falling on June 5.

Daily LMR River Stage 5-Day Predictions (Link)

Information from NOAA as of 1137 hours on 05/23/2017:

Note: All stage forecasts include 48 hours of future rainfall.

Lower Mississippi River Ship Pilots Report

1. Federal Pilots – SWP to Mile 233.5 AHOP

Draft Restrictions In Place: None. Max FW Draft is 45’. (Click here). Effective June 16, 2016.

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High Water Mooring and Operating Restrictions:

Effective May 5, 2017: (Click here)

1. All head down landings will cease until the Carrollton Gauge reads 12’ and falling.

2. All mooring operations requiring a line boat will be conducted during daylight hours
only.

For purposes of determining daylight, official times of sunrise and sunset shall
be used.

Normal mooring operations will resume once the Carrollton Gauge reaches 12’
and falling.

LAMA Note: Sunrise/sunset times can be found at (Click here)

Effective Immediately May 17, 2017 (Click here)

1. Any inbound vessel with a fresh water draft of 38’ or greater shall enter SWP 6 hour before high tide to 3 hours after high tide. The S/S SEAKAY SPIRIT shall receive an exemption from this recommendation.

2. The Towing astern of loaded ocean-going barges inbound/outbound SWP shall cease until the river reaches 12’ and falling.

3. Any ocean-going vessel that cannot average 3kts over the ground shall employ the use of an assist tug in order to achieve the minimum speed.

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2. BAR Pilots – SWP to Pilottown (Mile 1.9 AHOP)

Draft Recommendation – Unless restrictions are in place; Max FW Draft is 47'.

Draft Restrictions in Place: 44’ as of 1030 on 5/26/2017 (Click here).

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High Water Entry Restrictions:

1. Vessels drafting 38’ or more may enter SWP during the window starting 6 hours prior to through 3 hours after high tide. For official notice…… (Click here).

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3. Crescent Pilots – Pilottown (Mile 1.9 AHOP) to Mile 104.7 AHOP

Draft Recommendation – Unless restrictions are in place; Max FW Draft is 47’.

Draft Restrictions in Place: None.

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High Water Mooring Restrictions:

1. Restrictions were issued on May 8, 2017 requiring daylight only pilot operations for Chalmette Slips, IHNC and the MGMT rig, plus other restrictions.

For the official notice….... (Click here)

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4. NOBRA Pilots – Mile 104.7 AHOP to Mile 233.5 AHOP
Draft Recommendation - Unless restrictions are in place:
Mile 104.7 to Mile 180 AHOP: Max FW Draft is 47'.
Mile 180.0 to Mile 232.1 AHOP: Max FW Draft is 45’.

Draft Restrictions in Place: None.

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NOBRA High Water Mooring and Transit Rules

1. When the river reaches seven (7) feet at the Carrollton Gage, all head-down landings will be conducted during daylight hours only.
2. Above LMR MM 220, vessels drafting 41’ or greater are restricted to daylight only.

-Vessels must get underway 3 hours prior to the official sunset time.

-Exceptions will be made for shifts from berths to/from the Middle Baton Rouge anchorage.

3. Posted 01/31/2017 - Due to rising river levels the NOBRA Pilots are asking agents to report the vessel’s air draft when ordering a pilot.

Note: Effective Monday, April 24,2017, at 0400, NOBRA Dispatch will begin accepting orders for loaded ships of 37’ or greater to anchor in the Reserve Anchorage.

Pilots will not be required to stay onboard if the draft is 37’ or greater. Any vessels with less than 37’ will require a pilot onboard at all times.

This anchorage is being used again, on a trial basis, to try and increase anchorage space within our route.

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Mooring Restrictions: Effective May 5, 2017: (Click here)

As reported earlier, NOBRA has implemented high water operating restrictions which require all mooring and unmooring at midstream facilities to be conducted during daylight hours only.

The high water operating restrictions include any facility were mooring boats are used to run the lines including:

LIQUID DRY

IMTT GRENTA (ALL DOCKS) ALL MID-STREAM BUOY SYSTEMS

IMTT AVONDALE

IMTT ST. ROSE (ALL DOCKS) ADM DESTREHAN

VALERO ST. CHARLES (ALL DOCKS) KAISER GRAMERCY

MOTIOVA NORCO DOCK NO. 4 NUCOR STEEL CONVENT

SHELL GEIMAR YARA CONVENT

NOTE: BUNGE DESTREHAN - NEW DOCK - NO LINE BOAT REQUIRED, NO DAYLIGHT RESTRICTION.

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Additional Restrictions: Effective May 24, 2017 (Click here)

1. Daylight only for all southbound vessels from MM 233.0 AHP down to MM 90.5 AHP.

2. Daylight only for ALL vessels from MM 232.2 AHP down to MM 166.0 AHP.

3. Vessels anchoring in NOBRA’s area of responsibility with a draft of 30 feet or greater must maintain a pilot on board while at anchor to insure safety of the vessel.

The above restrictions will remain in effect until the Baton Rouge Gauge has a reading of 40 feet and falling in combination with the Carrollton Gauge reading of 16 feet and falling.

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Other High Water Restrictions

1. May 16, 2017 - All vessels at Valero St. Charles shall use holding tugs when the Carrollton Gauge is at 15 feet or above.

Today’s Rivers Stages

Today’s LMR Bridge Air Gaps

Today’s LMR Key Lock Status

Note (04/05/2017) *There are scheduled ongoing intermittent closures of varying lengths of time (3-4 hours per day) until the end of May for maintenance on the Port Allen Locks:

“Beginning 03 April 2017 and continuing through the end of May, Port Allen Lock will be closed to navigation 3 – 4 hours per day this first week of April and 3 – 4 hours periodically (not every day) as needed by the work units. These short closures will take place during daylight hours.”

Today’s NOAA Southwest Pass Tides (All Times Local)

One-Week’s SWP Entry Times

Today’s NOAA “Ports” Information

Today’s 3-Day SWP Weather Forecast

Today’s 10-Day Rain Forecast LMR 28-Day River Stage Predictions

Note:

(1) All stage forecasts include 24 hours of future rainfall from the posted date.

(3) Red River Landing (RRLL1), Baton Rouge (BRRL1), Donaldsonville (DONL1)

Reserve (RRVL1), New Orleans (NORL1)

LMR River Crossings Survey Reports

The following reports are provided by the USACE.

The below report was (Posted 05/04/2017).

Below are the latest USACE survey results for the LMR crossings, with updated survey information for the crossings at Medora, Granada, Bayou Goula, Rich Bend, and Belmont.

Changes from the previous surveys at these locations are reflected below.

USCBP Southern Currents Information

1. CBP Southern Currents 16-006 - Reassignment of Certain Trade Staff to Centers of Excellence and Expertise (Click here). Posted 03/10/2016
2. CBP Southern Currents 16-007 - Mailing Address Change for Port of Gramercy, LA (Click here). Posted 03/28/2016.
3. CBP Southern Currents 16-008 - ACE Training Opportunities (Click here). Posted 04/26/2016.
4. CBP Southern Currents 16-009 – Announcement of Acting CBP Port Director Eddie Vera in Morgan City, LA (Click Here) Posted 06/14/16
5. CBP Southern Currents 16-010 – Petroleum Residue (Click Here) Posted 06/14/16
6. CBP Southern Currents 16-011 – Crewmen Shore Leave/Passports & C1 Crewmen Transiting the U.S. To Join a Vessel (Click Here) Posted 06/14/16
7. CBP Southern Currents 16-012 - Submission of Vessel “Ports of Call” Lists to CBP Prior to Arrival for Agriculture Targeting, and Procedures for Asian Gypsy Moth [AGM] Targeted Vessels (Click here) Posted 06/27/2016
8. CBP Southern Currents 16-013 - Creation of the National Jones Act Division of Enforcement (JADE) (Click here) Posted 07/18/2016
9. CBP Southern Currents 16-017 - Assistant Port Director, Passenger, Area Port of New Orleans (Click here) Posted 09/02/2016
10. CBP Southern Currents 16-019 - Port of New Orleans Procedures for Filing Updated Electronic Export Information (EEI) when Merchandise Is Sold after Departure of Conveyance (Click here) Posted 09/16/2016.
11. CBP Southern Currents 17-002 - 2016 Remaining Federal Holidays for the Area Port of New Orleans. (Click here) (Posted 11/27/2016)
12. CBP Southern Currents 17-004 - Vessel Diversion and Non-US Clearance Procedures. (Southern Currents 17-004.pdf) (Posted 12/14/2016)
13. CBP Southern Currents 17-007 - 2017 Federal Holidays for the AreaPort of New Orleans (Southern Currents 17-007.pdf) (Posted 01/04/2017)
14. CBP Southern Currents 17-008 - New Orleans Tri-Port Notification of Arrival/CBP Boarding Requests Southern Currents 17-008.pdf) (Posted 01/09/2017)
15. CBP Southern Currents 17-009 - New Orleans Tri-Port Guidance on CBP Form 3171 Submissions (Southern Currents 17-009.pdf) (Posted 01/09/2017)
16. CBP Southern Currents 17-010 - Mobile 368 Presentation Scheduled (Southern Currents 17-010.pdf) (Posted 01/11/2017)
17. CBP Southern Currents 17-011 - Standard Guidelines for Processing Commercial Cargo at Air, Land, and Seaport Environments During System Outages/Downtime (Southern Currents 17-011.pdf) (Posted 01/26/2017)
18. CBP Southern Currents 17-013 - Area Port Director’s Temporary Detail (Southern Currents 17_013.pdf) (Posted 02/21/2017)
19. CBP Southern Currents 17-014 - Change of Location for CBP Services (Mardi Gras) (Click here) (Posted 02/21/2017)
20. CBP Southern Currents 17-015 - Department of State Import and Export Electronic Filings for Licenses and License Exemptions (Southern Currents 17_015.pdf) (Posted 03/03/2017)
21. CBP Southern Currents 17-016A - Automation of CBP Collections and Receipts for Maritime Processing (Click here) (Posted 04/20/2017)
22. CBP Southern Currents 17-019 - Updated Contact Information for the Port of New Orleans (Click here) (Posted 05/25/2017)

USCG Marine Safety Information Bulletins

1. MSIB Vol XIII, Issue 089: Watertight Integrity on UTV's, published September 30, 2013. (Click here)
2. MSIB Vol XIV, Issue 093: Hazmat Training for Vessel Personnel, published September 11, 2014. (Click here)
3. MSIB Vol XV, Issue 062: Mississippi River RNA Vessel Requirements load-limiting and automatic acceleration limiting programs, published August 21, 2015. (Click here)
4. MSIB Vol XVI, Issue 044: Automatic Identification System (AIS) Installation Requirements, published March 9, 2016. (Click here)
5. MSIB Vol XVI, Issue 056: Liferaft Facility Information, published May 2, 2016. (Click here)
6. MSIB Vol XVII, Issue 001: Summary of Active Marine Safety Information Bulletins, published January 30, 2017 (Click here)
7. MSIB Vol XVII, Issue 011: LMR 25’ and Rising - MM219 to MM229 published March 14, 2017 (Click here)
8. MSIB Vol XVII, Issue 019: Carrollton Gauge at 12 Feet and Rising, published May 05, 2017 (Click here)
9. MSIB Vol XVII, Issue 020: High Water Facility Assessment Reporting, published May 05, 2017 (Click here)
10. MSIB Vol XVII, Issue 021: Barge Fleet Standards, Had of Passes to MM 255 LMR, published May 05, 2017 (Click here)
11. MSIB Vol XVII, Issue 025: High Water Safety MM 219 - 240, Rev. 1 - published 17 May, 2017 (Click here)
12. MSIB Vol XVII, Issue 026: Carrollton Gauge at 15 Feet and Rising, Published 19 May, 2017 (Click here)
13. MSIB Vol XVII, Issue 027: VTS Measure MM 0.0 to MM 233.0, Published 22 May, 2017 (Click here)

National Maritime Intelligence Center - Maritime Piracy Reports.
(Posted 05/25/2017)

1. Piracy Analysis and Warning Weekly – PAWW - Current Issue 23 May 2017 (Click here)
2. Worldwide Threat to Shipping – WTS - Current Issue 23 May 2017 (Click here)

Louisiana Maritime Association (LAMA) Reports

1. LAMA USACE LMR Maintenance Forum Meeting Report. (05/03/17) (LAMAs Corps Mississippi River Maintenance Forum Meeting Notes 5317.pdf) Posted 05/04/2017
2. LMR Dredging Update Report of May 16, 2017. (LMR Dredging Update 51617.pdf) Posted May 17, 2017.
3. USCG Port Security Advisory (PSA) 3-15 Conditions of Entry for Gambia. (Click here) Posted June 24, 2015.
4. Update: ZIKA Virus Advisory for Vessels Destined to China Summary of Information (Click here) Posted 9/07/2016.
5. LAMA Report: US Entry of Vessels Trading with Cuba (Click here) Posted 11/09/2016
6. The Corps’ Mississippi Valley New Orleans (MVN) District’s Lock and Waterway Status 60-Day Forecast (Click here) Posted 03/02/2017

LAMA Products and Services Available

1. Custom Branded AIS Service and 3-D Channel Soundings now available! FREE to all LAMA Members.

USCG Contact Information

Coast Guard Vessel Traffic Service Lower Mississippi River (24 hours): (504) 365-2230

Coast Guard Sector New Orleans Command Center (24 hours): (504) 365-2543, (504) 365-2200

Coast Guard Sector New Orleans Waterways Management: (504) 365-2280

Coast Guard Sector New Orleans Port State Control: (504) 365-2361; Fax: (504) 365-2360

Coast Guard Marine Safety Unit Baton Rouge: (225) 298-5400

Coast Guard Marine Safety Unit Baton Rouge CDO: (225) 281-4785

Upcoming Scheduled Events of Interest and Items of Interest

Nothing to report at this time.

Sincerely,
"Capt Ron"
Ronald W. Branch, CAPT. USCG (Ret.)
President
Louisiana Maritime Association (LAMA)

Desk: (504) 899-5535
Cell: (330) 760-0786