VTS Lower Mississippi River: 5 Day Outlook Friday, January 19, 2024

READ THIS LINE FIRST! The below table provides updated information to the referenced MSIB or other operation impacting navigation. This outlook is the LATEST and MOST ACCURATE Information. Latest updates are in red text.

 

Subscribe to the VTS LMR 5-day outlook email here: https://public.govdelivery.com/accounts/USDHSCG/subscriber/new Subscribers should enter their preferred email, then ensure “VTS LMR” is selected under ‘Mariners Tab’ and submit.

Location	Date	Time	Closure or Restriction
HDDA Dredging Operations MM 0-2   MSIB – 006	January 23   January 25 (Backup Date)	0700 – 1900	Vessels are prohibited from transiting between MM 0-2, AHP, from 0700-1900 on Jan 23. Jan 25 is the backup date.   The contact vessel is the dredge CAPT FRANK, on Ch. 67 or 71.
Subaqueous Stone Placement MM 23.5 MSIB - 060   USACE Nav Bulletin 24-005	January 3 – January 22	Daylight hours	Mariners are urged to transit at their slowest safe speed and proceed with caution after passing arrangements have been made with the M/V KACIE LUHR and MEGAN DAWN on VHF Marine Channels 13, 16 and 67.   The contractor will work 7 days a week, 10 hours a day, during daylight hours. During nighttime hours, the contractor will be staged along the LDB outside the channel.
Revetment (Neptune Pass) MM 23.1 MSIB – 066	February 28 – March 5	0600 – 1900	All vessels shall transit at slowest safe speed when transiting past the MSU during working hours. MSU will not fold in at night. Contact pilot for the operation is the M/V William James and can reached on VHF CH. 67 or 82.
Saltwater Barrier Sill MM 63.5-64 MSIB - 003	Until further notice	24/7	One-way traffic for deep draft vessels. Shallow draft vessels can transit outside the buoys. See updated Alliance Anchorage info below.
Revetment (Poydras) MM 84.3 MSIB – 066	Delayed. New dates TBD.	0600 – 1900	All vessels shall transit at slowest safe speed when transiting past the MSU during working hours. MSU will not fold in at night. Contact pilot for the operation is the M/V William James and can reached on VHF CH. 67 or 82.
Revetment (Avondale) MM 108 MSIB – 066	Delayed. New dates TBD.	0600 – 1900	One-way traffic during working hours. All vessels shall transit at slowest safe speed when transiting past the MSU during working hours. MSU will extend 600’ into channel during non-working hours. Contact pilot for the operation is the M/V William James and can reached on VHF CH. 67 or 82.
Revetment (Vacherie) MM 149.4 MM 148.7 MSIB – 066	Delayed. New dates TBD.	0600 – 1900	One-way traffic during working hours. All vessels shall transit at slowest safe speed when transiting past the MSU during working hours. MSU will not fold in at night. Contact pilot for the operation is the M/V William James and can reached on VHF CH. 67 or 82.
Revetment (St. Gabriel) MM 199 MSIB – 066	Delayed. New dates TBD.	0600 – 1900	No deep-draft vessel transits during working hours. All vessels shall transit at slowest safe speed when transiting past the MSU during working hours. MSU will fold-in at night. Contact pilot for the operation is the M/V William James and can reached on VHF CH. 67 or 82.
Revetment (Manchac) MM 214.2 MSIB – 066	Delayed. To begin January 21 thru January 28	0600 – 1900	All vessels are restricted from transiting during working hours. MSU will fold-in at night. Contact pilot for the operation is the M/V William James and can reached on VHF CH. 67 or 82.
College Town Light MM 225-228.3 MSIB - 041	Until further notice	24/7	All towing vessels in vicinity of College Town Light (MM 225 to MM228.3) are reminded and advised to keep flat on the bank and provide a wide berth to deep-draft traffic.
Alliance Anchorage MSIB – 003	Until further notice	N/A	Lower 0.5 miles (approx. 2,700’) of Alliance anchorage is closed.
Point Celeste Anchorage MSIB - 034	Until further notice	N/A	Vessels are requested to keep clear of any dredging operations and maintain standoff distance of 800’-1,000’. Contact vessels are M/V VIRGINIA WOOD and M/V MR KELLY.
Harvey Lock  USACE Nav Bulletin No. 23-129	TODAY	CLOSED	Contact the lockmaster to determine next availability.
Harvey Canal Sector Gate	January 15 - January 19	Closed 0700 – 1700.   OPEN 1100 -1300	Closed at the Harvey Canal Sector Gate, located just south of the Lapalco Bridge, GIWW Mile 2.8 WHL.   Slowest safe speed. Contact M/V HUSTLER on VHF Ch. 13 for additional information.

MSIB 006 - Temporary Closure MM 0 - MM 2 AHP LMR

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) 0 to MM 2 Above Head of Passes (AHP). These measures are needed to protect persons and vessels from the potential safety hazards associated with the removal of a temporary submerged discharge line for Hopper Dredge Disposal Area (HDDA) dredging operations and are in effect with the following provisions:

• January 23, 2024, from 7:00 a.m. to 7:00 p.m. local time: all vessels are prohibited from transiting between MM 0 – MM 2.0 AHP
• (Back-up Date) January 25, 2024, from 7:00 a.m. to 7:00 p.m. local time: all vessels are prohibited from transiting between MM 0 – MM 2.0 AHP

For questions or status updates, mariners should contact the on-scene vessel:

• Dredge CAPT FRANK (MM 0 to 2.0 AHP) on VHF-FM channel 67 or 71 or at (985) 237-5014

Vessels transiting to or from north of MM 214 should consider ongoing revetment operations and river closure from 0600-1900. The average transit time for ships from MM 214 to MM 0 AHP is approximately 15 hours. Vessels should consult their attending Pilot Association for recommended transit times.

Vessels intending to arrive or depart the Mississippi River on the day of a closure must arrive at Pilottown (outbound) no later than 6:30 a.m. or Southwest Pass Entrance Light (inbound) no later than 5:00 a.m. on the morning of the closure.

MSIB 066 - Revetment Operations: January - March 2024

The Captain of the Port of New Orleans is issuing a Vessel Traffic Service (VTS) Safety Measure for the waters of the Lower Mississippi River (LMR) listed in the table above to protect persons and vessels from the potential safety hazards associated with the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers (USACE) revetment operations. The table outlines the transit restrictions that apply at each respective location.

The following conditions apply at all locations:

• The working hours for the Mat Sinking Unit (MSU) are from 0600-1900 daily.
• The contact pilot for the operations is the M/V William James and can reached on VHF CH. 67 or 82.
• All vessels shall transit at slowest safe speed when transiting past the MSU during working hours.

The dates of the work and restrictions listed above are subject to change. Daily updates to the schedule and restrictions will be messaged in the Vessel Traffic Service 5-day outlook email.

MSIB 064 - Gulf Intracoastal Waterway - Harvey Canal Sector Gate Closure

 

Commencing on or about December 18, 2023, and continuing for at least five days, the Harvey Canal will be closed to navigation at the Harvey Canal Sector Gate, located just south of the Lapalco Bridge, on the Gulf Intracoastal Waterway (GIWW), Mile 2.8 West of Harvey Lock (WHL). This closure is due to emergency dredge operations for the Southeast Louisiana Flood Protection Authority West and will occur daily, from 7 a.m. to 5 p.m. with an opening from 11 a.m. to 1 p.m. to allow any vessels to pass. This operation will continue to approximately January 19, 2024.

All vessels shall transit at their slowest safe speed when passing the work site. The on-scene vessel M/V HUSTLER can be contacted on VHF Channel 13 for additional information.

The list of restrictions for use of Harvey and Algiers Locks can be found on the New Orleans District US Army Corps of Engineers (USACE) website at https://www.mvn.usace.army.mil/LockStatus.

 

MSIB 060: Mississippi River – Bank Stabilization Stone Placement

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’ bank stabilization & stone placement work at the locations listed below. Construction efforts will involve multiple vessels and barges with anchors deployed encroaching into the navigation channel. The below dates and restrictions may vary based on operations. Daily updates to the schedule and restrictions will be messaged via the Vessel Traffic Service 5-day outlook email.

All interested navigation stakeholders are highly encouraged to subscribe to the VTS 5-day outlook email here: https://public.govdelivery.com/accounts/USDHSCG/subscriber/new.  Subscribers should enter their preferred email, then ensure “VTS LMR” is selected under ‘Mariners Tab’ and submit. Operation will continue until January 22, 2024.

All vessels shall transit at their slowest safe speed when passing the work site. The on-scene vessels M/V KACIE LUHR and M/V MEGAN DAWN can be contacted by concerned traffic on VHF Channel 13, 16, and 72.

MSIB 058: Mississippi River Saltwater Intrusion

Mariners are advised to operate with caution in the vicinity of the locations listed below until further notice. The USCG will provide updates of locations with active mitigation efforts via industry wide email.

It is recommended that vessel operators working in support of mitigation efforts at or near these locations maintain a proper lookout and notify passing traffic when precautions, such as transiting at slowest safe speed may be needed. Communications should be made on VHF Channel 12 with VHF Channel 67 as a backup. If immediate assistance is needed, operators should contact the Lower Mississippi River Vessel Traffic Service.

Location	River MM (AHP) & Bank
Port Sulfur	49.2 RDB
Pointe A La Hache	49.7 LDB
Belle Chasse	75.5 RDB
Dalcour	80.9 LDB
St. Bernard	88.0 LDB
New Orleans Algiers	95.7 RDB
Gretna	96.7 RDB
West Jefferson	99.1 RDB
New Orleans Carrollton	104.7 LDB
East Jefferson	105.4 LDB

 

MSIB 003: VTS Safety Measure - Saltwater Barrier Sill MM-63.8 (Update 3)

 

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’ raising of the emergency Saltwater Barrier Sill at Lower Mississippi River Mile Marker (MM) 63.8 Above Head of Passes (AHP). The sill has been constructed to an elevation of minus 30’, with a 620’ wide, minus 55’ notch along the Left Descending Bank (LDB), allowing for deep draft vessels to transit. The following channel restrictions will be in effect beginning at 1000 on January 2, 2024:

1) All vessels drafting 25’ and greater are limited to one way traffic from MM 63.5 to 64.0 AHP, confined to a channel 620’ wide. The channel is marked on its corners by four buoys. All deep draft vessels transiting this zone shall proactively make passing arrangements to avoid meeting or overtaking between MM 63.5 and 64.0.

2) Vessels drafting less than 25’ are permitted and encouraged to transit through the area above the saltwater barrier sill, between Alliance Anchorage and the western channel buoys.

3) All vessels shall transit at their slowest safe speed between MM 63.5 to 65.5 AHP.

4) The lower 2,700’ of Alliance Anchorage is closed to all traffic.

The channel buoy locations are as follows:

1. 29 42 6.8585 N 089 58 33.4567 W MM 63.7 AHP
2. 29 42 4.0832 N 089 58 39.7273 W MM 63.7 AHP
3. 29 42 9.5576 N 089 58 42.9063 W MM 63.8 AHP
4. 29 42 12.333 N 089 58 36.6357 W MM 63.8 AHP

The Project Managers are Mike Hales, (337) 852-4066, and Avery Castille, (337) 342-5717.

Updates will be disseminated via VTS email distribution, and/or Safety Broadcast Notice to Mariners.