Current Traffic

WEDNESDAY, 6/24/09
Please see the drawing which depicts the new setup for the crane barge "Haakon" working the Lake Borgne Floodgate Construction.  Note the two anchor locations adjacent to the GIWW Project Channel.  These two locations will have submerged cable running back to the crane barge barge for positioning purposes.  The westernmost anchor point will actually be a 36 inch steel piling.  It will be marked with a lighted GREEN Dayboard, similar to a normal beacon, indicating that the channel is to the north of its location.  The easternmost anchor point will be a submerged anchor with cable running back to the barge.  A GREEN lighted buoy will mark its location.  There may also be another lighted GREEN buoy placed mid-way back to the barge to mark presence of the submerged cable and hopefully prevent anyone from getting fouled in it.

We are discussing removing the existing piling adjacent to the north bank. It is to be used for our current flow meter, once it arrives.  We don't need the piling until then...and maybe we can find a better location for the meter.

A SAFETY ITEM....We had a near miss with an eastbound 8-pack tow recently. He had drifted too far to the south and was at risk of contacting construction equipment when "Watchdog" finally got him on the radio to let him know he was out of shape.  The two vessels had made contact earlier, but the tow had switched channels to talk with another tow that was westbound through the area and could not hear "Watchdog's" warnings until it was almost too late.  This points out the importance of maintaining contact with "Watchdog" throughout the transit of the area.

The Corps is planning an "Industry Day" visit to ERDC in Vicksburg for us to view the physical models of the Lake Borgne and West Closure Complex. Timing looks like the first or second week in July.  Standby for detailed info on the date.  This will be a very important visit for us.  We'll actually get to operate model vessels through the Lake Borgne Floodgate under varying conditions.

WEDNESDAY, 6/24/09
We discovered quite by accident yesterday that the Colorado River Locks has inadvertently implemented a width restriction as a result of the major ongoing gate repair. Unfortunately, it was discovered when one of our member's 72 foot-wide deck barges (on the first of several such trips to have taken place over the next few months) got stuck during an attempt to transit the locks. 

It turns out that the contractor has built a solid wall of 18 inch diameter timbers totally covering the north and south gate recesses, to prevent barges from getting into the empty gate notches during transits. This reduced the normally 75 foot-wide lock to less than 72 feet. In fact the barge that got stuck was reportedly 72 feet wide. I don't see this being changed for the duration of the major repair, which will continue until March of next year. Please be advised that the maximum transit width at the locks, due to this protective structure, is now 71 feet. Anyone planning an overwidth passage during this major repair would be well advised to check in with the Lockmaster, Simon DeSoto, prior to confirming any transit plans. 

WEDNESDAY, 6/24/09
Commencing on October 15 and continuing for 30 days, Old River Lock will be closed to navigation. A U.S. Government work unit will be installing two miter gates which will necessitate the continuous closure.

MONDAY, 6/22/09
The Gross Tete Bridge will be closed to marine traffic periodically througout the month of July. Twelve-hour (7:00 a.m. to 7:00 p.m.) closures are planned for July 8, 9, 14, 15. Ten-hour (7:00 a.m. to 5:00 p.m.) closures are planned for July 27-30 and August 3 and 4. In addition, an 84-hour closure is planned for 7:00 a.m. July 20 through 7:00 p.m. July 23.

THURSDAY, 6/18/09
Commencing on 22 June 2009 and continuing until further notice a U.S. Government Contractor (Gulf Intracoastal Constructors) will be constructing the GIWW West Closure Complex located between Mile 5.5 WHL and Mile 8 WHL on the GIWW and on the Algiers Canal Alternate Route from the Highway 23 Bridge to the intersection of the GIWW mainstem. 

The contractor will work 7 days a week 24 hours a day.  As part of the project, a large cofferdam will be constructed at Mile 6.8 WHL and will obstruct approximately 300’ of the waterway on the southeast bank.  A 125’ X 12’ channel will remain open for navigation.  Crane barges, hopper, material & deck barges, as well as support vessels, will be utilized during this construction. The support vessel can be reached on VHF channel 12.

Concurrent with this construction, marine plant will construct a floodwall along the northwest bank of the GIWW from Mile 5.9 WHL to Mile 6.9 WHL.

Mariners are urged to exercise extreme caution and to transit through the construction area at their slowest safe speed to minimize wake and proceed with caution after passing arrangements have been made. 
 
The point of contact at the New Orleans District is Tim Connell at (504) 862-2360.

FRIDAY, 6/12/09
The Port Allen Lock will be closed to navigation beginning July 6 at 6:00 a.m. and will remain closed through August 31. The closure is for scheduled dewatering and major repairs.

FRIDAY, 6/12/09
The Port Allen Lock will be closed to navigation July 1 from 7:00 a.m. to 7:00 p.m. to prepare for the scheduled dewatering which begins July 6.

THURSDAY, 6/11/09
A full time traffic control vessel is now posted at the Lake Borgne Floodgate. The vessel's call sign is "Watchdog" and monitors channel 16 at all times. ALL TOWING VESSELS MUST CHECK IN WITH "WATCHDOG" ON VHF CHANNEL 16 PRIOR TO REACHING THE PARIS ROAD BRIDGE WHEN EASTBOUND AND PRIOR TO REACHING THE GIWW MILE 20 EHL WHEN WESTBOUND. Compliance with instructions from "Watchdog" are required for all vessels. 

Extreme caution is in order at all times when transiting this area due to numerous small construction tenders, crewboats, and shift boats that will be moving equipment and personnel in the area. Please report any unsafe conditions, near-misses, or any other problematic situation immediately to "Watchdog." Feel free to notify GICA or the Coast Guard if you wish, but definitely notify "Watchdog."

Please use caution for the presence of a lighted piling in the waterway on the north bank just east of Michoud Slip which will serve as the mounting for our remote current flow meter. This device will soon be providing current flow readings for our use.

Four "Trial Marker Buoys" have been placed in the waterway defining the future location of the sector gate. All tows should make their transits of the area between the buoys if at all possible. We should consider this area a NO PASSING, NO OVERTAKING, ONE-WAY TRAFFIC area from now on. This will be an opportunity for us to gather data on which tows and under what conditions we have the most difficulty. Storm tide currents will also be measureable and may have some effects on us as well. We'd like to know it if they do. Don't get concerned if you happen to disturb the buoys during your transit. We just ask that you report it to the traffic control vessel along with any special remarks on your transit. There are no cost penalties and no action will be taken against mariners. "Watchdog" is collecting feedback from all towing vessels on the difficulty of transit, considering effects of tidal flows, winds, tow size, and tow configuration. Your feedback is essential to the long term safe navigation of barges through this structure. We urge ALL tows to participate by providing feedback to "Watchdog" on difficulty of passage and offer any observations on effects of wind and tidal currents during your transit.  

THURSDAY, 6/11/09
The Port Allen Lock will be closed beginning July 6 and continuing through August 31.

TUESDAY, 5/26/09
A U.S. Government contractor (Shaw Environmental & Infrastructure Group, IHNC Hurricane Risk Reduction Project) has placed temporary 24” diameter steel piles at the future site of the Gulf Intracoastal Water Way (GIWW) bypass Gate Structure.

There are a total of four (4) piles located on the GIWW approximately ¾ mile east of the intersection of the Mississippi River Gulf Outlet (MRGO).  Two (2) of the piles were damaged and salvage operations including divers are scheduled to begin on or about 26 May 2009.  It has been determined that there is approximately 17’ of water above the two (2) damaged piles.  The remaining two (2) are marked with a steady white light; any floating support barges will be properly marked with day and night indicators.

In conjunction with this work, another contractor (Manson Construction) is constructing the GIWW Bypass Gate Structure.  Two (2) crane barges, a support barge and other support vessels will be utilized during this construction.  The expected hours of operation are 7:00 a.m. to 6:00 p.m. Monday through Saturday. This work is expected to last until on or about 14 August 2009. The support vessels CAPT. BOB and M/V WORKHORSE can be reached on VHF channel 16 and 71.

Mariners are requested to watch for diver-in-the-water flags and urged to transit at their slowest safe speed to minimize wake in the area of the construction zone and proceed with caution after passing arrangements have been made.

The point of contact with the Hurricane Protection Office is Stephen Cali at (504) 595-2594.  The secondary point of contact is LTC Victor Zillmer at (504) 491-5694.

FRIDAY, 5/08/09
Navigation closures at Colorado Locks between April 14 and May 14 have been extended. The closure period will continue until August 14, and be between 7:00 a.m. and 7:00 p.m. Current maintenance activities are likely to continue daily, seven days a week, until contract completion (est. March 2010). Lock closures are likely during this period.

WEDNESDAY, 5/06/09
J&S Contractors will be working at the Brazos River Floodgates repairing the east and west floodgate walls. This work will require closures of the gates during the designated periods of work: May 11 through June 30, 7:30 a.m. to 5:00 p.m. Monday through Friday. Work will not be performed on weekends or federal holidays.

FRIDAY, 2/27/09
Beginning Monday, March 2 and continuing for approximately 7 months, Cayo L.P. Marine Contractors has requested a slow bell during daylight hours for an Army Corps of Engineers project to remove 6 mooring anchors located west of 27 49' 1.8" N 097 11' 45.5" W. This location is on the south side of the Corpus Christi Ship Channel and the Intracoastal Waterway intersection. The M/V Emma D. will be on scene with a 160 x 50 foot spudded crane barge. Mariners are to transit the area at their slowest safe speed to minimize wake until the project is completed.

FRIDAY, 2/13/09
Major repairs to the Port Allen Lock have been set for July 6 through August 31, dependent on the Baton Rouge gauge being below 30 feet and a crane being available for the work.

FRIDAY, 1/02/09
The Bayou Bienvenue waterway will be completely closed to all navigation traffic except authorized construction vessels starting the week of December 29 and continuing until June 2011. The dredges will work 24 hours a day, 7 days a week. The contractor has an equipment staging area along the southern water's edge of the Gulf Intracoastal Waterway approximately 0.75 miles west of the I-510 Bridge. Mariners are urged to transit at their slowest safe speed to minimize wake and proceed with caution after passing arrangements have been made.

MONDAY, 11/13/06
Restrictions at the Galveston Railroad Bridge remain as follows:
1. Tows consisting exclusively of empty barges are limited to 600 feet in length (not including the towing vessel).
2. All tows, empty or loaded, are restricted to a maximum width of 70 feet.
3. Tows made up of loaded and empty barges are unrestricted in length provided that at least half of the barges are loaded.
4. Tows made up of all loaded barges are unrestricted in length.
5. Tows, loaded or empty, are unrestricted in length if operating with a bow steering unit.
6. Westbound tows consisting exclusively of empty barges and including more than one barge must have an assist vessel.

An alternate transit procedure is available to mariners at this location. Restrictions above remain in place. The alternate procedure is optional - not mandatory.

To contact the bridge operator by phone, call 817.867.1901 or 817.867.1902.

Color Codes

A problem exists.

Caution is advised.

A problem has been cleared.

Additional Information

Brazos Floodgates current lock status

Colorado Locks current lock status, velocity and gauge readings

MSO Corpus Christi Port Security Information Bulletins and Marine Security Information

Galveston Causeway weather.

NOAA Arkansas River Forecast

NOAA Mississippi River Forecast

NOAA Tides and Currents

USACE Galveston District current lock status

USACE Mobile District navigation page.

USACE New Orleans District proposed schedule for major lock repairs

USACE New Orleans District current lock status

Inner Harbor Navigation Canal bridge repair and maintenance closures

Houston/Galveston Vessel Traffic Service

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