Daily Update

Notices

Good day,

Please find below Mississippi River daily report for April 18, 2024

Office News

A Daily Publication of the New Orleans Board of Trade07:15 hrs. - 04/18/2024New information (Except for the Air Draft, River Stages, and Vessel Information) is highlighted in Green

The Controlling Draft for Deep Draft Vessels is 50 Feet.
There is one dredge working in Southwest Pass.

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.Carrollton Gauge -8 Feet and Rising:
The Carrollton Gauge is now reading 8 feet on the rise, and Vessel Traffic Service New Orleans is now enforcing High Water traffic operations for all vessels transiting the New Orleans Harbor, Algiers Point AOR. All vessels are reminded to check in with the New Orleans Vessel traffic on VHF CH12, for all northbound tow boats, the initial call is at Industrial Locks, and Smith’s fleet for the second. Northbound ships will check in at Algiers Locks for the initial call, and Alabo Street for the second. All northbound vessels are reminded to be prepared to hold up below Algiers Point, if traffic density dictates it. For southbound vessels, the check in points remain the same, Huey P Long Bridge for the initial call, and the Navy Ships mm 98.5, for the second. For further information contact New Orleans Vessel Traffic Service VHF-FM Ch. 05A, 11, or 67, or (24 hours): (504) 365-2514.

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

U.S. Corps of Engineers:
VELOCITY READING (NEW ORLEANS) -3.0 Knots
Mississippi River - Projection- Based off 48 Hours of Forecast Rainfall