Please find below Mississippi River daily report for October 1, 2024

A Daily Publication of the New Orleans Board of Trade

07:15 hrs. - 10/01/2024

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 two dredges working in the crossings above New Orleans.

There is one dredge working in Southwest Pass.

One Way traffic is in effect at Mile 64 due to construction of the saltwater barrier.

Mile 148.8 Restrictions (Due to Corps Revetment Operations) – 0600 –1900 each day until October 8th
No Southbound Traffic
Northbound Traffic limited to a draft of 38 feet or less
Upper Grandview Anchorage Above Crescent Fleet Closed (24/7)

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.
U.S. Coast Guard Notices:
Coast Guard - Hurricane Season 2024
The 2024 Hurricane Season commences June 1st and continues through November 30th. You are strongly encouraged to review your existing hurricane plan or develop a plan if you do not have one. It is extremely important to decide in advance how to minimize your risk and be prepared to evacuate as necessary.The Captain of the Port (COTP) will set hurricane port conditions in accordance with the Sector New Orleans Maritime Hurricane Contingency Port Plan (MHCPP). The MHCPP is available on the Coast Guard Homeport website https://homeport.uscg.mil/port-directory/new-orleans. This plan describes actions the COTP will take in anticipation of a hurricane or tropical weather conditions, outlines the requirements of each port condition, and includes information regarding vessel movements and mooring requirements during anticipated landfall.Starting this hurricane season, COTP New Orleans will transition from paper to electronic forms for all MHCPP hurricane reporting forms. Electronic reporting will expedite our ability to gather and distribute time-sensitive information. These electronic forms are for reporting to the COTP New Orleans only and shall not be used for any party or entity in another COTP Zone. All COTP New Orleans MHCPP hurricane forms can be accessed using the QR Code below or at https://linktr.ee/secnolahurricanereporting. Please provide feedback or issues experienced to SecNOLA-WPM@uscg.mil.

Furthermore, the COTP emphasizes the importance of properly maintaining and securing your equipment during hurricane season. Important hurricane-related information will be provided to the maritime community, as needed, through Marine Safety Information Bulletins (MSIBs), Broadcast Notice to Mariners (BNMs), and industry-wide emails.

Regulated Navigation Area (RNA) Annual Hurricane Operation Plans

In accordance with Title 33, Code of Federal Regulations (CFR), Part 165.838, all floating vessels are prohibited from entering or remaining in the Inner Harbor Navigation Canal, Harvey Canal, and Algiers Canal, while the RNA is enforced. However, all facilities that have vessels intending to deviate from the requirements and remain within the RNA during the enforcement period shall develop an Annual Hurricane Operation Plan and provide a copy to the COTP as prescribed within 33 CFR 165.838(e)(1). Guidance outlining the requirements for the Annual Hurricane Operation Plan can be found in enclosure (6) of the Sector New Orleans MHCPP.

Mariner Distress Communications

Mariners are reminded that while operating in the VTS Lower Mississippi River Area, all VTS Users are required under 33 CFR 161.12 (d) to notify the VTS of any marine casualty, pollution incident, defect or discrepancy to an aid to navigation, hazardous condition, improper operation of vessel equipment required by 33 CFR 164, or a hazardous vessel operating condition. A hazardous condition is any condition that may adversely affect the safety of any vessel, bridge, structure, or shore area or the environmental quality of any port, harbor, or navigable waterway of the United States. VTS Users should notify the VTS on VHF Channel 05A, 12, or 67 or via phone at 504-365-2514. Mariners are encouraged to review 33 CFR 161.12 and the VTS LMR user guide to ensure reporting requirements are being met. The VTS LMR User Guide can be found on Homeport at https://homeport.uscg.mil/missions/ports-and-waterways/vessel-traffic-services/vts-lower-mississippi-river/user-guides.

For further information, contact:

Sector New Orleans Command Center (24 hours): (504) 365-2545

Vessel Traffic Service (24 hours): (504) 365-2514, VHF-FM Ch. 05A, 12 or 67

Sector New Orleans Waterways Management: (504) 365-2280 or SecNOLA-WPM@uscg.mil

Sector New Orleans Facilities Compliance Branch: (504) 365-2370 or FacilitiesNOLA@uscg.mil

ILA Strike:
The below information was provided by the Port of New Orleans:

The USMX-ILA master contract (covering all US East Coast and Gulf Coast ports) expires at midnight on September 30th, 2024. At this time, Port NOLA and its container terminal operating partners are preparing for a potential work stoppage of ILA-related activity on Tuesday, October 1. Port NOLA is not involved in the contract negotiations or discussions. Below are the operational updates shared from our container terminal operators and please check their portals (linked below) for the latest updates. Please remain vigilant when monitoring vessel and/or ERD/Cutoff and last free days.

New Orleans Terminal (serving MSC, Maersk and ZIM)

Link to customer portal for the full update and summarized below:

Rail Operations: Complete Monday, September 30th 4:00 PM

Gate Operations: (General Imports/Export) Cease Monday, September 30th 4:00 PM

· Import Reefer: Out gate by Monday, September 30th at 4:00 PM

· Export Reefers: Receiving ends at 4:00 PM Friday, September 27th

· On and only for vessels departing by Monday, September 30th unless prior approval is obtained from New Orleans Terminal

Extension of hours: New Orleans Terminal will open the gate on Saturday ,September 28th from 8:00AM-12:00PM and 1:00PM-5:00PM (with the above reefer restrictions).

Demurrage Policy: Import and Export demurrage time will be stopped during the closure. So the days of the closure will not be counted against it.

Ports America (serving CMA CGM, Hapag Lloyd, Seaboard, Evergreen, COSCO, OOCL, Yang Ming)

Link to customer portal for the full update and summarized below:

Rail Operations: Complete Monday, September 30th 4:00 PM

Gate Operations: (General Imports/Export) Cease Monday, September 30th 4:00PM

· Import Reefer: Out gate by Monday, September 30th at 4:00PM

· Export Reefers*: Receiving eds by Noon on Friday, September 27th. Customers to ensure that any export reefer received will be loaded on a vessel by Monday, September 30

*See Ports America portal for more information on Ports America limitation of liability as reefers that remain on terminal will not be monitored

Extension of hours: Ports America will not operate a Saturday gate.

Demurrage Policy: Ports America will pause demurrage and free time for all container activities (import, export, rail) in the event of a strike. Once the strike ends and terminal operations resumes, demurrage and free time will also resume and will be calculated based on each container’s status as of the date the strike began. For example, if a Container X was on free time day 2 and Container Y was on demurrage day 5 on the last day of operations before the strike, Container X will be on free time day 3 and Container Y will be on demurrage day 6 when the strike ends and terminal operations resume. This policy will be applicable to Ports America operations in New Orleans.

Saltwater Barrier - Mile 64 AHP:
As of 9/27, the top of the wedge was estimated to be at Mile 63.3 AHP. Construction of the saltwater barrier to 55 feet below the waterline is complete. One way traffic through the area remains in effect.

If additional height is required, there will be a notch, similar to last year, to allow deep draft traffic to pass through the barrier. Please note that if the additional height is needed, there will probably be two river closures at Mile 63.4, lasting twelve hours each, to allow for construction without having to move equipment for the passage of traffic.

Corps of Engineers Revetment Scheduled and Navigational Restrictions:

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

National Information:
Marsec Level – 1

VESSELS SCHEDULED TO ARRIVE IN THE NEXT 24 HOURS: