Please find below Mississippi River daily report for February 21, 2025.
A Daily Publication of the New Orleans Board of Trade
06:50 hrs. - 02/21/2025
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.
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.
Coast Guard Notices: Mardi Gras Safety/Security Zone: Mardi Gras festivities will be held in New Orleans, LA beginning on February 21, 2025, and lasting through March 04, 2025. As part of the celebrations, multiple events will be taking place on or adjacent to the Lower Mississippi River (LMR). In anticipation of these events, the U.S. Coast Guard Captain of the Port New Orleans, under the authority of the Ports and Waterways Safety Act, will be establishing the following security and safety zones:
Temporary Security Zone - Mardi Gras Celebration
a. Date and time: from 12 a.m. on February 21, 2025, through 11:59 p.m. March 04, 2025. b. Location: all navigable waters within 350 yards of the Left Descending Bank (LDB) between Mile Marker (MM) 94.4 & MM 95.7
Temporary Safety Zone - Lundi Gras Fireworks Display
a. Date and time: March 03, 2025, from 5:45 p.m. until 6:45 p.m. b. Location: all navigable waters between MM 93 and MM 96, near Algiers Point in New Orleans, LA All vessels are prohibited from entering the security and safety zones unless they have been granted permission by the Captain of the Port New Orleans or the designated representative. All vessels requesting permission to enter or transit through these zones must contact the designated representative on VHF-FM Channel 12, 16, or 67. Each designated representative will evaluate and allow vessels to transit through the safety zone on a case-by-case basis.
CARROLLTON GAUGE AT 8 FEET AND RISING The Carrollton Gauge reads 8 feet and rising, the following operating requirements are in effect:
In addition to the requirements contained in 33 CFR 161.13, the following measures apply to vessels transiting through or within the Algiers Point VTS Special Area:
No vessel shall enter or get underway without prior approval of the VTS and must abide by any direction or measures issued by the VTS.
A vessel awaiting a VTS direction to proceed must keep clear of other vessels transiting.
Vessels shall not enter the Special Area if a hazardous vessel operating condition or circumstance exists, as defined in 33 CFR161.2, without prior approval from the COTP.
Vessels shall not meet, cross, or overtake any other vessel in the Special Area without prior approval from the VTS. If the VTS approves the maneuver, before executing the maneuver, vessels shall communicate on the designated bridge-to-bridge radiotelephone frequency intended navigation movements and any other information necessary in order to make safe passing arrangements.
As required by 33 CFR 165.810(b)(3), tows are prohibited from transiting VTS special areas by a vessel with insufficient power to permit ready maneuverability and safe handling (unable to maintain an average speed of at least 3 MPH (2.6 knots).
For all vessels operating in the Lower Mississippi River (LMR) below Mile Marker (MM) 233.9 Above Head of Passes (AHP), including South Pass and Southwest Pass, additional high-water requirements are found in Title 33 of the Code of Federal Regulations (CFR) 165.810.
All Deep Draft vessels, to include Ocean-going Towing vessels, should have three means to hold position unless moored to shore or a mooring buoy.
Downbound Ocean-going Towing vessels towing on the hawser should consult with the appropriate pilot association to determine the need for assist tugs..
Towing vessels should review MSIB Vol XIX Issue 007 titled Towing Vessel Safety Advisory During High Water, issued 15 January 2019 for additional provisions.
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.
U.S. Corps of Engineers: VELOCITY READING (NEW ORLEANS) 3.1 Knots
Mississippi River - Projection- Based off 48 Hours of Forecast Rainfall Mississippi River - NOLA Projection- Based off 16 Days of Forecast Rainfall (Experimental)-
Disclaimer: For quality assurance purposes please note well that while the information contained in this website is regularly vetted for accuracy it is not intended to replace the local knowledge or expertise pertaining to port conditions of our marine operations personnel.
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