re: Mississippi River Flooding - Links & Pictures in 1st Post

yeah i remember reading about its past opening, that would be wild if it opened, would that help or hurt crawfish season?

quote:

---

I'm confused with that statement. What is a "High Water Safety Zone" and what does it have to do with towing?

---

I think it means that all ships and tug boats must proceed very slowly as no to cause a wake that would top the levee.

Ohhh k, that makes sense now

GOOGLE

I've heard that they are giving strong consideration to opening morganza, and with the rain up north it is highly likely that they will.

quote:

---

Where is the Morganzana Spillway located?

---

Under highway 1 between Bachelor and Morganza.

Water is already in one of the casinos in Vicksburg. The water is already at the level that it was, when it flooded back in 08 and it's steadily rising;-(( That's not good.......Tunica casinos really look bad!

what up glass

wait til ScottieP comes back

CG MSIB – Safety Zone Baton Rouge – Note VTCC will be up and running at 1800 this evening.



1. As a result of the Baton Rouge gauge reading 35 feet and expected to continue to rise, the COTP New Orleans has implemented a Safety Zone from MM 225 to MM 240, LMR. The following requirements will apply to this Safety Zone:



2. Canal Towing vessels and tow operators:

A. All vessels wishing to transit the area are required to contact the traffic control center (call sign

“Baton Rouge Traffic”), located at MM 231 on the left descending bank, on VHF CH-5A prior to arrival at MM 225 when northbound or prior to entering the locks when wishing to exit into the Mississippi River and await orders.

B. It is required that towing vessels entering or exiting the Port Allen Locks, meet or exceed the required 280 horse power per barge. Empty barges may be calculated at ½ the horsepower requirements to that of a loaded barge when computing the overall horsepower requirement.

C. Canal towing vessel operators pushing tows greater than 600 feet in length,

excluding the length of the towing vessel, are required to:

1.) Use a private assist vessel with a minimum of 1800 horse power when entering the Port Allen Locks.

2.) Use a private assist vessel with a minimum 1000 horsepower when exiting the locks.

3.) When exiting the Port Allen Locks and intending to head northbound: initially proceed southbound and then top around at the safest point below MM 226 with the assistance of a private assist vessel with a minimum of 1000 horse power.

4.) If not utilizing a private assist vessel to top around prior to heading northbound, then vessels must proceed below MM 221 and then top around.

D. Canal towing vessel operators pushing tows greater than 300 feet but less than 600 feet in length, excluding the length of the towing vessel, are required to:

1.) Use a private assist vessel with a minimum of 1000 horse power when entering the Port Allen Locks.

2.) Consider use of a private assist vessel with a minimum of 1000 horse power when exiting the Port Allen Locks.

3.) When exiting the Port Allen Locks and intending to head northbound: initially proceed southbound and then top around at the safest point below MM 226. Operators shall also consider use of a private assist vessel with a minimum of 1000 horse power.

E. Canal towing vessel operators pushing tows less than 300 feet in length, excluding the length of the towing vessel, are to consider the use of a private assist vessel with a minimum of 800 horsepower when entering or exiting the lock. When exiting the Port Allen Locks intending to head northbound they shall initially proceed southbound and then top around at the safest point below MM 226 and should consider the use of a private assist vessel.

F. Vessels unable to meet the horse power to barge requirements must obtain permission from the traffic control center prior to entering the zone and must use a private assist vessel when entering and exiting the Port Allen Locks.



3. Line Towing vessels and tow operators:

A. All vessels wishing to transit the area are required to contact the traffic control center

(call sign “Baton Rouge Traffic”), located at MM 231 on the left descending bank, on VHF

CH-5A prior to arrival at MM 225 when northbound and MM 245 when southbound and

await orders.

B. Southbound traffic may only transit Wilkinson Point during daylight hours. All traffic is

subject to no meeting or passing situations from MM 232 to MM 237.

C. The maximum tow size must be limited to 30 barges with a minimum of 280

horse power per barge for southbound transit. Empty barges may be considered half a barge when computing the overall horsepower requirement, but no more than 30 barges maximum.

D. All southbound traffic must utilize a towing assist vessel at Wilkinson Point with a minimum of 5000 horse power. Vessels unable to meet the minimum barge per horsepower requirement must utilize the towing assist vessel until below mile marker 232.

E. Northbound traffic unable to make a minimum sustained speed of 3 miles per hour

throughout the zone must utilize a private assist vessel.

F. There shall be no meeting or passing between mile markers 231 and 237.

G. Tank barges must be placed in the most protected position within the tow makeup.

H. It is recommended that tows be squared off and no spiked barges extend greater than 50

feet beyond the head of the tow.



4. Tows Topping Around between the I-10 and the HWY 190 Bridges and Harbor Fleet Tows

A. Tows greater than 600 feet in length must use a 1000 horsepower private assist vessel when topping around between the bridges.

B. It is recommended that tows 300 to 600 feet in length use a 1000 horsepower private assist vessel when topping around between the bridges.

C. It is recommended that tows less than 300 feet in length use an 800 horsepower private assist vessel when topping around between the bridges.

D. Harbor Fleet Tows consisting of one barge tows and mid-stream fueling operations are exempt from daylight only restrictions, but must coordinate transits with the VTCC.

E. Harbor Fleet Tows are authorized for harbor shifts both day and night of one loaded barge or two empties with coordination from the VTCC.



5. Ocean Going Vessel requirements:

A. Ocean going vessels must use tug escorts alongside while transiting northbound past the I-10 Bridge to the dock, as well as departing the dock and transiting southbound past the I-10 Bridge.

B. Only one ocean going vessel at a time will be allowed to be underway between the I-10 Bridge and the US-190 Bridge.

C. Ocean going vessels shall not anchor in the upper half mile of the Baton Rouge General Anchorage. The Pilot must notify the VTCC if it is necessary to anchor any vessel in the remainder of the anchorage.

D. Ocean going vessels must notify the VTCC with an estimated time of arrival into the safety zone at Richard Powell range light mile marker 218.4 and check in again at mile marker 219.

E. Ocean going vessels departing the safety zone must contact the VTCC prior to getting underway.



6. For further information, contact the following:



Coast Guard Marine Safety Unit Baton Rouge: (225) 298-5400

Traffic Control Center (24 Hour): (225) 387-0359