Tag: Mississippi River

shipping traffic, Mississippi River

Upcoming harvest could be lost due to fresh water Over the years, the industry has been damaged by Hurricane Katrina, cheap imports, high gas prices and the perception Gulf oysters weren't safe to eat because of the BP oil spill.Now, the upcoming harvest season may be lost. Oysters, which thrive in salt water, are dying in large numbers because of the fresh water that poured in from spillways opened to take pressure off levees protecting cities from the rising Mississippi River this summer.The oyster harvest, which usually runs from October to April, could be restricted or canceled altogether to give the oysters a chance to recover."Giving the entire reef a break for this season would be an option," said Joe Jewell, assistant director of fisheries for the Mississippi Department of Marine Resources.The agency expects to make its recommendation next month; the final decision is with a five-member commission appointed by the governor to represent seafood processors, environmental organizations, charter boat operators and fishermen.Oystermen, seafood processors and restaurants that cater to customers who enjoy the local catch are waiting in agony.Jerry Forte, a Pass Christian seafood dealer who mainly sells shrimp and oysters to shops, said he won't make any money ...

Traffic on the Mississippi was not impeded by the grounded vessel Donjon-SMIT, LLC, was notified that a client vessel was aground in the Mississippi River just above Cubit's Gap, about 10 miles below Venice, La.Traffic on the Mississippi was not impeded by the grounded vessel. Donjon-SMIT, an OPA-90 salvage and marine firefighting provider, was placed on standby pending the results of efforts to refloat the vessel with tugs.Approximately midday on June 14, the vessel's salvage response plan was activated, and Donjon-SMIT mobilized its personnel and assets to refloat the vessel.Within a few hours of activation of the salvage plan, one of Donjon-SMIT's Rapid Response Assessors was on scene to conduct the initial onsite salvage assessment. Donjon-SMIT's salvage team arrived shortly after, and efforts began to conduct a damaged stability assessment and to utilize tugs to refloat the vessel."The vessel was broadside into the current, so there was a very real concern that the situation could worsen quickly," said Paul Hankins, President of Donjon-SMIT. "We were also worried about the rapid silting around the vessel."Overnight on June 14 and into the morning of June 15, four and eventually five tugs were used to scour the buildup of silt around the vessel ...

The lower Mississippi river is currently at high water levels SituationThe Lower Mississippi River is currently at high water river levels in New Orleans and Baton Rouge areas and is predicted to continue rising. Beginning 9 May 2011, the USCG placed restrictions on vessel traffic entering or exiting the Lower Mississippi River.Information Currently AvailableMarine Safety Information Bulletins (MSIBs)providing safety and operational advice for mariners and facilities in the area are being issued by the Coast Guard on a continuous basis and can be found via their website:http://homeport.uscg.mil.( > Port Directory (= New Orleans) > Waterways Management> Marine Safety Information Bulletins (MSIB))As at 12 May 2011, reference is in particular made to the following MSIBs: Issue 43: High water safety advisory; Safety zone at LMR MM225 to MM 240 (9 May 2011) Issue 47: Waterway high water safety advisory; Damage to Levees and Revetments (11 May 2011)The Coast Guard has begun circulating an MSIB (Issue 44 dated 10 May 2011) to all facilities along the river, its purpose being to gather information on whether or not the facility plans to cease operations. An updated compiled list can be achieved from the Coast Guard and also via their website: http://homeport.uscg.mil ( > ...

Bridge allision slows traffic The Coast Guard temporarily suspended salvage operations, Saturday, on asoybean barge that partially sank after a towing vessel allided with the Old Vicksburg Bridge on the Mississippi River.Watchstanders at Coast GuardMarine Safety Detachment Vicksburgreceived a report that the towing vessel, Kay A. Eckstein,allided with the Old Vicksburg Bridge, causing the barges being pushed by the towing vessel to come free. One barge allided with the I-20 bridge, partially sank, and is considered a hazard to navigation.The unified command will discuss further salvage plans as equipment arrives on scene and environmental conditions permit.I-20 bridge vehicle traffic will remain unaffected during salvage operations.Based off the current river conditions and the hazard to navigation that the partially sunken barge presents, southbound barge traffic will be permitted with some size restrictions.There are currently 36 vessels waiting to transit southbound.Northbound traffic will be managed during the night while southbound traffic will be managed during the day.The Coast Guard continues to work alongside Louisiana and Mississippi Departments of Transportation, local law enforcement agencies, the Army Corps of Engineers and the marine industry to complete salvage operations and re-open the river to commerce as safely and quickly as possible."The Unified Command remains focused ...

Deep draft in fresh water of max 44 feet The Bar Pilots for the Port of New Orleans recommend that vessels should have a deep draft in fresh water of a maximum of 44 feet when transiting the area of the Southwest Pass of the Mississippi River from the Southwest Pass Sea Buoy (Entrance Lighted Whistle Buoy "SW") to Mile 1.5 Above Head of Passes in the Mississippi River. This is due to a USD 22m drop in dredging funding and is likely to last throughout the year.These recommendations replace the recommendations effective from 12 September 2001, and became effective Tuesday 25 January 2011. The recommendations may be increased or decreased at any time as conditions warrant. Nothing in the recommendations of the Bar Pilots should be construed as limiting a pilot in the exercise of his judgement.This information is relayed based on GAC Hot Port News and South East Shipping News, but should not be relied upon without independent verification of the latest restrictions with your local agent.Source: GAC Hot Port News

Mississippi mud creates problems A coalition of businesses that rely on Mississippi River commerce warns that current budget policies on Mississippi River dredging threaten to undo efforts to make America more competitive in international trade.On the same day that the Presidents State of The Union Address announced renewed efforts to increase trade in the global marketplace, restrictions went into effect on ships entering and leaving the Mississippi River. These restrictions on the busiest port system in the country directly harm the competitiveness of American businesses in some 30 states. On January 25, 2011, the Associated Branch Pilots, representing state-licensed pilots who handle ships entering and leaving the mouth of the river, began limiting the draft of ships to no more than 44 feet of draft, down from the 45-foot channel depth authorized by Congress. These restrictions were necessary because scarce funds in the Army Corps of Engineers budget for maintaining the river have resulted in inadequate dredging of the river. The Big River Coalition, an organization of more than 50 companies and associations, has been sounding the alarm that budget cuts on Mississippi River dredging would result in restrictions on ship traffic and now those warnings have come to pass. ...