April 1st; LMR Waterways Action Plan

AS A RESULT OF THE BATON ROUGE GAGE READING OVER 35 FEET AND EXPECTED TO CONTINUE TO RISE, THE CAPTAIN OF THE PORT OF NEW ORLEANS HAS IMPLEMENTED A SAFETY ZONE FROM MM225 TO MM229, LOWER MISSISSIPPI RIVER. 

NOTE:  There is a MANDATORY CHECK-IN FOR ALL VESSELS BEFORE ENTERING SAFETY ZONE;   

BATON ROUGE VESSEL TRAFFIC COORDINATION CENTER INFO:

LOCATION - LEFT DESCENDING BANK, MILE 231 AHP;

BATON ROUGE PHONE 225-357-0359;

EMAIL This email address is being protected from spam bots, you need Javascript enabled to view it ;

VHF CHANNEL 12.

Other Requirements:  (Deep Draft Vessels see #8.  Items 1-7 and 9-11 apply to towing vessels)

1.  ALL VESSELS WISHING TO TRANSIT THE AREA ARE REQUIRED TO CONTACT THE VESSEL TRAFFIC COORDINATION CENTER (VTCC).

2. CANAL TOWS GREATER THAN 600 FEET IN LENGTH, EXCLUDING THE LENGTH OF THE TOWING VESSEL, MUST USE AN ASSIST VESSEL WITH A MINIMUM OF 1800 HORSE POWER WHEN ENTERING THE PORT ALLEN LOCKS.

3. CANAL TOWS GREATER THAN 300 FEET, BUT LESS THAN 600 FEET IN LENGTH, EXCLUDING THE LENGTH OF THE TOWING VESSEL, MUST USE AN ASSIST VESSEL WITH A MINIMUM OF 1200 HORSE POWER WHEN ENTERING THE PORT ALLEN LOCKS. 

4. CANAL TOWS GREATER THAN 600 FEET IN LENGTH, EXCLUDING THE LENGTH OF THE TOWING VESSEL, EXITING THE PORT ALLEN LOCKS MUST PROCEED SOUTHBOUND OUT OF THE LOCK USING AN ASSIST VESSEL WITH A MINIMUM OF 1200 HORSEPOWER. THOSE TOWS INTENDING TO PROCEED NORTHBOUND MUST FIRST PROCEED SOUTHBOUND OUT OF THE LOCK USING AN ASSIST VESSEL OF 1200 HORSEPOWER AND TOP AROUND BELOW MILE 226 AT RED EYE CROSSING, ALSO USING THE ASSIST VESSEL TO TOP AROUND.

5. CANAL TOWS LESS THAN 600 FEET IN LENGTH, EXCLUDING THE LENGTH OF THE TOWING VESSEL, EXITING THE PORT ALLEN LOCKS INTENDING TO HEAD NORTHBOUND, MUST INITIALLY PROCEED SOUTHBOUND AND THEN TOP AROUND BELOW MM 226 AT RED EYE CROSSING, AND SHOULD CONSIDER THE USE OF A PRIVATE ASSIST VESSEL WHEN EXITING THE LOCK AND CONDUCTING THE TOP AROUND MANEUVER.

6. ALL TOWS ENTERING OR EXITING THE PORT ALLEN LOCKS, MUST HAVE A MINIMUM OF 280 HORSE POWER PER REGULATION BARGE, OR ONE HP PER 5 TONS.

7. VESSELS UNABLE TO MEET THE HORSE POWER TONNAGE  REQUIREMENTS MUST OBTAIN PERMISSION FROM THE VESSEL TRAFFIC COORDINATION CENTER PRIOR TO ENTERING THE ZONE AND MUST USE A PRIVATE ASSIST VESSEL WHEN ENTERING AND EXITING THE PORT ALLEN LOCKS.

8. DEEP DRAFT VESSELS MUST NOT ANCHOR IN THE UPPER HALF MILE OF BATON ROUGE GENERAL ANCHORAGE.

9. THE 1200 HP ASSIST VESSEL REQUIREMENT MAY BE MADE UP OF A MAXIMUM OF TWO VESSELS THAT, BETWEEN THEM, EQUAL 1200 HP. NOTE THAT ASSIST VESSELS MUST BE EITHER SECURED TO THE TOW OR IN THE IMMEDIATE VICINITY OF THE TOW AND FULLY DEDICATED TO BEING AVAILABLE TO TAKE IMMEDIATE ACTION IF NECESSARY.  AN ASSIST VESSEL THAT IS SEVERAL YARDS AWAY, ENGAGED IN OTHER ACTIVITY, OR IN A

FLEET IS NOT ACCEPTABLE. ASSIST VESSELS MUST BE IDENTIFIED TO THE VESSEL TRAFFIC COORDINATION CENTER AHEAD OF GETTING ON LOCK TURN AT PORT ALLEN, AND BE READY TO TAKE IMMEDIATE ACTION AS NEEDED UPON ENTERING OR EXITING THE RIVER AT THE LOCK.

10. OWNER / OPERATORS ARE REMINDED TO ENSURE TOWING VESSEL INSPECTIONS ARE COMPLETED BEFORE ENTERING THE RNA AS PER 33 CFR 164 AND 33 CFR 165.810 (F).

11. TOWING COMPANIES SHOULD CONSIDER STAFFING VESSELS WITH THE MOST EXPERIENCED CREWS.

12. SEE ATTACHED FOR DETAILS OF THE COMPLETE WATERWAYS ACTION PLAN.

 
 
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