ITCS Memo# 2293 - Safety Advisory UMR 179.0

To: RIAC
From: RIAC Chairman
Date: 8/12/05
Subject: Safety Advisory UMR 179.0 - 0.0
ITCS Memo # 2293

To: ALL MARINERS
From: MSO St. Louis
Date: 8/11/05
Subject: UPDATE FOR BNM LOW WATER ADVISORY FOR UMR 11 AUG 05
NAVNOTICE # 617

DUE TO ANTICIPATED LOW WATER CONDITIONS ON THE UMR, THE U.S.
COAST GUARD IN CONJUNCTION WITH RIAC AND THE ARMY CORPS OF
ENGINEERS HAS ISSUED THE FOLLOWING SAFETY ADVISORY:

A. ST. LOUIS GAUGE READINGS ARE EXPECTED TO REMAIN IN THE NEGATIVE
RANGE ON THE UMR.
B. ALL MARINERS ARE ADVISED TO USE EXTRA CAUTION FOR PREVAILING
CONDITIONS AND REMAIN COGNIZANT OF TOW DRAFTS AS LOW WATER
CONDITIONS DEVELOP.
C. HEAVY DRAFT VESSELS ARE ADVISED TO MOVE OFF THE UMR AS SOON AS
PRACTICAL DUE TO EXPECTED LOW WATER CONDITIONS.
D. BETWEEN UMR MILE 179.0 AND 0.0 MARINERS SHOULD LIMIT THEIR TOW
SIZE TO A MAXIMUM OF 25 SOUTHBOUND BARGES IN A 5 X 5 CONFIGURATION.
NORTHBOUND TOWS SHOULD LIMIT TOW SIZE TO A MAXIMUM OF 36 BARGES IN
A 6 X 6 CONFIGURATION WITH A MAXIMUM OF 2O LOADS IN A 5 LONG X 4
WIDE CONFIGURATION.
E. MARINERS SHOULD BE AWARE OF SHIFTING CHANNELS AS BUOYS ARE
ADJUSTED FOR CHANGING WATER LEVELS AND POTENTIAL SHOALING
CONDITIONS ALONG BUOY LINES.
F. SHOALING HAS BEEN REPORTED AT UMR MILE 125, NEAR STE. GENEVIEVE,
MO. ALL MARINERS SHOULD TRANSIT THE AREA WITH EXTREME CAUTION.
G. HEAVY BARGES SHOULD BE PLACED IN THE MIDDLE OF THE TOW TOWARDS
THE STERN.
H. MARINERS SHOULD USE EXTREME CAUTION WHEN TRANSITING NEAR
FLEETING AREAS AND TO TRANSIT AT THE SLOWEST SAFE NAVIGABLE SPEED
TO MINIMIZE IMPACT.

THIS SAFETY ADVISORY WILL REMAIN IN EFFECT UNTIL FURTHER NOTICE.