ITCS Memo# 2332 - Low Water Safety Advisory UMR 185.0

To: RIAC
From: RIAC Chairman
Date: 12/20/05
Subject: Low Water Safety Advisory UMR 185.0 - 0.0
ITCS Memo # 2332

o: ALL MARINERS
From: MSO St. Louis
Date: 12/19/05
Subject: BNM LOW WATER SAFETY ADVISORY FOR UMR MM 185.0 - 0.0
NAVNOTICE # 646

SUBJ: REQUEST FOR BNM - COTP ST. LOUIS LOW WATER SAFETY ADVISORY

DUE TO 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 BETWEEN UMR MILE 0.0 AND 185.0:

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 IMMEDIATELY DUE TO EXPECTED LOW WATER CONDITIONS, OPERATORS SHOULD ANTICIPATE DRAFT RESTRICTIONS OF LESS THAN 9 FEET IF RIVER LEVELS CONTINUE TO FALL AND APPROACH THE LOW WATER REFERENCE PLANE.
D. MARINERS SHOULD LIMIT THEIR TOW SIZE TO A MAXIMUM OF 25 SOUTHBOUND BARGES WITH A MAXIMUM OF 5 WIDE AND 30 NORTHBOUND BARGES WITH A MAXIMUM OF 6 WIDE.
E. MARINERS SHOULD BE AWARE OF SHIFTING CHANNELS AS BUOYS ARE ADJUSTED FOR CHANGING WATER LEVELS AND POTENTIAL SHOALING CONDITIONS ALONG BUOY LINES.
F. HEAVY BARGES SHOULD BE PLACED IN THE MIDDLE OF THE TOW TOWARDS THE STERN.
G. 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.