ITCS Memo# 2474 - ILLINOIS WATERWAY

To: RIAC
From: IRCA Chairman
Date: 2/1/07
Subject: ILLINOIS WATERWAY
ITCS Memo # 2474

DUE TO DEVELOPING ICE CONDITIONS ON THE ILR, THE U.S. COAST GUARD SECTOR UPPER MISSISSIPPI RIVER IN CONJUNCTION WITH IRCA AND THE ARMY CORPS OF ENGINEERS HAVE ISSUED THE FOLLOWING SAFETY ADVISORY:
ALL TOWS MOVING THROUGH THE ILLINOIS WATERWAY DOWNSTREAM OF MILE 280.0 AND ON THE LITTLE CALUMET RIVER FROM MILE 321.0 TO 326.5 ARE CAUTIONED TO BE ALERT FOR CHANGING CONDITIONS AND POSSIBLE HAZARDS DUE TO ICE FORMATIONS. SEVERE NAVIGATION PROBLEMS MAY ALSO BE EXPECTED THROUGHOUT THE PEORIA LAKE VICINITY FROM MILE 162.0 TO 180.0. MARINERS SHOULD AVOID MEETING OR PASSING ON PEORIA LAKE BETWEEN BETWEEN MILE 169.0 TO 179.0. THIS IS TO ENSURE THE INTEGRITY OF THE EXISTING ICE TRAIL ACROSS PEORIA LAKE.
SHEET ICE MAY BE EXPECTED THROUGHOUT THE WATERWAY. THE CHANNEL MAY BE BLOCKED IN SOME LOCATIONS IF CONDITIONS DETERIORATE. ICE GORGES CAN MOST FREQUENTLY BE EXPECTED TO FORM AT THE FOLLOWING LOCATIONS:
MILES 86.5 TO 95.5 (GRAPE ISLAND TO SUGAR CREEK); MILES 127.0 TO 137.0 (LIVERPOOL TO COPPERAS CREEK); AT MILE 237.0 (MAYO ISLAND); MILES 240.6 TO 241.5 (BULLS ISLAND), AT MILE 242.5 (MILLIKEN CREEK LIGHT AND DAYMARK) AND AT MILE 243.7 (MARSEILLES LOCK LIGHT AND DAYMARK).
ALL TOWBOAT OPERATORS WILL BE REQUIRED TO ARRANGE THEIR TOWS SO THAT RECOUPLING DOES NOT OCCUR BETWEEN BOX END BARGES DURING A LOCKAGE. RAKE TO BOX ICE COUPLINGS SHOULD BE INCORPORATED INTO TOW CONFIGURATIONS WHEN ICE IS PRESENT AT THE LOCK.
MARINERS SHOULD BE AWARE THAT BOUYS MAY BE UNRELIABLE DUE TO ICING CONDITIONS. ICE FLOWS RENDER REFLECTIVE MATERIAL INEFFECTIVE, AND MAY DRAG BUOYS OFF STATION AND SEVER BUOYS FROM THEIR MOORINGS.