ITCS Memo# 2482 - 89' Tow restriction at Melvin Price Lock UMR

To: RIAC
From: RIAC Chairman
Date: 2/7/07
Subject: 89' Tow restriction at Melvin Price Lock UMR
ITCS Memo # 2482

To: ALL MARINERS
From: MSO St. Louis
Date: 2/7/07
Subject: New tow restriction on Lock 26 at 89 feet.
NAVNOTICE # 750

DUE TO DEVELOPING ICE CONDITIONS ON THE ILR AND THE UMR, THE U.S.
COAST GUARD SECTOR UPPER MISSISSIPPI RIVER HAS ISSUED THE FOLLOWING
SAFETY ADVISORY:
SEVERE NAVIGATION PROBLEMS MAY BE EXPECTED THROUGHOUT THE PEORIA
LAKE VICINITY FROM MILE 162.0 TO 180.0. NAVIGATION HAS BEEN
RESTRICTED TO ONE WAY TRAFFIC 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) AND MILES 127.0 TO
137.0 (LIVERPOOL TO COPPERAS CREEK).
ON THE UMR: LOCK 20 MM 343.2, LOCK 21 MM 324.9, AND LOCK 22 MM
301.2 ARE LIMITING TOW WIDTHS TO 70 FT. LOCK 26 MM 201.0 IS
LIMITING TOW WIDTH TO 89FT. WIDTH RESTRICTIONS WILL BE LIFTED ONCE
ICE CONDITIONS IMPROVE.
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.
EXPECT CONDITIONS TO WORSEN AS TEMPERATURES FALL.