ITCS Memo# 2591 - SAFETY ADVISORY FOR ILL. AND UPPER MISS RIVER

To: RIAC
From: IRCA Chairman
Date: 8/25/07
Subject: SAFETY ADVISORY FOR ILL. AND UPPER MISS RIVER
ITCS Memo # 2591

SECTOR UPPER MISSISSIPPI RIVER ISSUES THE FOLLOWING SAFETY
ADVISORY:
A. ZONES 6 AND 7 (MILES 129.0 - 180.9) ON THE ILR ARE IN THE HIGH
WATER WATCH PHASE OF THE ILR WAP ANNEX.
B. ZONES 17 AND 18 (MILES 410.5 - 457.1), ZONE 20 (MILES 343.2 -
364.1), AND ZONE 24 (MILES 273.4-301.1) ARE IN THE HIGH WATER WATCH
PHASE OF THE UMR WAP ANNEX.
C. DOWNSTREAMING OPERATIONS ARE NOT RECOMMENDED FOR VESSELS
OPERATING IN THE ZONES IN THE WATCH PHASES UNLESS THE VESSEL IS
EQUAL TO OR GREATER THAN 75 FEET IN LENGTH AND THE VESSEL HAS A
MINIMUM OF 1800 HORSEPOWER.
D. ZONES 1-5 (MILES 0.0 - 128.9) ON THE ILR ARE ANTICIPATED TO
ENTER THE HIGH WATER WATCH PHASE OVER THE NEXT 2 DAYS DUE TO THE
HIGH WATER CONDITIONS NORTH OF ZONE 5.
E. ALL TOWING VESSELS SHOULD PROCEED AT THE SLOWEST SAFE OPERATIONS
SPEED BASED UPON PREVAILING CONDITIONS IN ORDER TO MINIMIZE WAKE
DAMAGE.
F. DUE TO HIGH RIVER LEVELS, DRIFT OF DEBRIS MAY BE AN ISSUE WITH
NAVIGATION, AND IT MAY DRAG BUOYS OFF STATION AND SEVER BUOYS FROM
THEIR MOORINGS.
G. ALL MARINERS ARE ENCOURAGED TO ENSURE THAT ALL MOORED VESSELS
AND BARGES ARE ADEQUATELY SECURED WITH THE ANTICIPATION OF
INCREASED VELOCITY AND HIGH WATER.
H. COTP UPPER MISSISSIPPI RIVER REMINDS ALL MARINERS TO USE EXTRA
CAUTION AND TO BE ESPECIALLY VIGILANT DURING ALL BRIDGE AND LOCK
APPROACHES IN THESE ZONES DUE TO SWIFT CURRENTS