ITCS Memo# 2633 - Ill River Saftey Advisory

To: RIAC
From: IRCA Co-Chairman
Date: 1/23/08
Subject: Ill River Saftey Advisory
ITCS Memo # 2633

MISSISSIPPI RIVER ISSUES THE FOLLOWING SAFETY
ADVISORY:
A. ZONES 2,3,4,5,6 AND 7 (MILES 10.0 - 180.9) ON THE ILR HAVE
ENTERED THE RECOVERY PHASE OF THE ILR WAP ANNEX.
B. DOWN STREAMING 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.
C. ALL TOWING VESSELS SHOULD PROCEED AT THE SLOWEST SAFE OPERATIONS
SPEED BASED UPON PREVAILING CONDITIONS IN ORDER TO MINIMIZE WAKE
DAMAGE.
D. 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.
E. ALL MARINERS ARE ENCOURAGED TO ENSURE THAT ALL MOORED VESSELS
AND BARGES ARE ADEQUATELY SECURED WITH THE ANTICIPATION OF
INCREASED VELOCITY AND HIGH WATER.
F. 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. VESSELS SHOULD
OBSERVE SLOW WAKE SPEEDS IN THE VICINITY OF FLEETING AREAS.
G. DUE TO INCREASED FLOWS THERE HAVE BEEN THREE RECENT ALLISIONS
WITH THE PEKIN RAILROAD BRIDGE. ALL MARINERS ARE REMINDED TO
EXERCISE WITH EXTREME CAUTION WHEN OPERATING AND TRANSITTING IN
THIS RESTRICTED MANEUVERING AREA.
H. DUE TO ONGOING COLD TEMPERATURES, NAVIGATION PROBLEMS MAY BE
EXPECTED THROUGHOUT THE PEORIA LAKE VICINITY FROM MILE 162.0 TO
180.0.
I. NAVIGATION HAS BEEN RESTRICTED TO ONE WAY TRAFFIC BETWEEN MILE
169.0 TO 179.0 TO ENSURE THE INTEGRITY OF THE EXISTING ICE TRAIL
ACROSS PEORIA LAKE.
J. SHEET ICE MAY BE EXPECTED THROUGHOUT THE WATERWAY WITH
POSSIBILITY THAT THE CHANNEL MAY BE BLOCKED IN SOME LOCATIONS IF
CONDITIONS DETERIORATE.
K. 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).
L. WHEN DOUBLE LOCKING, IT IS RECOMMENDED THAT RAKE TO BOX ICE
COUPLINGS BE CORPORATED INTO TOW CONFIGURATIONS WHEN ICE IS PRESENT
AT THE LOCK.
M. 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.
N. MARINERS SHOULD EXPECT CONDITIONS TO WORSEN AS TEMPERATURES
CONTINUE TO FALL.