NAVNOTICE# 1099 - High Water Advisory Update

To: ALL MARINERS
From: Coast Guard Upper Miss
Date: 4/29/08
Subject: High Water Advisory Update
NAVNOTICE # 1099

SECTOR UPPER MISSISSIPPI RIVER ISSUES THE FOLLOWING SAFETY
ADVISORY:
A. ZONE 28 (MILES 109.9 - 185.4 UMR) IS IN THE EXTREME HIGH WATER
ACTION PHASE OF THE UMR WAP ANNEX. THE CAPTAIN OF THE PORT HAS
ESTABLISHED A SAFETY ZONE IN ST. LOUIS HARBOR (MILES 179.0 -184.0).
SOUTHBOUND TOWS GREATER THAN 600 FEET IN LENGTH, EXCLUDING THE
TOWING VESSEL SHOULD LIMIT TRANSIT TO DAYLIGHT HOURS ONLY. ALL
TOWING VESSELS SHOULD HAVE A MINIMUM OF 250 HORSEPOWER FOR EACH
LOADED BARGE AND SHOULD PROCEED AT THE SLOWEST SAFE OPERATING SPEED
BASED ON PREVAILING CONDITIONS IN ORDER TO MINIMIZE WAKE DAMAGE OF
PERSONAL PROPERTY. ALL TOWBOATS ARE PROHIBITED FROM LAYING UP ON
LEVEES. MARINERS ARE ADVISED TO ENSURE FLEETS ARE ATTENDED BY
TOWBOATS AT ALL TIMES. DUE TO THE HIGH NUMBER OF BARGES BEING HELD
ON THE UPPER MISSISSIPPI RIVER, MARINERS ARE STRONGLY ADVISED TO
CONTACT THE FLEETERS AT THEIR DESTINATION TO ENSURE SPACE IS
AVAILABLE. OPERATORS ARE ADVISED TO USE CAUTION IN PASSING/MEETING
SITUATIONS, TO OPERATE AT THE SLOWEST SAFE OPERATING SPEED, AND TO
FAVOR THE CENTER OF THE CHANNEL TO AVOID WAKE DAMAGE. ALL
RECREATIONAL TRAFFIC IS PROHIBITED FROM TRANSITING IN THE SAINT
LOUIS HARBOR.
B. ZONE 13 - 18 (MILES 343.2 - 493.2 UMR), ZONE 20 (MILES 343.2-
364.1 UMR) AND ZONE 24 (MILES 273.4 - 301.1 UMR) ARE IN THE HIGH
WATER ACTION PHASE OF THE UMR WAP ANNEX.
C. ZONE 19 (MILES 364.2 - 410.4 UMR), ZONES 21 - 22 (MILES 324.9 -
343.1 UMR) AND ZONES 25 AND 26 (MILES 200.5 - 273.3 UMR) ARE IN
THE HIGH WATER WATCH PHASE OF THE UMR WAP ANNEX.
D. ZONES 9 - 12 (556.7 - 679.1 UMR) ARE IN THE HIGH WATER RECOVERY
PHASE OF THE UMR WAP ANNEX.
E. ZONE 1 (MILES 0.0 - 9.9 ILR) IS IN THE HIGH WATER ACTION PHASE
OF THE ILR WAP ANNEX.
F. ZONE 2 (MILES 10.0 – 49.9 ILR) IS IN THE HIGH WATER WATCH PHASE
OF THE ILR WAP ANNEX.
G. ZONES 3 - 6 (MILES 50.0 - 145.5 ILR) ARE IN THE HIGH WATER
RECOVERY PHASE OF THE ILR WAP ANNEX.
H. DOWN STREAMING OPERATIONS ARE NOT RECOMMENDED FOR VESSELS
OPERATING IN THESE ZONES UNLESS THE VESSEL IS EQUAL TO OR GREATER
THAN 75 FEET IN LENGTH AND THE VESSEL HAS A MINIMUM OF 1800
HORSEPOWER. DUE TO HIGH RIVER LEVELS, DRIFT OF DEBRIS IS AN ISSUE
WITH NAVIGATION AND IT MAY DRAG BUOYS OFF STATION AND SEVER BUOYS
FROM THEIR MOORINGS.
I. ALL TOWING VESSELS SHOULD PROCEED AT THE SLOWEST SAFE OPERATING
SPEED BASED UPON PREVAILING CONDITIONS IN ORDER TO MINIMIZE WAKE
DAMAGE. ALL MARINERS ARE ENCOURAGED TO ENSURE THAT MOORED VESSELS
AND BARGES ARE ADEQUATELY SECURED WITH THE ANTICIPATION OF
INCREASED VELOCITY AND HIGH WATER. 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.