NAVNOTICE# 1151 - Updated High Water Advisory

To: ALL MARINERS
From: Coast Guard Upper Miss
Date: 6/4/08
Subject: Updated High Water Advisory - Updated St Louis Advisory
NAVNOTICE # 1151

SECTOR UPPER MISSISSIPPI RIVER ISSUES THE FOLLOWING SAFETY
ADVISORY:
A. ZONE 28 (MILES 109.9 - 185.4 UMR) IS IN THE 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 AND TO USE CAUTION IN PASSING/MEETING
SITUATIONS.
B. THE FOLLOWING ZONE IS IN THE HIGH WATER WATCH PHASE OF THE UMR
WAP ANNEX: ZONES 24-20 (MILES 273.4 - 364.1 UMR) AND ZONE 18 (MILES
410.5 - 437.0 UMR).
C. THE FOLLOWING ZONE IS IN THE HIGH WATER WATCH PHASE OF THE ILR
WAP ANNEX: ZONES 1-4 (MILES 0.0 - 101.9 ILR).
D. 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.
E. 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.