NAVNOTICE# 1156 - WAP UPDATE

To: ALL MARINERS
From: Coast Guard Upper Miss
Date: 6/12/08
Subject: WAP UPDATE
NAVNOTICE # 1156

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. 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.
MARINERS ARE ADVISED TO ENSURE FLEETS ARE ATTENDED BY TOWBOATS AT
ALL TIMES, USE CAUTION IN PASSING/MEETING SITUATIONS, AND SHOULD
FAVOR THE CENTER OF THE CHANNEL. ALL RECREATIONAL TRAFFIC IS
PROHIBITED FROM TRANSITING FROM THE JEFFERSON BARRACKS BRIDGE MM
168.6 UMR THROUGH THE CHAIN OF ROCKS CANAL UPPER ENTRANCE MM 194.1
UMR.
B. THE FOLLOWING ZONES ARE IN THE HIGH WATER ACTION PHASE OF THE
UMR WAP ANNEX: ZONE 24 (MILES 273.4 - 301.1 UMR), AND ZONES 20 - 15
(MILES 343.2 - 493.2 UMR). THE FOLLOWING ZONES ARE IN THE HIGH
WATER WATCH PHASE OF THE UMR WAP ANNEX: ZONES 25 - 26 (MILES 200.5
- 273.3 UMR), ZONES 21 - 22 (MILES 301.2 - 343.1 UMR), AND ZONES 9
- 14 (MILES 493.3 - 679.1 UMR).
C. THE FOLLOWING ZONE IS IN THE HIGH WATER ACTION PHASE OF THE ILR
WAP ANNEX: ZONE 1 (MILES 0.0 - 9.9 ILR). THE FOLLOWING ZONES ARE
IN THE WATCH PHASE OF THE ILR WAP ANNEX: ZONES 2-6 (MILES 10 -
145.5 ILR).
D. THE FOLLOWING GAGES ARE IN THE HIGH WATER ACTION PHASE OF THE
MOR WAP ANNEX: RULO GAGE MILE 498 MOR, ST. JOSEPH GAGE MILE 448.2
MOR, ATCHISON GAGE MILE 422.6 MOR, WAVERLY GAGE MILE 293.2 MOR,
MIAMI GAGE MILE 262.2 MOR, GLASGOW GAGE MILE 226.3 MOR, AND
BOONVILE GAGE MILE 196.6 MOR. RECREATIONAL TRAFFIC IS DISCOURAGED
IN THESE AREAS. MARINERS SHOULD ASSESS BRIDGE CLEARANCES PRIOR TO
TRANSIT AND SHOULD FAVOR THE CENTER OF THE CHANNEL.
E. THE FOLLOWING GAGES ARE IN THE HIGH WATER WATCH PHASE OF THE MOR
WAP ANNEX: JEFFERSON CITY GAGE 143.9 MOR, HERMANN GAGE MILE 97.9
MOR, AND ST. CHARLES GAGE MILE 28.2 MOR.
F. 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.
G. 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.