NAVNOTICE# 1185 - High water advisory/Safety broadcast update

To: ALL MARINERS
From: Coast Guard Upper Miss
Date: 6/27/08
Subject: High water advisory/Safety broadcast update
NAVNOTICE # 1185

SECTOR UPPER MISSISSIPPI RIVER ISSUES 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. ALL MARINERS ARE ADVISED THAT
RIVER LEVELS IN ST. LOUIS HARBOR CONTINUE TO REMAIN HIGH AND
FORECASTED HEIGHTS MAY VARY. TO ENSURE SAFE NAVIGATION THROUGH ST.
LOUIS HARBOR ALL OPERATORS AND MARINERS SHALL MONITOR CURRENT RIVER
STAGES TO MAINTAIN PROPER BRIDGE CLEARANCES. 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.
B. THE FOLLOWING ZONES ARE IN THE HIGH WATER ACTION PHASE OF THE
UMR WAP ANNEX: ZONE 25 - 16 (MILES 241.4 - 482.8 UMR).
C. THE FOLLOWING ZONE IS IN THE HIGH WATER WATCH PHASE OF THE UMR
WAP ANNEX: ZONE 26 (MILES 200.5 - 241.3 UMR), MARINERS ARE REMINDED
TO PROCEED AT THE MINIMUM SAFE SPEED TO REDUCE WAKE DAMAGE TO
STRUCTURES AT MM 212 UMR. THE FOLLOWING ZONES ARE IN THE HIGH
WATER RECOVERY PHASE OF THE UMR WAP ANNEX: ZONE 15 - 11 (MILES
482.9 - 615 UMR).
D. THE FOLLOWING ZONES ARE IN THE HIGH WATER ACTION PHASE OF THE
ILR WAP ANNEX: ZONES 1-2 (MILES 0.0 - 49.9 ILR). THE FOLLOWING
ZONES ARE IN THE HIGH WATER RECOVERY PHASE OF THE ILR WAP ANNEX:
ZONES 3-5 (MILES 50 - 128.9 ILR).
E. THE FOLLOWING GAGE IS IN THE HIGH WATER WATCH PHASE OF THE MOR
WAP ANNEX: ST. CHARLES GAGE 28.2 MOR.
F. THE FOLLOWING GAGES ARE IN THE HIGH WATER RECOVERY PHASE OF THE
MOR WAP ANNEX: WASHINGTON GAGE 67.6 MOR, HERMANN GAGE 97.9 MOR.
G. 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.
H. 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.
I. TO REDUCE WAKE DAMAGE TO LEVEES ALL RECREATIONAL TRAFFIC IS
PROHIBITED FROM TRANSITING FROM THE JEFFERSON BARRACKS BRIDGE MM
168.6 TO LOCK AND DAM 17 MM 437.1 UMR.