NAVNOTICE# 1188 - 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 # 1188

SECTOR UPPER MISSISSIPPI RIVER ISSUES FOLLOWING SAFETY ADVISORY:
A. ST. LOUIS HARBOR (MILES 179.0- 184 UMR) IS CLOSED TO ALL
COMMERCIAL TRAFFIC DUE TO THE EXTREME HIGH WATER CONDITIONS. LIGHT
BOATS ARE ALLOWED TO TRANSIT. FLEET BOATS WITH A MAXIMUM OF 2
BARGES ARE ALLOWED TO SHIFT BARGES ONLY WITHIN THE ST LOUIS HARBOR.
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.