NAVNOTICE# 1955 - UPDATED WATERWAY ACTION PLAN MESSAGE FOR ILW AND UMR

To: ALL MARINERS
From: Coast Guard Upper Miss
Date: 11/1/09
Subject: UPDATED WATERWAY ACTION PLAN MESSAGE FOR ILW AND UMR
NAVNOTICE # 1955

SUBJ: WESTERN RIVERS BNM NR 0449-09 UM
SAFETY AND SCHEDULED BCSTS UNTIL CANCELLED
CANCEL WESTERN RIVERS BNM NR 0445-09 UM
USCG NOTICE TO MARINERS EIGHTH DISTRICT NR 0449-09 UM
USCG SECTOR UPPER MISSISSIPPI RIVER ISSUES THE FOLLOWING SAFETY
ADVISORIES:
A. ZONE 28 (MM 109.9 - 185.4 UMR) IS IN THE ACTION PHASE FOR HIGH
WATER CONDITIONS IN ACCORDANCE WITH THE UMR WAP ANNEX. A SAFETY
ZONE HAS BEEN ESTABLISHED FROM MM (179 - 184 UMR). IN THIS SAFETY
ZONE, SOUTHBOUND TOWS GREATER THAN 600 FEET IN LENGTH EXCLUDING THE
TOW BOAT 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
UPON PREVAILING CONDITIONS IN ORDER TO MINIMIZE WAKE DAMAGE.
TOWBOATS ARE PROHIBITED FROM LAYING UP ON LEVEES. ALL RECREATIONAL
TRAFFIC IS PROHIBITED FROM TRANSITING IN THIS AREA.
B. ZONES 22 - 27 (MM 185.5 - 324.8 UMR) ARE IN THE WATCH PHASE FOR
HIGH WATER CONDITIONS IN ACCORDANCE WITH THE UMR WAP ANNEX. DOWN
STREAMING OPERATIONS ARE NOT RECOMMENDED, UNLESS A VESSEL IS EQUAL
TO OR GREATER THAN 75 FEET IN LENGTH AND THE VESSEL HAS A MINIMUM
OF 1800 HORSEPOWER. DRIFT OF DEBRIS MAY BE A HAZARD TO NAVIGATION
AND MAY DRAG BUOYS OFF STATION. ALL VESSELS ARE REQUESTED TO
TRANSIT THESE ZONES WITH CAUTION AND AT THE SLOWEST SAFE SPEED TO
MINIMIZE WAKE DAMAGE.
C. ZONE 1 (MM 0.0 - 9.9 ILR) AND ZONE 6 (MM 129.0 - 145.5) HAVE
ENTERED THE ACTION PHASE FOR HIGH WATER CONDITIONS IN ACCORDANCE
WITH THE ILR WAP ANNEX. ALL TOWING VESSELS ARE PROHIBITED FROM
LAYING UP ON LEVEES. DOWN STREAMING OPERATIONS ARE NOT RECOMMENDED,
UNLESS A VESSEL IS EQUAL TO OR GREATER THAN 75 FEET IN LENGTH AND
THE VESSEL HAS A MINIMUM OF 1800 HORSEPOWER. DRIFT OF DEBRIS MAY BE
A HAZARD TO NAVIGATION AND MAY DRAG BUOYS OFF STATION. ALL VESSELS
ARE REQUESTED TO TRANSIT THESE ZONES WITH CAUTION AND AT THE
SLOWEST SAFE SPEED TO MINIMIZE WAKE DAMAGE ESPECIALLY WHILE
TRANSITING IN THE VICINITY OF COPPERAS CREEK MILE 136 TO 138.
D. ZONES 2 THROUGH 6 (MM 10.0 - 145.5 ILR) AND ZONE 7 (MM 145.6 -
180.9 ILR) ARE IN THE WATCH PHASE FOR HIGH WATER CONDITIONS IN
ACCORDANCE WITH THE ILR WAP ANNEX. ALL TOWING VESSELS ARE
PROHIBITED FROM LAYING UP ON LEVEES. DOWN STREAMING OPERATIONS ARE
NOT RECOMMENDED, UNLESS A VESSEL IS EQUAL TO OR GREATER THAN 75
FEET IN LENGTH AND THE VESSEL HAS A MINIMUM OF 1800 HORSEPOWER.
DRIFT OF DEBRIS MAY BE A HAZARD TO NAVIGATION AND MAY DRAG BUOYS
OFF STATION. ALL VESSELS ARE REQUESTED TO TRANSIT THESE ZONES WITH
CAUTION AND AT THE SLOWEST SAFE SPEED TO MINIMIZE WAKE DAMAGE. AT
MM 56.0 ALL MARINERS ARE REQUESTED TO USE EXTREME CAUTION WHEN
TRANSITING THROUGH THE FLORENCE HWY BRIDGE.
E. FOR ALL AREAS, MARINERS ARE REQUESTED TO STAY AWARE OF THE
CLOSE PROXIMITY OF RAILWAYS WHEN CHOOSING A LOCATION TO PUSH INTO
THE BANK. WITH CURRENT RIVER STAGES, RAILWAY SYSTEMS CLOSE TO THE
RIVERS EDGE MAY BECOME THREATENED BY THE HEAD OF A TOW WHEN PUSHED
INTO THE BANK.