NAVNOTICE# 1965 - Updated WAP

To: ALL MARINERS
From: Coast Guard Upper Miss
Date: 11/8/09
Subject: Updated WAP
NAVNOTICE # 1965

USCG SECTOR UPPER MISSISSIPPI RIVER ISSUES THE FOLLOWING SAFETY
ADVISORIES:
A. ZONES 22-28 (MM 109.9 - 324.8 UMR) ARE IN THE RECOVERY PHASE FOR
HIGH WATER CONDITIONS IN ACCORDANCE WITH THE UMR WAP ANNEX. A
SAFETY ZONE HAS BEEN ESTABLISHED FROM MM 160.0 - 201.0 UMR. IN THIS
SAFETY ZONE, ALL TOWING VESSELS SHOULD HAVE A MINIMUM OF 250
HORSEPOWER FOR EACH LOADED BARGE AND SHOULD PROCEED AT THEIR
SLOWEST SAFE OPERATING SPEED BASED UPON PREVAILING CONDITIONS IN
ORDER TO MINIMIZE WAKE DAMAGE. DOWN STREAMING OPERATIONS ARE NOT
RECOMMENDED, UNLESS A VESSEL IS EQUAL TO OR GREATER THAN 75 FEET IN
LENGTH AND HAS A MINIMUM OF 1800 HORSEPOWER. DRIFT OF DEBRIS MAY BE
A HAZARD TO NAVIGATION, AND MAY DRAG BUOYS OFFSTATION. ALL TOWBOATS
ARE PROHIBITED FROM LAYING UP ON LEVEES. ALL MARINERS ARE REQUESTED
TO TRANSIT THESE ZONE WITH CAUTION AND AT THEIR SLOWEST SAFE SPEED
TO MINIMIZE WAKE DAMAGE.
B. ZONES 4 - 6 (MM 80.3 - 145.5 ILR) ARE IN 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 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 THEIR SLOWEST SAFE SPEED TO MINIMIZE WAKE
DAMAGE ESPECIALLY WHILE TRANSITING IN THE VICINITY OF COPPERAS
CREEK (MM 136.0 - 138.0 ILR).
C. ZONES 1-3 (MM 0.0 - 80.2 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 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 ILR ALL MARINERS ARE REQUESTED TO USE EXTREME CAUTION WHEN
TRANSITING THROUGH THE FLORENCE HWY BRIDGE.
D. 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.