NAVNOTICE# 1976 - UPDATED WATERWAY ACTION PLAN MESSAGE FOR ILW AND UMR (CORRECTED)

To: ALL MARINERS
From: Coast Guard Upper Miss
Date: 11/17/09
Subject: UPDATED WATERWAY ACTION PLAN MESSAGE FOR ILW AND UMR (CORRECTED)
NAVNOTICE # 1976

SUBJ: WESTERN RIVERS BNM NR 0474-09 UM
SAFETY AND SCHEDULED BCSTS UNTIL CANCELLED
CANCEL WESTERN RIVERS BNM NR 0469-09 UM
USCG NOTICE TO MARINERS EIGHTH DISTRICT NR 0474-09 UM
USCG SECTOR UPPER MISSISSIPPI RIVER ISSUES THE FOLLOWING SAFETY
ADVISORIES:
A. ZONE 28 (MM 109.9 - 185.4 UMR) HAS ENTERED THE ACTION PHASE FOR
HIGH WATER CONDITIONS IN ACCORDANCE WITH THE UMR WAP ANNEX. THE
CAPTAIN OF THE PORT HAS ESTABLISHED A SAFETY ZONE FROM MILE 179.0
TO MILE 184.0 IN ST. LOUIS HARBOR. SOUTHBOUND TOWS GREATER THAN 600
FEET IN LENGHT 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
TO PERSONAL PROPERTY. ALL TOWBOAT OPERATORS SHOULD BE EXPERIENCED
IN HIGH WATER OPERATIONS. 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.
B. ZONES 1 - 6 (MM 0.0 - 145.5 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 THEIR SLOWEST SAFE SPEED TO MINIMIZE WAKE
DAMAGE ESPECIALLY WHILE TRANSITING IN THE VICINITY OF COPPERAS
CREEK (MM 136.0 - 138.0 ILR).
C. 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.