NAVNOTICE# 1981 - UPDATED WATERWAY ACTION PLAN MESSAGE FOR ILW AND UMR

To: ALL MARINERS
From: Coast Guard Upper Miss
Date: 11/22/09
Subject: UPDATED WATERWAY ACTION PLAN MESSAGE FOR ILW AND UMR
NAVNOTICE # 1981

SUBJ: WESTERN RIVERS BNM NR 0482-09 UM
SAFETY AND SCHEDULED BCSTS UNTIL CANCELLED
CANCEL WESTERN RIVERS BNM NR 0480-09 UM
USCG NOTICE TO MARINERS EIGHTH DISTRICT NR 0482-09 UM
USCG SECTOR UPPER MISSISSIPPI RIVER ISSUES THE FOLLOWING SAFETY
ADVISORIES:
A. ZONE 28 (MM 109.9 - 185.4 UMR) HAS ENTERED THE RECOVERY PHASE
FOR HIGH WATER CONDITIONS IN ACCORDANCE WITH THE UMR WAP ANNEX. THE
CAPTAIN OF THE PORT ESTABLISHED SAFETY ZONE REMAINS IN EFFECT FROM
MILE 179.0 TO MILE 184.0 IN ST. LOUIS HARBOR. SOUTHBOUND TOWS
GREATER THAN 600 FEET IN LENGHT EXCLUDING THE TOW 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 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 OFF STATION. 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).
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.