NAVNOTICE# 1982 - UPDATED WAP

To: ALL MARINERS
From: Coast Guard Upper Miss
Date: 11/23/09
Subject: UPDATED WAP
NAVNOTICE # 1982

USCG SECTOR UPPER MISSISSIPPI RIVER ISSUES THE FOLLOWING SAFETY
ADVISORIES:
A. ZONE 28 (MM 109.9 - 185.4 UMR) IS IN THE RECOVERY PHASE
FOR HIGH WATER CONDITIONS IN ACCORDANCE WITH THE UMR WAP ANNEX. A
SAFETY ZONE HAS BEEN ESTABLISHED BETWEEN MM 160.0 - 201.0 UMR. 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 - 7 (MM 0.0 - 180.9 ILR) HAVE ENTERED THE RECOVERY 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.