NAVNOTICE# 1984 - UPDATED WATERWAY ACTION PLAN MESSAGE FOR ILW AND UMR

To: ALL MARINERS
From: Coast Guard Upper Miss
Date: 11/24/09
Subject: UPDATED WATERWAY ACTION PLAN MESSAGE FOR ILW AND UMR
NAVNOTICE # 1984

SUBJ: WESTERN RIVERS BNM NR 0487-09 UM
SAFETY AND SCHEDULED BCSTS UNTIL CANCELLED
CANCEL WESTERN RIVERS BNM NR 0485-09 UM
USCG NOTICE TO MARINERS EIGHTH DISTRICT NR 0487-09 UM
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.
ALL TOWING VESSELS 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 2 - 7 (MM 10.0 - 180.9 ILR) REMAIN IN 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.