NAVNOTICE# 2207 - WATERWAYS ACTION PLAN

To: ALL MARINERS
From: Coast Guard Upper Miss
Date: 7/12/10
Subject: WATERWAYS ACTION PLAN
NAVNOTICE # 2207

USCG SECTOR UPPER MISSISSIPPI RIVER ISSUES THE FOLLOWING SAFETY
ADVISORY:
A. THE FOLLOWING ZONES ARE IN THE HIGH WATER WATCH PHASE IN
ACCORDANCE WITH THE WESTERN RIVERS WAP ANNEXES.
1. UMR: NONE.
2. ILR: NONE.
3. MOR: THE JEFFERSON AND BRUNSWICK REACHES (MM 100-300).
B. THE FOLLOWING ZONES ARE IN THE EXTREME HIGH WATER RECOVERY PHASE
IN ACCORDANCE WITH THE WESTERN RIVERS WAP ANNEXES:
1. UMR: ZONE 28 (MM 109.9 - 185.4).
2. ILR: NONE.
3. MOR: NONE.
4. FOR UMR ZONE 28, A SAFETY ZONE HAS BEEN ESTABLISHED IN ST. LOUIS HARBOR (MM 179-184 UMR). SOUTHBOUND TOWS GREATER THAN 600 FEET IN LENGTH, EXCLUDING THE TOWBOAT, SHOULD LIMIT TRANSIT TO DAYLIGHT HOURS ONLY, AND SHOULD HAVE A MINIMUM OF 250 HORSEPOWER FOR EACH LOADED BARGE. NORTHBOUND TOWS MUST HAVE ENOUGH HORSEPOWER TO MAINTAIN A SPEED OF 3 MPH WHILE TRANSITING THROUGH ALL ST LOUIS HARBOR BRIDGES.
ALL TOWING VESSELS ARE PROHIBITED FROM CARRYING BARGES ON THE HIP. ASSESS BRIDGE CLEARENCE WELL IN ADVANCE, PRE-IDENTIFY LAY-UP AREAS IN EVENT OF RIVER CLOSURE. THE COTP RECOMMENDS THAT TOWING VESSELS HAVE A PILOT ON BOARD WITH EXPERIENCE IN HIGH WATER, SIMILAR SIZED TOWS, AND ALL ST. LOUIS HARBOR BRIDGES. ALL RECREATIONAL TRAFFIC IS PROHIBITED FROM TRANSITING WITHIN THIS ZONE.
C. THE FOLLOWING ZONES ARE IN THE HIGH WATER RECOVERY PHASE IN ACCORDANCE WITH THE WESTERN RIVERS WAP ANNEX:
1. UMR: ZONES 17 - 27 (MM 185.5 - 457.1).
2. ILR: ZONES 1 - 8 (MM 0.0 - 199.9).
3. MOR: THE HERMANN REACH (MM 0-100), THE KANSAS CITY, ST. JOSEPH,
AND OMAHA REACHES (MM 300-630).
4. FOR UMR ZONES 17 - 27, ALL RECREATIONAL TRAFFIC IS PROHIBITED FROM
TRANSITING IN ZONE 26, BETWEEN MM 226-228 IN THE WEST BACK CHANNEL OF
DARDENNE ISLAND.
D. THE FOLLOWING RESTRICTIONS APPLY TO ALL ZONES CONTAINED WITHIN
THIS SAFETY ADVISORY. ALL TOWBOAT OPERATORS SHOULD BE EXPERIENCED IN
HIGH WATER OPERATIONS AND SHOULD PROCEED AT THE SLOWEST SAFE
OPERATING SPEED BASED UPON PREVAILING CONDITIONS IN ORDER TO MINIMIZE
WAKE DAMAGE. ALL TOWBOATS ARE PROHIBITED FROM LAYING UP ON LEVEES.
MARINERS ARE STRONGLY ADVISED TO CONTACT FLEETERS AT THEIR FINAL
DESTINATION TO ENSURE THAT THERE IS SPACE AVAILABLE. MARINERS ARE
ADVISED TO ENSURE THAT FLEETS ARE ATTENDED BY TOWBOATS AT ALL TIMES,
USE CAUTION IN PASSING AND MEETING SITUATIONS, AND FAVOR THE CENTER
OF THE CHANNEL. MARINERS ARE REQUESTED TO REVIEW ANCHORING
REQUIREMENTS AND PRE-IDENTIFY LAY UP AREAS IN THE EVENT OF A RIVER
CLOSURE OR BARGE BREAK AWAY. MARINERS ARE ENCOURAGED TO ENSURE THAT
MOORED VESSELS AND BARGES ARE ADEQUATELY SECURED WITH THE
ANTICIPATION OF INCREASED VELOCITY AND HIGH WATER. DRIFT OF DEBRIS
MAY BE A HAZARD TO NAVIGATION AND MAY DRAG BUOYS OFF STATION. 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. ALL MARINERS ARE REQUESTED TO STAY AWARE OF THE CLOSE
PROXIMITY TO 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.
BT