NAVNOTICE# 2244 - WESTERN RIVERS WATERWAY ACTION PLAN

To: ALL MARINERS
From: Coast Guard Upper Miss
Date: 8/3/10
Subject: WESTERN RIVERS WATERWAY ACTION PLAN
NAVNOTICE # 2244

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: OMAHA REACH - SIOUX CITY REACH (MM 500-734.8)
B. THE FOLLOWING ZONES ARE IN THE EXTREME HIGH WATER RECOVERY PHASE
IN ACCORDANCE WITH THE WESTERN RIVERS WAP ANNEX:
1. UMR: ZONE 28 (MM 185.4-109.9)
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.
TOWBOATS ARE RESTRICTED FROM CARRYING BARGES ON THE HIP. MARINERS
SHOULD ASSESS BRIDGE CLEARANCE 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.
C. THE FOLLOWING ZONES ARE IN THE HIGH WATER RECOVERY PHASE IN
ACCORDANCE WITH THE WESTERN RIVERS WAP ANNEX:
1. UMR: ZONE 15-27 (MM 185.5-493.2)
2. ILR: ZONES 1-6 (MM 0.0-145.5)
3. MOR: ST. JOSEPH REACH (MM 400-500), BRUNSWICK REACH (MM 200-300),
HERMANN REACH (MM 0.0-100)
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 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.
BT