U.S. Gulf: Sources estimated Industrial Lock delays at 11-17 hours for the week. Port Allen Lock waits stood at 2-5 hours, with Algiers Lock adding an average three hours to transits.
Fast flows at Brazos Lock prompted restrictions, with tows limited to a single loaded barge or two empty barges per pass. Thirteen vessels were counted in line on April 19, prompting 1-3 day delay estimates.
Dredging underway since April 6 at the Brazos River Floodgates was due to conclude on April 20. Rather than return the site to normal operation, however, ongoing contractor activities will prohibit Monday-through-Friday transits between 7:00 a.m. and 5:00 p.m. through May 31. A second dredge is working between Miles 395-400 in the West Canal. Vessels were asked to contact the dredge prior to arrival to obtain passing instructions.
Harvey Lock is slated to close for 60 days starting in August. The Corps recommends Algiers Lock as an alternate route. A 60-day closure at Bayou Boeuf Lock, previously scheduled for a similar timeframe to Harvey Lock, was pushed back to August 2019.
Mississippi River: High water and fast flows south of Lock 16 triggered navigation restrictions. Tows were cut by three barges, adding a shipper-estimated 2-3 days to navigation.
The Cape Girardeau, Mo., gauge fell below the 29-foot action stage on April 17, with levels clocked at 27.8 feet on April 19. A dense fog advisory was in effect for the area on April 19.
Persistent high flows extended towing restrictions in the St. Louis region. Vessels powered by 6,000 horsepower engines were cut to 20-barge tows from 25, adding an additional 2-3 days to navigation.
Tows were reduced by 5-10 barges on southbound routes out of Cairo, Ill., delaying lower river navigation by an additional 2-3 days. Lock 13 was scheduled to shut down for 24 hours on both April 18 and April 20 for lock repairs. The auxiliary chamber at Lock 15 is closed through Aug. 3.
Lock 20 delays were quoted at up to seven hours for the week. Locks 22 and 24 reported waits up to four hours, and Lock 27 delays were noted at 5-6 hours.
Illinois River: Vessels resumed transit on the Upper Illinois River last week after nearly two weeks of high-water navigation stoppages. Some shippers expected a 2-3 day “catch-up” period on cargoes moving through the area.
Lower river depths remained above flood stage. The Beardstown, Ill., gauge registered 18.9 feet on April 19, well above the 14-foot flood designation, with no estimate given for a return to normal levels. Tow lengths were slashed by 25 percent due to the conditions, creating an added 2-3 days’ delay.
The Corps plans to conduct a pair of 36-hour Peoria Lock closures during the May 17-30 period. Starved Rock Lock is slated for 10-hour daily shutdowns June 1 through July 7, and navigation will be restricted to nighttime-only operation at LaGrange Lock between June 1 and Aug. 29. An 80-foot width restriction will be in effect for the Starved Rock and LaGrange projects.
Ohio River: Shippers reported improving conditions on the Upper Ohio River, but lower river transits remained “inconsistent” as swells work downstream.
Southbound tows continued to be slashed by 5-10 barges at the Cairo junction, leading some to claim a 2-3 day wait on passage through the area. The Cairo gauge showed depths at 32.58 feet and falling on April 19, above the 32-foot action stage.
Markland Lock’s auxiliary chamber is closed for repair through April 26, and the main chamber is scheduled to go offline May 1 through Sept. 29. Shippers are predicting substantial delays during the closure. Demolition of the Ironton-Russell Bridge will trigger a daylight-hour river shutdown at Miles 326-328 on May 17, May 29, and June 15.
The Emsworth Lock main chamber will close to traffic 8:00 a.m. through 12:00 a.m. daily between June 26 and Sept. 25. Transits will be limited to overnight hours and subject to an 80-foot width limit. Shippers expect prolonged delays for the duration of the project. The Lock 52 auxiliary chamber is slated for intermittent closures July 17 through Sept. 29.
The Monongahela River’s Lock 4 will undergo repair and maintenance activities May 14 through June 20. Navigation will be completely unavailable Monday through Friday, but the auxiliary chamber will open for single-barge passes during weekend hours. Shippers expect “excessive” delays throughout the project. The Braddock Lock and Dam main chamber is due to reopen on April 28. The unit has been closed since March 30.
Intermittent navigation closures began April 17 at the Tennessee River’s Wilson Lock and are slated to persist through June 8. Sporadic transit interruptions are predicted for Kentucky Lock through April 30.
The Allegheny River’s Lock 6 remains shut down due to a hydraulic leak and accompanying mechanical failure, effectively closing the river to commercial transport.