U.S. Gulf:
Bayou Sorrel Lock remained closed to navigation for the week due to persistent high water in the area. Shut since May 11, traffic is projected to remain stopped into the second week of June. Dredging is likely to be needed following the reopening, although sources were divided as to whether additional shutdowns would be required while work is underway.
Port Allen Lock was noted shutting to all but local traffic for the week due to high water levels. For tows permitted to transit the site, westbound movements totaling two barges or more were required to utilize an assist boat. Eastbound crossings longer than 650 feet were also obligated to use assistance. The restrictions were in place due to guidewall damage sustained in a barge collision in January. Vessels are detouring through Algiers Lock during the closure.
The added traffic from the Bayou Sorrel and Port Allen Lock detours combined with previously existing tow restrictions to produce extended delays at Algiers Lock. Waits were reported at 2-3 days in each direction, resulting in delays of about a week on movements between the West Canal and lower Mississippi River. Tows passing Algiers Lock without assistance were limited to four standard barges or two 30,000 mt tankers per trip. Longer tows were permitted with an assist vessel.
Improving river levels at the Baton Rouge and New Orleans river gauges triggered easing restrictions early in the week, sources said. Tows operating above NOLA were previously reduced by 5-10 barges from the region’s typical 25-barge complement. The Baton Rouge gauge moved below the 30-foot action stage on May 29, tracking at 29.02 and falling slowly on June 1.
Overnight shutdowns continued to be reported on travel through Bayou Chene due to construction and diver activities. Travel through the region was unavailable nightly from 7:00 p.m. to 7:00 a.m., producing 6-12 hour delays. Vessels were required to make use of an assist vessel on travels through the waterway.
Industrial Lock delays were noted up to 16.5 hours. Sources described waits topping out at 28 hours through Harvey Lock, while Bayou Boeuf Lock travel was posted up to nine hours. Colorado Lock passage carried wait times up to 22 hours, and vessels transiting Brazos Lock experienced intermittent delays up to 12 hours.
Mississippi River:
Falling water levels reported for the lower Mississippi prompted reduced towing restrictions, sources said, scaling back on 5-10 barge cuts reported in the previous week. Fresh rains necessitated revived towing restrictions between St. Louis and Cairo, Ill., however, reducing barge counts by five units from the usual 25-cargo limit.
Navigation was heard returning to normal at the upper river’s Mile 47-51, ending a spate of daylight-only navigation restrictions on bridge travel between Thebes, Ill., and Cape Girardeau, Mo.
Repairs to the Burlington Railroad Bridge remained in progress, requiring vessels to request clearance to pass the site one hour prior to arrival. The requirement, noted in place daily between 7:30 a.m. and 4:30 p.m., was expected to continue into second-half June.
Rock-laying operations at Randolph Bluff, located at the lower river’s Mile 770, were noted concluding on May 31. The project had been causing navigation stoppages daily from 6:00 a.m. to 6:00 p.m., resulting in 6-12 hour delays.
Lock 2 is scheduled to partially close to traffic in July for miter gate installation, resulting in daily 4-12 hour closures. Daily 12-hour closures are expected at Lock 25 in July and August during repairs to the site’s lower guidewall. Access is projected to be blocked from 6:00 a.m. to 6:00 p.m.
Lock 14 delays were clocked up to 11 hours during the week, while boats passing Lock 24 saw 3-6 hour wait times. Vessels transiting Lock 25 required up to 7.5 hours to pass.
Illinois River:
Wickets remained down at Peoria Lock and LaGrange Lock for the week, allowing tows to transit both sites through their navigational passes.
Ohio River:
The Meldahl Lock main chamber is shut from May 11 to June 29 for miter gate machinery repair and maintenance. Traffic was noted passing through the site’s 600-foot secondary chamber while work is underway, effecting delays up to 37.5 hours. Sources warned of possible sporadic full-lock shutdowns as well.
The Markland Lock secondary chamber is scheduled to be offline through Oct. 29 due to miter gate structural damage. Tows have remained able to pass with minimal delay through the site’s main chamber since the start of the shutdown in early 2020.
The New Cumberland Lock secondary chamber is closed through June 10 for repairs and maintenance.
Main chamber work is expected to necessitate detours through the auxiliary chamber at Cannelton Lock between June 21 and Nov. 19, with significant delays predicted.
Nine-hour delays were reported through the Tennessee River’s Kentucky Lock for the week. Wilson Lock wait times were posted in the 5-15 hour range.
Bio-acoustic fish fence (BAFF) repairs were noted underway at the Cumberland River’s Cheatham Lock, blocking navigation on June 1-10, June 14-24, June 28-July 1, and July 12-22.
Arkansas River:
A return to high river flows prompted fresh towing restrictions on the Arkansas River, cutting maximum tow lengths by 3-6 cargoes from the waterway’s typical 12-barge maximum. Substantial delays were heard resulting from the limits, although forecasts hinted at a possible return to normal operation in the week ahead.
David D. Terry Lock is scheduled to fully close for dewatering and repair operations from Aug. 27 through Sept. 9. Intermittent shutdowns were predicted ahead of the closure, on Aug. 16-26.