US Gulf:
Harvey Lock remained unavailable to navigation for the week due to low water conditions on the lower Mississippi River. Tows were suggested to use Algiers Lock as an alternate route.
Guidewall construction underway at Bayou Sorrel Lock through February 2023 was noted triggering intermittent weekday navigation shutdowns between 6:30 a.m. and 5:00 p.m., while normal travel hours returned on Saturdays and Sundays. Delays topped out around six hours through the early week.
Unassisted Algiers Lock transits were subject to length and width restrictions, limiting tows to four standard barges or two 30,000 mt tankers per lockage. Longer tows were available to lock in a single pass when traveling with an assist tug. Corps data showed vessels waiting up to 20 hours to lock on Dec. 11-12.
The end of daytime closures at Calcasieu was pushed up to an expected Dec. 16 from the previous Dec. 19, sources said. An additional 4-5 days of shutdowns are planned for January 2023.
Work in progress at Colorado Lock was noted limiting navigation daily between 7:00 a.m. and 7:00 p.m., through Jan. 27. Most delays were noted below seven hours through the early week.
Port Allen Lock delays were seen up to 18 hours for the week. Wait times at Industrial Lock, seen in a wide 10-34 hour range on Dec. 9-10, softened to 7-13 hours on Dec. 11-12. Brazos Lock passages were logged up 12 hours, while sources noted 12-18 hour fog delays creating significant backups throughout the Gulf.
Mississippi River:
Persistent rains on the lower Mississippi River Valley resulted in improved travel conditions during the week, sources said. Towing widths increased to a maximum of six barges, effectively returning lower-horsepower vessels to full capacity, while an additional increase to seven-barge widths for larger-horsepower tows was expected soon.
Southbound draft limits on solid cargoes were seen lifting to 9.0 feet after falling to 8.5 feet one week earlier, while tows traveling northbound remained capped at 8.5 feet through the St. Louis area. Draft limits on liquid cargoes were raised to 9.5 feet from 8.5 feet.
The river gauge at St. Louis jumped to (-)0.43 feet on Dec. 14 from (-)2.6 feet noted one day earlier, and was forecast to peak at 2.9 feet on Dec. 19-20. The Memphis gauge rose above the 5.0-foot Low Flood stage for the first time in weeks on Dec. 13, returning a 5.91-foot depth reading on Dec. 14, although that gauge was projected to return to Low Stage by Dec. 27. Both Vicksburg and Baton Rouge were under a Flood Watch on Dec. 14 due to severe storms sweeping the Southern US.
Dredging was reported to begin at Miles 540-541 on Dec. 12. Sources reported alternating 24-hour closed and open periods, expected to continue for two weeks.
I-10 bridge repairs have prompted an ongoing safety advisory at Miles 228-230. Intermittent travel stoppages were expected in the area through June 2023. Channel reinforcement work at Miles 100-139 was scheduled to run through December, while a similar effort at Miles 192-193 was set for January.
Low water levels continued to plague the upper Mississippi, however. Dredging was reported triggering daytime shutdowns at the upper river’s Mile 102 on Dec. 12-14, after which work was expected to move to Mile 110.5. Dredging at Mile 171.5 was expected to move to Mile 169 after Dec. 14, while additional work was reported at Mile 167.
Lock 27 wait times were posted up to five hours during the week.
Illinois River:
Wickets were raised at Peoria Lock and LaGrange Lock again during the week, sources said, forcing vessels to lock through both sites. LaGrange Lock delays were observed up to 19 hours, while waits at Starved Rock Lock ran as high as 7.5 hours.
Dredging was reported limiting daylight navigation at Miles 228-228.5 on Dec. 13-15. Maximum drafts were reported at 8.5 feet for liquid cargoes on the Illinois Waterway during the week.
Ohio River:
Sources noted easing draft reductions on the Ohio River, with liquid barge draft limits reported rising to 9.5 feet.
The main chamber at Montgomery Lock, closed for repairs and maintenance since Oct. 17, was scheduled to reopen on Dec. 16. Vessels have passed through the auxiliary chamber while work was underway, resulting in 9-12 day wait times through the week.
Delays were reported up to seven hours at Cannelton Lock. Corps data showed waits up to 15.5 hours at the Tennessee River’s Kentucky Lock during the week. Tows were delayed up to 16.5 hours when passing Wilson Lock.
Arkansas River:
Daytime shutdowns were reported at Miles 67-68 on Dec. 12-15 due to bridge repairs. A complete travel shutdown is scheduled at Norrell Lock on Jan. 30-31, 2023, expected to shut navigation through the site for 48 hours.