US Gulf:
Algiers Lock is shut through Dec. 1 for gate repairs, leaving tows to detour through the Port Allen Route. Travel times were increased by 24-48 hours as a result.
Guidewall repairs at Bayou Sorrel Lock shut the site daily from 7:00 a.m. to 4:30 p.m., triggering delays up to 20 hours. Tows arriving before 4:30 p.m. were able to lock before the site closes the following morning, and the closures were suspended whenever waits rose above 24 hours. As of Nov. 9, lock operators will prioritize southbound lockages during daylight hours while giving preference to northbound vessels overnight.
Long wait times continued at Harvey Lock due to low head conditions, sources said, pushing delays as high as 85 hours on Nov. 11-15. Tows are limited to 300-foot lengths and 70-foot widths when head conditions fall below 1.5 feet. Reverse head conditions shut the site entirely between June 15 and Oct. 16.
Brazos Lock travel was delayed from 7:00 a.m. to 7:00 p.m. daily for repairs and maintenance, pushing wait times to 24 hours during the week. The work is scheduled through Nov. 29. Slow-travel warnings are in place at Bayou Chene through Nov. 30.
The Ellender Bridge, located at Mile 243 of the West Canal, was closed to navigation from 8:00 a.m. to 8:00 p.m. on Nov. 11-12. The shutdowns are scheduled to repeat on Nov. 18-19.
Port Allen Lock waits were noted up to 37 hours due to excess traffic from the Algiers Lock shutdown. Intermittent 7-28 hours delays were reported at Calcasieu Lock.
Mississippi River:
Low water conditions intensified on the Lower Mississippi River, pressuring southbound loading drafts to 75-80% of typical capacity, down from 80-85% reported last week. Loading limits for northbound tows continued at 75-80% of normal. Last week’s increase to six-barge towing widths remained in effect on Nov. 15, though widths were reportedly limited to five barges at Mile 921.
The river gauge at Memphis, Tenn., stood at a low-stage (-)8.19 feet on Nov. 16, falling from (-)5.4 feet one week earlier, with levels forecast to settle near (-)10.80 feet on Nov. 28. Sources previously expected towing widths to return to five barges when the Memphis gauge falls below (-)8.0 feet, though no new restrictions were reported on Nov. 16.
The Vicksburg, Miss., gauge returned a low-stage 4.53-foot reading at midweek. Forecasters expected Vicksburg depths to hit 1.90 feet on Nov. 30. Dredging was reported at Miles 737-738 and 486 of the lower river. Intermittent 24-hour delays were noted at both locations.
Barge drafts continued to see 10-15% reductions through St. Louis, sources said, while loading weights were cut by 5-10% between St. Louis and Cairo, Ill. Barge drafts were limited to 9.0 feet between St. Louis and St. Paul, with maximum tow sizes capped at 12-15 barges, depending on location. Dredging was reported at Miles 481 and 45.
The St. Louis river gauge was posted at (-)1.3 on Nov. 16. Levels were predicted to recede to (-)2.0 feet on Nov. 30.
The start of the upper Mississippi River’s winter closeout was revised to Dec. 4, sources said, one day earlier than previously scheduled, while locks are projected to reopen for spring navigation on March 5-15, 2024. Locks 11-16 and 18-20 will be open to navigation from 8:00 a.m. to 4:00 p.m., Monday through Friday, between Dec. 17 and March 9. Locks 21 and 22 will remain open 24/7.
Illinois River:
Illinois River loading drafts were reduced by 5-10% due to low water levels. Sources noted barge drafts at 9.00 feet on Nov. 10, falling from 9.25-9.50 feet at last report, while maximum tow sizes continued at 15 barges for both north- and southbound travel.
Wickets were raised at Peoria Lock and LaGrange Lock due to low water, necessitating lockages through both locations. Sources reported dredging at Miles 226-228.
Ohio River:
Maximum loading drafts were noted at 9-10 feet on the Ohio River, depending on location, a 10-15% cut from normal levels, while tow sizes were limited to 15 barges regardless of direction. Drafts remained at 8.5 feet on the Monongahela River, sources said.
The John T. Myers Lock main chamber returned to operation on Nov. 10. Lingering congestion left delays as high as 24 hours on Nov. 13, though wait times softened later in the week. The site’s auxiliary chamber is closed on Nov. 13-22 for miter gate repairs.
The primary chamber at Montgomery Lock is shut until Nov. 22, prompting detours through the secondary chamber. The secondary chamber will close on Nov. 22-26, followed by another primary chamber shutdown on Nov. 26-Dec. 22.
Passage through the Smithland Lock river chamber is unavailable through Nov. 22, although the land chamber remains open. Downriver lockages were required to travel with an assist boat. The river chamber at Olmsted Lock was scheduled to go offline Nov. 13-23 for maintenance, leaving the land chamber open to navigation.
The Tennessee River’s Kentucky Lock is scheduled to shut from Jan. 22 through Feb. 15, 2024, for upper guidewall replacement. Waits at Kentucky Lock were noted up to 21 hours during the week. Sources reported 13-hour delays at Wilson Lock.