US Gulf:
Lengthy delays continued at Industrial Lock during the week due in part to an ongoing shutdown at Demopolis Lock, on the Warrior-Tombigbee Waterway. Wait times peaked around the 73-hour mark on May 12-15, according to Corps data, down from the maximum four-day delays reported previously, and locking was completely unavailable for six hours on May 15. Repairs at Demopolis Lock are expected to conclude by May 22.
Bayou Boeuf Lock repairs are set to begin in late May and run for approximately 30 days, blocking weekday travel from 7 a.m. to 6 p.m. Two full closures expected during the project will completely shut the site for 83 hours at a time.
Repairs at Brazos Lock scheduled to run through October halted Monday-Friday transits between 7 a.m. and 7 p.m. Corps data showed varied delays during the week, with some vessels waiting close to 10 days to pass while others were delayed by five hours or less. While only four vessels were officially queued to lock through the site on May 16, sources reported more than 70 unregistered tows awaiting passage on May 15.
High water levels and fast flows on the San Jacinto River in the Houston, Texas, area were reported slowing travels and forcing dock shutdowns. The resulting delays were said to lessen as the week wore on, though backups reportedly continued in the 12-24 hour range on May 13-16.
Guidewall repairs in progress through Oct. 30 at Bayou Sorrel Lock blocked weekday travel from 7 a.m. to 4 p.m. Delays were noted in the 5-11 hour range, down from 10-27 hours at last report. Calcasieu Lock is scheduled for repairs on May 13-31, shutting the site to weekday travel from 6 a.m. to 6 p.m.
Port Allen Lock delays were reported up to 20 hours, and intermittent Calcasieu Lock waits ran up to 13 hours. Corps data showed sporadic 7-31 hour delays at Colorado Lock.
Mississippi River:
Continued fast flows and high water levels prompted ongoing towing restrictions on the Mississippi River, sources said. Barge counts were reduced by 20% at the upper river’s Miles 1-200, sources said, while some tows were voluntarily limiting travel to daylight hours due to the hazardous conditions.
Sources put maximum St. Louis loading drafts at 9.5 feet for tows traveling northbound, while southbound drafts topped out at 10.5 feet. Depths were on the decline at St. Louis during the week. The area’s river gauge showed levels at 25.8 feet on May 16 after falling below the 28-foot action stage on May 12.
On the lower river, tow lengths were reduced by varying amounts based on location and vessel horsepower, sources said, resulting in 2-3 day delays on average. Waters were rising on the lower river, with the Vicksburg, Miss., gauge posted at an action-stage 38.4 feet and rising at midweek, while levels at Baton Rouge, La., stood at an action-stage 31.8 feet and moving higher on May 16. Both Vicksburg and Baton Rouge were under a flood watch through May 18.
Dredging underway at Mile 107 is scheduled to run through May 26. Corps data showed a handful of 5-7 hour delays at Mel Price Lock on May 16.
Illinois River:
Loading draft limits were reported at 10 feet below Mile 160 in both the northbound and southbound directions. Drafts fell to 9.5 feet at Miles 160-231 and nine feet above Mile 231.
Marseilles Lock delays were posted up to 5.5 hours during the week. Wickets were down at Peoria Lock and LaGrange Lock, allowing lockless travel through both locations.
Ohio River:
Sources continued to note draft reductions in the 10-15% range, equating to maximum 10-11.5 foot drafts, depending on location and direction of travel. Tow lengths topped out at 15 barges in both directions.
The main chamber at Willow Island Lock was scheduled to return from repairs and maintenance on May 15, ending the need for detours through the site’s auxiliary chamber. Residual delays were posted up to seven hours on May 16, falling from 20 hours at last report.
Repair operations in progress at Cannelton Lock and Markland Lock were projected to slow travel at both sites through June 7, though minimal delays were again reported during the week. Markland Lock will shut once more on June 10-28 for miter gate repairs, with delays expected.
Racine Lock machinery work is scheduled for June 1 through July 11. Miter gate repairs will slow navigation at Hannibal Lock from June 15 to Nov. 7, though players expected intermittent 12-hour delays for concrete pours in the weeks leading up to the project.
The primary and secondary chambers at Belleville Lock will close for 30 days apiece during the second half of the year. John T. Myers Lock will see a main chamber outage from Aug. 21 through Nov. 9, sources noted. A similar closure in October 2023 resulted in delays of up to four days.
Wait times topped out around the seven-hour mark at the Tennessee River’s Kentucky Lock. Vessels waited up to nine hours to pass Wilson Lock.
Arkansas River:
Vessel stoppages and dock shutdowns continued during the week due to high flows. While sources reported limited movements returning by midweek, full-scale operations were not expected to resume until May 18 at the earliest.
The Van Buren Bridge, at Mile 300.8 of the Arkansas River, will shut for repairs on Aug. 16-Sept. 8. Queued vessels will be cleared to pass following the ninth day of work, sources said.