U.S. Gulf:
Industrial Lock was reported closed for dolphin work on May 3, blocking movements between 6:30 a.m. and 6:30 p.m. Delays reported at 24 hours or more during the outage improved to approximately 12 hours on May 4, sources said.
High water and recent shutdowns contributed to ongoing congestion in the Port Allen Route, sources reported. The waterway returned from a high-water shutdown on April 27, although sources didn’t expect a return to normal operating conditions until mid-May.
Repairs to the Gross Tete drawbridge, located at Mile 36 on the Port Allen Route, were completed ahead of schedule on May 1. Previously scheduled to wrap up on May 15, the project was limited navigation to four hours daily, between 10:00 a.m. and 12:00 p.m. and 10:00 p.m. to 12:00 a.m.
Guidewall damage sustained in a January barge collision at Port Allen Lock prompted ongoing towing restrictions at the site. Westbound tows pushing two or more barges were required to use an assist vessel, while west-moving boats with one or fewer cargoes were allowed to pass without assistance. Tows longer than 650 feet and moving to the east were also required to utilize assistance.
In-progress repairs at Port Allen Lock triggered sporadic four-hour daytime closures, sources said, expected daily between 6:30 a.m. and 7:00 p.m. The work was scheduled through May 17. Waits were quoted up to 39 hours for the week.
Improving conditions on the lower Mississippi River prompted easing navigation restrictions in the Gulf, sources said. Tow-size reductions of 5-10 barges were lifted to five barges, although long-term forecasts hinted of a possible return to firmer restrictions in the week ahead.
The river gauge at Baton Rouge, La., moved below the 30-foot action stage on May 2, the first time since March. Forecasts called for a return to action stage on May 6, however. A Flood Warning issued on May 3 for Red River Landing was slated to expire on May 25.
Harvey Lock remains shut through May 21 due to repairs on the 4th Street Bridge, located adjacent to the lock. Tows have been routed through Algiers Lock while work is underway, resulting in 2-3 day delays. As a result, shipments through the region experienced delivery delays of approximately one week.
Ongoing locking restrictions at Algiers Lock failed to help matters, sources noted. Unassisted tows remained capped at four standard barges or two 30,000 mt tankers per turn, although larger tows were possible with the use of an assist vessel.
Overnight shutdowns continued at Bayou Chene due to ongoing construction and dive activities. Movement was unavailable nightly between 7:00 p.m. and 7:00 a.m., producing 6-12 hour delays.
Sources described intermittent daytime navigation outages at Bayou Sorrel Lock, resulting in waits up to 29 hours for the week. The delays were projected to continue through approximately May 15.
Industrial Lock delays were noted up to 25 hours for the week, and sources described 10-25 hour waits though Brazos Locks. Weather delays reported through the East and West Canals reportedly eased on May 6.
Mississippi River:
Falling water levels on the lower Mississippi River led to reduced towing restrictions, sources said, although maximum barge counts continue to run about five cargoes shy of normal. The river gauge at Vicksburg, Miss., has remained below the 35-foot action stage since late April, but a return to tighter restrictions was possible as early as May 9.
Revetment operations that began on April 27 at Randolph Bluff, located at Mile 770, triggered daily transit shutdowns from 6:00 a.m. to 6:00 p.m. In an effort to ease backups reported at 6-12 hours, sources said contractors were passing both northbound and southbound vessels on a case-by-case basis whenever possible. The project is scheduled to conclude on May 31.
Sources reported a total navigational shutdown at the upper river’s Mile 474 on May 2-4 due to I-74 bridge construction. Lock 2 is projected to partially shut in July for miter gate installation, prompting daily 4-12 hour closures. Sources warned of daily 12-hour closures in July and August at Lock 25, blocking access between 6:00 a.m. to 6:00 p.m.
Lock 22 delays were reported in the 7-12 hour range during the week, and boats passing Lock 24 quoted wait times up to nine hours. Sources reported Lock 25 waits at 5-12 hours, while intermittent seven-hour delays were noted at Mel Price Lock.
Illinois River:
Peoria Lock will see partial daytime shutdowns on May 8-9 for emergency hydraulic cylinder repair, sources said. Delays were expected in at 2-12 hours. Rising water levels prompted lock operators to raise wickets at Peoria Lock and LaGrange Lock during the week, allowing tows to transit through the navigational pass.
Ohio River:
Power line installation was reported blocking Ohio River transportation at Miles 490-492 on May 5, from 8:00 a.m. to 5:00 p.m.
The primary chamber at Meldahl Lock is projected to shut from May 11 to June 29 for miter gate machinery repair and maintenance. Traffic will pass through the 600-foot secondary chamber while work is underway, with delays predicted.
Markland Lock’s secondary chamber is offline through approximately Oct. 29 due to structural damage to the miter gate. Tows have been passing with minimal delay through the main chamber since the start of the shutdown in early 2020. The secondary chamber at New Cumberland Lock was noted closed through June 10 for repairs.
The main chamber at Cannelton Lock is scheduled to undergo a total shutdown from June 21 through Nov. 19. Tows will pass through the site’s auxiliary chamber, with significant delays expected.
Rising flows prompted a return to lowered wickets at Olmsted Lock during the week, allowing vessels to transit through the nonlocking navigational pass.
The Tennessee River’s Chickamauga Lock is completely shut to navigation from May 3-24 for electrical repairs. The Wilson Lock main chamber is offline for repairs on May 4-14, prompting vessels to pass through the secondary chamber. Waits were quoted up to 12 hours for the week. Sources put Kentucky Lock delays in the 20-33 hour range.
The Cumberland River’s Cheatham Lock is set to undergo bio-acoustic fish fence (BAFF) repair, with intermittent closures scheduled for May 10 through July 15. The first leg of the project will see the lock completely offline through approximately May 21, sources said.
Arkansas River:
High water prompted a complete Arkansas River shutdown in the early morning of April 30, sources said. Receding water levels allowed a partial return to navigation on May 4, although tows were restricted to 50 percent of their typical 12-barge capacity.
David D. Terry Lock is slated to shut for dewatering and repairs from Aug. 27 through Sept. 9, with intermittent stoppages expected in advance of the shutdown on Aug. 16-26.