U.S. Gulf:
Bayou Boeuf Lock was reportedly available for weekday navigation between 7:00 p.m. and 7:00 a.m. only. Vessels were heard returning to a 24-hour schedule on Saturdays and Sundays.
Floodgate construction underway at Bayou Chene restricted travel to between the hours of 7:00 p.m. and 7:00 a.m. until further notice. Tows were capped at 600 feet of length, while strings measuring wider than 54 feet were mandated to use an assist vessel on all movements. In addition, intermittent dive operations were projected to trigger complete shutdowns of the area for up to 6-12 hours at a stretch.
Towing restrictions continued through Miles 113-116 in the Atchafalaya River, the Coast Guard reported. Localized in the Morgan City area, drafts were reportedly limited to 10 feet due to extensive shoaling, with tows limited to 600-foot lengths and 70 feet of width. Tows measuring longer than 400 feet were advised to use an assist boat. Vessels were recommended to detour through the Port Allen Route in order to bypass the restrictions.
Vessels traveling through Algiers Lock also faced length and width restrictions, effectively capping unassisted lockages to four standard barges or two 30,000 mt tankers per turn. Larger tows were possible when accompanied by an assist vessel, however.
A long-term construction effort underway at the Belle Chasse Bridge was expected to trigger intermittent navigational shutdowns through late 2022, with delays predicted up to 12 hours at a time. The bridge is located near Mile 3 in the West Canal.
Port Allen Lock delays were reported up to 28 hours for the week, with 25 tows counted in line to lock on Nov. 16. Vessels passing Industrial Lock faced wait times up to 24.5 hours, while intermittent Brazos Lock waits were noted up to 13 hours.
Mississippi River:
Revetment activities were noted restricting southbound travel at Miles 343-346 on the lower Mississippi River for the week. Tows moving downriver were limited to 20-25 barges during daylight hours, between 6:00 a.m. and 7:00 p.m., triggering lengthy delays. The projected was anticipated to run through Dec. 1.
Rock-laying operations set to kick off on Dec. 1 will trigger intermittent daylight-hour navigation shutdowns at Mile 595. Expected to impact all movements through the area, the project was tentatively scheduled through Dec. 15.
Lock 5A, Lock 8, and Lock 10 were schedule to shut for the winter navigation season on Nov. 28, with Locks 4, 5, and 7 due to follow on Dec. 6. Lock 15 has a projected Jan. 1 shutdown date for the season, while Lock 24 was due to halt lockages for winter maintenance on Jan. 1-31.
Following Lock 24’s return on Jan. 31, Lock 15 was expected to reopen on March 3. Locks 5 and 7 were due to resume operation for the spring season on March 11, preceding a planned March 17 return to service for Locks 5A, 8, and 10. Lock 4 is due to reopen on March 21.
Lock 25 delays were noted up to five hours for the week. Intermittent Mel Price Lock wait times were noted in the 5-11 hour range.
Illinois River:
The Corps announced an extensive repair and maintenance project at Brandon Road Lock, set to begin on May 9, 2022.
The plan will see a daytime travel shutdown in place between May 9 and Aug. 14, followed by total lock closure running from Aug. 15 through Sept. 4. Daytime stoppages will resume on Sept. 5-8, followed by a return to normal operation on Sept. 9. A 70-foot width limit is expected on all lockages while the project is underway.
Wickets reportedly remained in the lowered position at both LaGrange Lock and Peoria Lock for the week, allowing tows to transit through the navigational pass.
Ohio River:
A prolonged bout of main chamber maintenance at Cannelton Lock, underway since June 21, was scheduled to conclude on Nov. 19. Adding to the restrictions, maintenance operations were also reported at the site’s secondary chamber on Nov. 1-19.
The Montgomery Lock primary chamber is reportedly shut through Dec. 22 for planned maintenance and repairs. With tows resigned to locking one barge at a time through the secondary chamber, delays reportedly swelled to 3-5 days in each direction, an increase from 41 hours in the prior report.
Main chamber work at Hannibal Lock, previously set to wrap up on Oct. 29, was extended through Dec. 10, prompting detours through the site’s smaller auxiliary chamber.
Use of the Dashields Lock auxiliary chamber remained unavailable during the week due to an underwater obstruction blocking the chamber’s lower miter gate since October. Passage was possible via the main chamber, with minimal delays expected.
On the Tennessee River, Kentucky Lock was reportedly shut through Nov. 24 for planned repairs. The Corps is scheduled to pass waiting vessels on Nov. 25-28, followed by a second total shutdown between Nov. 29 and Dec. 10. Tows were suggested to utilize Barkley Lock and the Barkley Canal as an alternate route while the project is underway.
Wilson Lock was noted returning from repairs on Nov. 11, ending a spate of staggered one-way operation. Southbound tows had been passing the site during daylight hours, while upriver-bound vessels were traveling overnight. Despite the return to operation, delays were reported up to 26 hours during the week, rising from 19 hours in the prior report.
Passage through the Allegheny River’s Lock 6 remained unavailable for the week due to miter gate damage.