U.S. Gulf: The Corps reported transit times through Industrial Lock at a minimum 22 hours for the week. The delays caused a backlog of tows awaiting service in the lock’s river-side direction.
Algiers wait times were called 22 hours for the week, with 21 vessels in line to lock. Bayou Boeuf Lock reported two-hour wait times with an average of four boats in line, and Port Allen Lock navigation was reported at about an hour.
Sources noted improvements at Bayou Sorrel Lock, where transit delays were reported at around two hours for the week, despite continued lock restrictions. The controls are expected to continue until the flood-side and land-side differential falls below three feet.
Tidal surges closed the East Calumet floodgate to transit last week, and elevated depth readings from the West Calumet floodgate’s east gauge closed that site.
Harvey Lock shut down for repairs on Feb. 29 and is scheduled to remain offline until April 30. The Corps is expected to route traffic through Algiers Lock instead, with “significant” delays expected.
Calcasieu Lock travel was delayed by an average of nine hours for the week with nine boats queued, and West Port Arthur Bridge clearance is reduced by a minimum of three feet through April 30 while maintenance and painting operations are conducted.
The National Weather Service (NWS) noted Baton Rouge levels at 29.15 feet on March 3, with levels expected to surpass the gauge’s 30-foot action stage on March 5. The New Orleans gauge read 10.98 feet and rising. Flood stage at New Orleans begins at 17 feet.
Brazos Lock delays were called 9-12 hours last week, and 18 vessels were reportedly queued on March 3. An intermittent closure warning remained in effect for daylight transit due to ongoing repairs to the east and west floodgates. Colorado Lock wait times were called 4-8 hours, with eight boats in line for service.
A tugboat fire closed the Houston Ship Channel the morning of Feb. 26. The vessel was moored near the 268,000 barrel/d Houston-area LyondellBasell refinery, triggering a safety zone.
Lower Mississippi River: Vicksburg-area levels were on the rise, reaching 36.88 feet on March 3 and surpassing the 35-foot action stage. The NWS expected depths to increase to 38.6 feet by March 7.
Rising levels were also reported at Memphis. The gauge there showed 26.6 feet on March 3, with depths forecast to peak near the 28-foot action stage on March 5-6.
Upper Mississippi River: Lock 27 was offline on Feb. 25, 26, and 29, shippers said, due to a series of diving inspections at both the site’s main and auxiliary chambers. Wait times following the lock’s reopening were reported in the 1-3 hour range.
Mel Price Lock saw delays of 1-2 hours for the week, and Lock 20 traffic reportedly needed 1-2 hours to pass. Lock 20 logged delays of 4-5 hours on March 2, with tows primarily headed in the upriver direction.
St. Louis-area depths were on the decline, according to NWS. The gauge read 14.22 feet and falling on March 3, with levels forecast to fall below 11 feet on March 16.
A number of Upper River locks reopened early for spring transit. Originally scheduled to come online March 4, Locks 18-21 opened to navigation on March 2. Locks 13-17 remained offline with a posted date of March 4 to return to service. The Lock 9 reopen date was moved up to March 12 from its original March 17.
Illinois River: Lockport Lock traffic reported 1-2 hour transit delays, and both the Brandon Road and Dresden Island Locks reported average wait times of around an hour. Marseilles Lock navigation required 1-2 hours for the week, and Starved Rock Lock delays crept up to 2-3 hours. LaGrange Lock reported 1.5 hour waits.
Ohio River: High-water operating conditions continued along the Ohio River last week, reducing tow sizes and causing transit delays.
The Cincinnati gauge fell below the 40-foot action stage last week, cresting at 44.24 feet on Feb. 28 before landing at 34.89 feet on March 3. Cairo held firm at the minor-flood stage, however, with March 3 readings indicating a depth of 43.55 feet and holding. Cairo flood stage begins at 40 feet.
Locks 52 and 53 were not locking again last week, allowing vessels to pass freely. Despite the open conditions, Lock 53 wait times were reported at 1-2 hours. Lock 52 added an additional hour.
Emsworth Lock transit was called around an hour, and Dashields wait times averaged 1-2 hours. Montgomery Lock navigation was possible in under an hour, and sources put Pike Island Lock delays at an hour. Waits at R.C. Byrd averaged 90 minutes, shippers said.
The Montgomery Lock auxiliary chamber is scheduled to shut down March 14 through April 1 with “minimal delays” expected, and the lock’s main chamber will close May 16 through June 10, which shippers warned could trigger major delays. The Montgomery main chamber will open on May 28-30 and again on June 4-5 to clear waiting traffic.
Shippers are bracing for delays at Greenup Lock. Greenup’s main chamber will close April 1 through Sept. 30, shippers said, leaving the auxiliary unit available.
The New Cumberland Lock will go offline April 4 through May 27, reopening on April 16-17, April 30-May 1, and May 15-16. Shippers expect minor delays. Emsworth Lock is scheduled to close July 5 through Aug. 10, reopening on July 16-17 and July 30-31.
High-water conditions remained on the Allegheny, Kanawha, and Big Sandy Rivers last week. The Monongahela River also experienced elevated levels. The Braddock Lock and Dam river chamber was unavailable due to persistent equipment failure, forcing traffic through the land chamber instead.
Traffic delays eased on the Cumberland River, but high water continued to slow transits, shippers said.
High water was also reported on the Tennessee River. Shippers braced for a new round of delays at Chickamauga Lock, and expected to face routine maintenance March 28 through April 20. Shippers said 10-11 hour waits could be expected. Chickamauga concluded a round of electrical maintenance on Feb. 23.
Arkansas River: Webbers Falls Lock is scheduled to close May 16-22 in the upstream direction, followed by a downstream closure Aug. 24 through Sept. 11.