US Gulf:
Bayou Sorrel Lock guidewall construction was reported in progress through February 2023, prompting intermittent transit shutdowns between the hours of 6:30 a.m. and 5:00 p.m., Monday through Friday. Normal transit hours resumed on Saturday and Sunday. Delays were seen spiking to the 24-48 hour range starting on Sept. 17.
Dredging that started in early September to correct shoaling at Miles 113-117 of the Atchafalaya River was extended through at least Sept. 18, according to a Sept. 16 Coast Guard safety bulletin. The project was previously slated to conclude on Sept. 15. Vessels were required to check in with the VTS Berwick Bay at Mile 110 prior to arrival in the area.
Until mariners are given the all-clear, draft limits through the area were set at a maximum 10 feet, while length and width limits were established at 600 feet and 55 feet, respectively. Travel with an assist boat was mandatory for tows longer than 400 feet. In addition to the dredging restrictions, commercial travel was completely unavailable through Little Island Pass, Middle Island Pass, and Riverside Pass due to the presence of exposed underwater pipelines.
Limits on towing lengths and widths at Algiers Lock continued to restrict unassisted passes to four standard barges or two 30,000 mt tankers per turn. Tows traveling with an assist vessel were reportedly permitted to lock with longer strings, however. Intermittent 3-10 hour delays were observed for the week through Sept. 19.
An ongoing construction project underway at Belle Chasse Bridge, situated at Mile 3 of the West Canal, caused intermittent navigation stoppages of up to 12 hours in length during the week. The effort was scheduled to continue through the end of the year.
Most Port Allen Lock delays were reported up to 22 hours through the week. Intermittent 10-26 hour waits were observed at Industrial Lock.
Mississippi River:
Persistent low water levels continued to drag on lower Mississippi River commercial travel, with both draft reductions and cuts in the maximum number of allowable barges remaining reduced from typical levels.
Tows were reportedly cut by 10-15% from normal capacity, while tows traveling in the northbound direction saw drafts capped at 10.5 feet. Tows moving downriver saw 11.0-foot draft limits between Cairo, Ill., and Rosedale, Miss., followed by 11.5-foot limits from Rosedale to Greenville, Miss.
The river gauge at St. Louis returned a 1.55-foot reading on Sept. 21 after flirting with the 0.00-foot mark on Sept. 18. Levels there were expected to slide to zero feet and below starting on Sept. 24.
Channel work at Miles 643-644, scheduled for Sept. 21-23, was expected to block both northbound and southbound travel daily between 7:00 a.m. and 5:00 p.m.
A safety advisory was in effect at Miles 228-230 of the lower river due to a repair project underway at the I-10 bridge. Work at the site was slated to run 24 hours per day through June 2023, with sporadic transit stoppages predicted throughout.
A full travel shutdown at Old River Lock, in progress since Aug. 30, was anticipated to block navigation 24 hours per day through Nov. 13. Tows looking to access the Red River during the closure were recommended to detour through the Atchafalaya River.
Due to the upper Mississippi River’s impending seasonal navigation shutdown, barges releasing from NOLA and slated to unload at Dubuque, Iowa, or points north were expected to see final departure dates during the second week of October. Tows headed to ports south of Dubuque will likely load through the third week of October, sources indicated.
Illinois River:
The Corps was noted wrapping up testing of the Peoria Lock invasive carp deterrent system on Sept. 20. Originally slated to continue through Oct. 7, the effort was reported blocking travel between 7:00 a.m. and 3:00 p.m. on Monday, Tuesday, Thursday, and Friday, since Aug. 29.
Wickets were raised at both Peoria Lock and LaGrange Lock during the week in response to persistent low water levels, necessitating vessel lockages at both locations. Minimal delays were reported through the week.
Starved Rock Lock waits were noted peaking around the eight-hour mark on Sept. 20-21.
Ohio River:
Belleville Lock was shut to daytime navigation on Sept. 7-30 due to repairs and maintenance, sources indicated. Most delays were noted in the 4-11 hour range through the week.
At Cannelton Lock, the main chamber was reported closed for miter gate installation through Nov. 11, triggering detours through the auxiliary chamber. With most tows requiring at least two lockages to pass the site, delays were posted up to 41 hours during the week.
The primary chamber at Hannibal Lock was shut to navigation through Oct. 8 due to miter gate and quoin repair, although passage remained available through the secondary chamber. The project was reported kicking off on July 5.
Lock equipment repair work was underway at Kentucky Lock on the Tennessee River on Sept. 6-26, blocking travel through location daily from 6:00 a.m. to 6:00 p.m. Most delays were quoted in the 15-26 hour range, although intermittent waits were observed as high as 41.5 hours. Wilson Lock saw sporadic 4-9 hour wait times during the week, Corps data indicated.
Dive inspections were scheduled to limit navigation at the Cumberland River’s Barkley Lock from Oct. 13 to Nov. 4. Transit will reportedly be unavailable daily from 6:00 a.m. to 6:00 p.m. while the operation is underway.
Arkansas River:
Norrell Lock remains shut to daylight-hour navigation through Nov. 20 for planned repairs, halting vessel traffic daily between 7:00 a.m. and 7:00 p.m. Tow widths were limited to 70 feet on all passes. The lock is scheduled to undergo a complete travel shutdown on Jan. 30-31, 2023.
Joe Hardin Lock navigation is scheduled to shut from 7:00 a.m. through 7:00 p.m. on Sept. 12-29. A complete lock shutdown will run from Sept. 30 through Oct. 9. Electrical repairs are expected to necessitate a total shutdown of Emmett Sanders Lock on Oct. 2-6.