U.S. Gulf: Industrial Lock reopened last week following more than four months of repair and maintenance operations. Sources quoted delays in the 6-10 hour range for the week, with East Canal navigation further delayed by sporadic fog and high winds. Algiers Lock waits were called up to six hours, with passage through Port Allen Lock requiring three hours, shippers said.
West Canal transit was restricted to overnight navigation at the Galveston Railroad Bridge (Miles 357-358), where dredging and debris removal was underway between 7:00 a.m. and 7:00 p.m. on a 12-day on, two-day off schedule. In addition to overnight transit, vessels were free to pass on non-work days.
Waits were noted up to four hours at Brazos Lock. Pipeline dredging at the Brazos River Floodgates, previously expected to wrap up on Nov. 11, has been extended indefinitely, the Corps said.
Lower Mississippi River: With river levels forecast to rise after Christmas, some shippers reported looser navigation restrictions heading into the holidays. Tows had been limited to 35 barges since Nov. 30. The Baton Rouge gauge read 12.14 feet on Dec. 20, with levels expected to rise precipitously starting on Dec. 28-29.
The Stack Island dike project continued to slow transits through the Lake Providence area. Vessels have been asked to run at the slowest safe speeds while efforts are underway, estimated through Feb. 10 at the earliest.
Upper Mississippi River: Freezing conditions and ice formation were reported on Dec. 14-20, stifling flows and drastically reducing navigable river depths. The National Weather Service reported St. Louis levels at 1.03 feet on Dec. 20, while forecasts called for depths to remain below the two-foot mark through at least Jan. 2, 2017.
Icy conditions at Mel Price Lock and Locks 24, 25, and 27 prompted immediate navigation restrictions, effective until further notice. No width restrictions had been levied as of Dec. 20, but shippers warned they were likely in the short-term. The Mel Price Lock main chamber is scheduled to close Jan. 17-25 for maintenance.
Main chamber repairs that began on Dec. 15 at Lock 21 will run through Feb. 28, with tows subject to length and width restrictions during that period. Lock 22 will also be without a working tow haulage system on Jan. 2-24, with length and width restrictions enforced at that lock as well.
Despite falling river levels, the Corps’ annual rock removal project near Thebes, Ill., has been postponed until January 2017 at the earliest, sources said. Vessels will face daily daytime-hour transit slowdowns and restrictions when the project begins.
Illinois River: Heavy ice formation triggered navigation restrictions throughout the Illinois Waterway last week. The Corps announced a mix of length and width restrictions, tug-assist requirements, and one-way transit procedures to cope with the conditions. Sources described 5-10 hour delays at the LaGrange, Peoria, and Starved Rock Locks.
Ohio River: A leaking hydraulic line at the Ohio River’s New Cumberland Lock continued to slow transits. Rather than close the lock for an estimated six weeks of repairs, the Corps plans a temporary hydraulic bypass to return the lock to full operation, which is expected to require approximately two weeks. Crews have pledged to operate the lock by hand until work is completed, pushing delays to an average of five hours.
Locks 52 and 53 did not operate for the week, and instead allowed vessels to pass without locking. No waiting was reported at Lock 52, but congestion pushed Lock 53 waits to as high as 10 hours.
The R.C. Byrd Lock’s auxiliary chamber is closed for repairs through Jan. 30.
The Allegheny River’s Lock 6 remained impassible due to a hydraulic leak and equipment failure. With no auxiliary chamber available, transit on the river has been effectively shut down, sources said.
High water shuttered the Monongahela River’s Lock 3 over the weekend. Shippers expected the lock to reopen on Dec. 19. The Braddock Lock and Dam river chamber was closed due to equipment failure, leaving the land chamber as the sole option for transiting the lock.