U.S. Gulf: Shippers reported improved visibility in the U.S. Gulf shipping region after recurring fog delays were suffered in recent weeks. Some forecasts suggested continued patchy fog, but nothing on the order of the “white out” described over the previous month.
Industrial Lock delays were quoted in a 7-21 hour range, with lockings from the river-side outnumbering those from the canal by a 2:1 ratio. Algiers Lock waits were called 7-8 hours, and Port Allen Lock saw transit times as high as seven hours for the week.
High-water restrictions announced at Brazos Lock were expected to swell delays. Shippers estimated waits in the 24-36 hour range, and 15 vessels were counted in the queue on Jan. 25. Guide wall repair at Brazos River Floodgates were expected to limit transit from 7:00 a.m. to 5:00 p.m., Monday through Friday, through Jan. 31.
Lower Mississippi River: Reduced fog conditions allowed for more predictable movements on the Lower Mississippi, but high water moving down the river forced tow-size reductions south of Cairo, resulting in 1-2 day delays.
Lake Providence-area dike work is scheduled through Feb. 10.
Upper Mississippi River: Elevated river levels triggered tow-size reductions below Cairo, with large tows reporting five-barge cuts.
Ongoing repairs at Lock 21 limited widths to 70 feet. Double lockages were required to use an assist vessel in lieu of tow haulage equipment, which is unavailable during the project.
Tow haulage repair at Lock 22 was scheduled to conclude on Jan. 24, and main chamber shutdowns at Mel Price Lock and Lock 27 were due to wrap up on Jan. 25.
Thebes-area rock removal remained on hold thanks to high-water conditions. The Corps requires Cape Girardeau levels to be steady below 15 feet for work to begin. The gauge read 24.73 feet on Jan. 25, shy of the 29-foot action stage. Shippers predict transit restrictions and barge delays when work begins.
Illinois River: High water and fast flows were described on the Illinois Waterway. Bridge clearance issues and dangerous currents were expected to trigger 1-2 days of delay. Forecasts suggested improved conditions beginning on Jan. 26-27.
Fast flows limited Marseilles Lock navigation. Boats able to transit the lock reported waits up to 5-7 hours.
Chicago-area dive work concluded on Jan. 20, returning transit to normal. Dives underway at Mile 296 were expected to slow traffic through Jan. 30.
Ohio River: Sources continued to note high-water restrictions on the Upper Ohio River, with advisories slowing transits between Meldahl Lock and Pittsburgh. The Corps limited tow sizes on a boat-by-boat basis, with some smaller tows capped at eight barges. Transit, pickup, and drop-off delays were widely reported, with some describing deliveries postponed by a minimum 3-4 days.
The elevated levels kept dams lowered at Lock 52 and Lock 53, allowing vessels to pass without locking. Markland Lock reported delays in the 4-5 hour range. Bridge demolition at Mile 325 blocked daylight-hour transit on Jan. 20-23.
The R.C. Byrd auxiliary chamber is closed through Jan. 30. The auxiliary chamber at Markland Lock is scheduled to shut down March 6 through April 26.
High water affected Monongahela River transit as well, with barge restrictions and delivery delays reported. The Braddock Lock and Dam river chamber remains offline due to equipment failure, necessitating that tows pass via the land chamber in its place. Braddock Lock will close for repairs March 27 through April 28.
Dredging at Miles 102-104 on the Cumberland River will likely trigger mild-to-moderate barge delays, shippers warned. The work is scheduled to run through March 31. The Allegheny River was closed at Lock 6 due to a hydraulic leak and resulting mechanical failure.
Pacific Northwest: Repair and maintenance operations in progress throughout the Columbia-Snake River System are expected to severely limit transit through March 20.