U.S. Gulf: High-water conditions slowed transits in the Gulf shipping region last week. The Baton Rouge, La., gauge was predicted to return to action stage on May 3-4, with forecasts calling for a 31.2-foot peak on May 7-8.
Shippers reported Industrial Lock delays in the 14-20 hour range, while Algiers Lock waits were called 6-7 hours. Port Allen Lock wait times ran up to five hours, and Bayou Sorrel Lock passage was quoted at four hours.
Extended delays continued at Brazos Lock, as fast flows limited lockings to one loaded barge or two empty barges per pass. Sources counted 18 vessels waiting to lock on April 25, although the queue fell to eight boats on April 26. Shippers estimated delays at 2-4 days.
Contractor activity underway through May 31 at Brazos Floodgates disallowed navigation between 7:00 a.m. and 5:00 p.m., Monday through Friday. Dredging at Miles 395-400 in the West Canal will slow transits until further notice, sources said. Vessels were required to contact the dredge to obtain passing instructions.
Harvey Lock will be closed Aug. 1 through Sept. 30 for maintenance and repairs, leaving Algiers Lock as an alternate route. Delays are expected.
Mississippi River: Rains forecast for the week ahead were predicted to swell already-elevated levels on the Upper Mississippi River, prompting both pickup and delivery delays. The Cape Girardeau, Mo., gauge continued to hover beneath the 29-foot action stage on April 26, showing 27.92-foot depths.
High-horsepower tows were capped at 25 barges last week, leading to 2-3 day delays. Lock 13 was scheduled to shut down on April 25-28, but the lock will reopen for 12 hours starting at 7:00 p.m. on April 26. The Lock 15 auxiliary chamber is closed through Aug. 3.
High flows continued to prompt reductions on southbound tows below Cairo, Ill. Tow lengths were slashed by 5-10 barges, leading to 2-3 day delays. Shippers expected rising river levels to trigger further navigation restrictions in the week ahead.
Mel Price Lock reported delays of up to six hours on April 24-25. Lock 27 waits were called 3-4 hours.
Illinois River: Beardstown, Ill., levels continued to linger above the 14-foot flood stage on April 26, with depths reported at 16.4 feet and falling. Sources expected pickup and drop-off delays as a result of the flooding.
Marseilles Lock waits were quoted at 5-8 hours last week, while Starved Rock Lock experienced scattered delays totaling nine hours or more.
A pair of 36-hour Peoria Lock closures are scheduled over the May 17-30 period, and Starved Rock Lock will shut down for 10 hours daily between June 1 and July 7. LaGrange Lock will be limited to nighttime-only navigation June 1 through Aug. 29.
Ohio River: Persistent high water and fast flows forced tow reductions on southbound vessels downstream from Cairo. The cuts swelled wait times at the Cairo interchange to 2-3 days. National Weather Service data put Cairo levels at 36.74 feet and rising on April 26, well above the 32-foot action stage.
The Markland Lock main chamber is slated to close May 1 through Sept. 29, with shippers predicting substantial delays as a result. Markland’s auxiliary chamber reopened April 26 following an extended closure.
Ironton-Russell Bridge demolition will necessitate daytime transit shutdowns on May 17, May 29, and June 15. Main chamber work at Emsworth Lock will induce daily closures between 8:00 a.m. and 11:59 p.m., June 26 through Sept. 25. Vessels will be able to pass during overnight hours, with transit subject to an 80-foot width limit. Substantial delays are anticipated. A Lock 52 auxiliary chamber repair project is scheduled to run intermittently between July 17 and Sept. 29, potentially slowing transits.
Major repairs scheduled for the Monongahela River’s Lock 4 are expected to cause headaches between May 14 and June 20. Plans call for a complete Monday-through-Friday transit shutdown at the site. The auxiliary chamber will be made available for weekend use, but transits will be limited to a single barge per turn, leading shippers to brace for massive delays. Braddock Lock and Dam is scheduled to resume main chamber operation on April 28. The chamber has been shuttered for repairs since March 30.
High flows closed the Tennessee River at Miles 446-454 last week. Wilson Lock is closed through June 8 for maintenance. Kentucky Lock, beset by sporadic service interruptions in recent weeks, is scheduled to resume normal operation on April 30.
The Allegheny River’s Lock 6 is offline due to mechanical failure, closing the river. Cheatham Lock on the Cumberland River was closed between 6:00 a.m. and 4:00 p.m. on April 25.
Arkansas River: Elevated river levels were forecast to slow Arkansas River transits for the next 1-2 weeks. The high-water conditions have prompted dams to open relief valves to maximum capacity, increasing river speeds. Sources quoted delays of 3-10 days.