Atlantic: Tropical Storm Ida formed over the Central Atlantic last week, and was located midway between Africa and the Northeastern Caribbean on Sept. 24. Models predict Ida will take a northerly track while keeping to the waters of the Central Atlantic.
A storm system positioned near Mexico’s Yucatan peninsula was given a 20 percent chance of tropical development by the National Hurricane Center. Forecasts called for the system to make landfall somewhere between the Florida Panhandle and Northern Mexico around Sept. 29-30.
U.S. Gulf: Algiers Lock delays were reported at 4-6 hours for the week due to detouring traffic from the shuttered Bayou Sorrel Lock. Shippers continued to facilitate transit through the heavily congested lock by staging a number of barges in the West Canal, as well as positioning boats throughout the region to assist with locking.
Bayou Sorrel Lock remains shut for dewatering, maintenance, and repairs. The Corps revised the lock’s reopening date to Nov. 15, though work was originally projected to wrap up on Oct. 15. Industrial Lock wait times were reported at 4-6 hours for the week on four boats queued, and navigation through Port Allen Lock was delayed by an hour.
Continued low-water readings prolonged a Low Water Safety Advisory in effect for Miles 167-303, with the advisory anticipated to remain in place until the Baton Rouge river gauge rises above the 12-foot mark. Levels at Baton Rouge were pegged at 9.5 feet and holding on Sept. 24, while depths at New Orleans hovered around the 3.3-foot mark.
Revised completion dates for dolphin construction underway on the east side of Calcasieu Lock will extend navigation restrictions through Oct. 16. The constraints include westbound traffic limited to singlewide tows and Monday-through-Friday nighttime-only travel.
Lower Mississippi River: Reduced water levels persisted on the Lower Mississippi last week, contributing to the establishment of a safety zone for Miles 480-490 restricting nighttime navigation. Despite the continued depth issues, shippers reported fewer groundings for the week.
The continued lack of precipitation left the Memphis river gauge at (-)0.59 feet and falling on Sept. 23. Forecasts predicted levels to hit (-)1.1 feet on Sept. 25, and the long-term outlook put the gauge at (-)3.0 feet on Oct. 4 barring additional rainfall.
Weir dike construction and mat-laying activities concluded at Miles 643, 714, and 869 last week, and are scheduled to resume at Mile 418 on Nov. 7-17. Intermittent navigation interruptions are expected.
Dredging at Miles 482-485 began on Sept. 23, leading shippers to warn of sporadic channel closures through Oct. 7.
Upper Mississippi River: Shipping operators reported wait times of 2-4 hours at Lock 27, with four boats in line for locking. Travel times were reported at an hour or less through Lock 20. Dredging operations at Mile 194 concluded on Sept. 22.
Shippers announced final loading dates for barges destined for Upper Mississippi discharge. NOLA-loaded barges bound for destinations between McGregor, Iowa, and Minneapolis, Minn., were advised to load and release by Sept. 28 to avoid possible winter demurrage. Barges headed for locations between Quincy, Ill., and McGregor should leave NOLA by Oct. 5.
Lock 9 is scheduled to close for the navigation season on Dec. 7, followed by Locks 14 and 17 on Dec. 14. Locks 13 and 21 will cease operations for the winter on Jan. 4, 2016.
Illinois River: Swift flows on the Illinois River restricted Lockport lockings to tows of two or less barges. Shippers expected the restrictions to ease on or around Sept 24.
Dive operations closed LaGrange Lock during daytime hours on Sept. 23.
Lockport Lock is sc