Hurricane Katrina: Waterway Status

The U.S. Coast Guard issued updates on the status of waterways impacted by Hurricane Katrina. Panama City is open to vessels with a draft of 34 feet or less. Pensacola is open to vessels with a draft of 31 feet or less. Mobile is open during daylight hours to vessels with a draft of 20 feet or less while an obstruction is removed. Pascagoula is open to vessels with a draft of 36 feet or less for daylight transits only. Biloxi remains closed until surveys have been completed. Gulfport remains closed, but is expected to open soon. Bayou La Batre remains closed. The Lower Mississippi River, including New Orleans, is open to vessels with a draft of 39 feet or less for daylight transits. All other vessels and transits are allowed only with permission of the New Orleans COTP. The entire Gulf Intra-Coastal Waterway (ICW) is open, but vessels must use the Baptiste Collette Alternative route to bypass the Inner Harbor Navigational Canal in New Orleans. Throughout this entire region mariners should exercise caution as soundings are not complete and aids to navigation may be missing or off-station. (HK Law).