Coast Guard Issues Mississippi River Safety Advisory
The U.S. Coast Guard Captain of the Port (COTP), St. Louis, opened the Mississippi River to vessel traffic following the completion of dredging at mile marker 161.0, near the mouth of the Meramec River. The river had been closed to commercial vessel traffic since Dec. 14. However, low river levels have prompted the COTP St. Louis, and the COTP Paducah, Ky., to establish a joint Safety Advisory on the Upper Mississippi River between Cairo, Ill., (mile marker 0.0) and St. Louis (mile marker 184.0). Northbound tows entering the advisory area may not have more than 30 barges in their tow, of which only 15 may be loaded. Southbound tows are limited to no more than 20 barges. All barges within the advisory area may not draft more than 9 feet, except for those barges loaded prior to noon on Dec.
USCG Issues Upper Mississippi Safety Advisory
The U.S. Coast Guard has issued a safety advisory for a 24-mile stretch of the upper-Mississippi River near St. Louis due to high water conditions. From mile marker 160, near the mouth of the Meramec River south of St. Louis to mile marker 184 near St. Louis, vessels were advised against downstreaming operations. The advisory may become mandatory later on Tuesday if water levels keep rising. Downstreaming is a barge fleeting procedure where a towboat approaches a barge fleet from upstream. This procedure is dangerous during high water conditions or when the current is strong, and has resulted in a number of fatalities and vessel incidents in the past. The St. Louis gauge read 24.8 on Tuesday morning.
