The shipping platform

Location: The estuary of the Mississippi river flows into the Gulf of Mexico to the SE of New Orleans. General overview: Approx 11,000 vessels enter the Mississippi each year to load or discharge cargo and passengers. Many are container, Ro-Ro, reefer or general cargo vessels and tankers but the majority are bulk carriers. The river has a least width of 550m and a clear unobstructed channel, with shoals close alongside the river banks. The Mississippi River extends from the US Gulf (Gulf of Mexico) northwards through New Orleans, Baton Rouge and beyond. For the purposes of this guide, the river is divided into five port areas to which reference must be made. They are: 1. Plaquemines Port Harbor and Terminal District: extends from the sea to 80.8 miles above head of passes (AHP). 2. St Bernard Port Harbor and Terminal District: from 80.8 miles AHP to 91.5 miles AHP 3. New Orleans: from 91.5 miles AHP to 114.9 miles AHP 4. Port of South Louisiana: from 114.9 miles AHP to 168.5 miles AHP 5. Baton Rouge Port Commission: From 168.5 miles AHP to 253 miles AHP Max size: Draught restrictions: The Bar Pilots for the Port of New Orleans recommend that vessels should not have a deep draught in fresh water in excess of 14.0m (46 feet) beginning May 21st 2012, when transiting the area of the Southwest Pass of the Mississippi River from the Southwest Pass Sea Buoy (Entrance Lighted Whistle Buoy "SW") to Mile 1.5 above Head of Passes in the Mississippi River. Draught limitations (Mar 2011): Southwest Pass to New Orleans (Mile 104.5) 13.4m New Orleans to Mile 180 13.7m Mile 180 to Baton Rouge (Mile 235) 12.2m Amended draught reductions and transit restrictions (Feb 2011): Area Previous Current Above Hester Light (Mile 151.7 AHP) 13.1m 13.4m Vessels with draught >13.4m daylight transit only between Hester Lt and White Castle Anchorage (Mile 191.1 AHP) Vessels with draught <13.4m transit possible day or night through above area Vessels with draught >11.5m transit daylight only above White Castle Anchorage Vessels transiting from White Castle Anchorage to Exxon Mobil Baton Rouge (Mile 232.2 AHP) maximum draught 12.1m. May 2011: Emergency procedures have been introduced in light of current high water conditions in the Mississippi River, as follows: 1. From Mile 233.0 AHP to Mile 90.5 AHP, southbound vessels will be daylight only. 2. From Mile 166.0 AHP to Mile 232.2 AHP, northbound & southbound vessels will be daylight only. 3. Vessels anchoring in the New Orleans Baton Rouge (NOBRA) area of responsibility with a draught of 9.1m or greater must maintain a pilot on board while at anchor to ensure safety of the vessel. These emergency procedures will remain in effect until the Baton Rouge gauge has a reading of 40 feet falling in combination with the Carrollton Gage reading of 16 feet falling. The NOBRA Board of Examiners continue to urge vigilance in ensuring low wake/swell conditions during this extreme period of high water on the Mississippi River. New Orleans-Baton Rouge Steamship Pilots recommended draught restrictions (Aug 2011): 1. Vessels transiting up to and including MM 180 AHP will be restricted to 14.3m or less; and 2. All vessels transiting above MM 180 AHP will be restricted to 13.7m or less.