Transcript Associated Branch Pilots for the Port of New Orleans Capt. Mike Lorino, President Capt.

Associated Branch Pilots for the
Port of New Orleans
Capt. Mike Lorino, President
Capt. Michael Miller, Vice President
Southwest Pass Area
Examples of the Known Effects to Navigation
Due to Channel Narrowing
A Pilots Perspective: Truth and
Consequences
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1.
2.
3.
Truth: Mississippi River channel
maintenance dredging is reduced
Consequences:
Reduced safe passing distances for ships
Reduced channel creates navigation
hazards
A reduced channel equals cargo losses
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Associated Branch Pilots for the Port of New
Orleans
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Existing Channel Widths
Entrance to the Mississippi River
Southwest Pass Area
750’
Jetties
SWP Light
SWP Pilot Station
650’
600’
Gulf
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Orleans
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Safe Passing Distance in Existing
650’ Channel
300’
Photo: Mississippi River Trade and Transport Council
Existing Safe Passing Separation Approximately 300’
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Orleans
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Effect of Narrowing
From 750’ to a 650’ Channel
Passing
clearance
reduced
from 300’
to 195’
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Orleans
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600’ Channel Narrowed to 500’
500’ Channel
Narrowing
100’
Clearance
Remaining
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Orleans
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Narrowing to 400’ Channel
400’ channel
No safe passing
distance
remaining
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10 Degrees of Vessel Leeway in a
Narrowed 500’ Channel
50’ remaining
passing distance
Wind: East @ 15kn
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10 Degrees of Leeway in a 400’
Channel
Potential
Collision
Wind: East @ 15kn
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Orleans
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Crash Stop
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In high current conditions, it often
takes nearly 4 miles to stop a loaded
down-bound ship in the Mississippi
River entrance passes.
Many ships will end up stranded
aground after this maneuver.
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Crash Stop
Loaded Tanker
~ 4 Miles to Stop in High River
Crash Stop Ends Here
4 miles to sea
Mississippi River
Southwest Pass Exit Channel
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Associated Branch Pilots for the Port of New
Orleans
Crash Stop Starts Here
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Lost Channel Depth Equals Lost
Drafts and Lost Cargo for the
Mississippi River
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Panamax bulk carriers lose on average 179 tons of
cargo per inch of lost draft.
Thus a foot of lost channel depth is equal to a loss
of 2,148 tons of cargo.
Considering the recent 5 foot draft reduction due to
shoaling, a typical Panamax bulk carrier would lose
10,740 tons of cargo per trip.
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Orleans
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Orleans
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Orleans
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Associated Branch Pilots for the
Port of New Orleans
Capt. Mike Lorino, President
Capt. Michael Miller, Vice President
Thank You
Pilots Consequences Lack of Channel
Maintenance Dredging on the Mississippi
River
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Orleans
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