350 ¢ U.S. Coast Pilot 5, Chapter 8 Chapter 5, Pilot Coast U.S. 92°W 91°30'W 91°W 90°30'W 90°W 89°30'W 89°W 88°30'W L OUISIANA MISSISSIPPI P E A A R 30°30'N T L C R H Baton Rouge I Biloxi A V F E Gulfport A Port Allen R L A 11369 ST. LOUIS BAY Y A LAKE MAUREPAS R I V MISSISSIPPI SOUND E R 1 Plaquemine 1354 LAKE PONCHARTRAIN 11374 Donaldsonville Gramercy 11368 11363 30°N 370 New Orleans 11364 11 Chandeleur Islands CHANDELEUR SOUND ibodaux Houma M I S S I S S 11353 I P BRETON SOUND P I 29°30'N R I V E R BARATARIA BAY ATCHAFALAYA BAY PASS A LOUTRE TERREBONNE BAY 11352 29°N SOUTH PASS SOUTHWEST PASS Chart Coverage in Coast Pilot 5—Chapter 8 11358 11361 26 SEP2021 NOAA’s Online Interactive Chart Catalog has complete chart coverage http://www.charts.noaa.gov/InteractiveCatalog/nrnc.shtml 26 SEP 2021 U.S. Coast Pilot 5, Chapter 8 ¢ 351 Mississippi River (1) This chapter describes the Mississippi River from Garden Island Bay has been filled in so that now it is a the delta passes at the Gulf of Mexico to Baton Rouge, marsh. 217 miles via Southwest Pass, 211 miles via South Pass, (8) above the Gulf. Also described are the deepwater ports of Prominent features New Orleans and Baton Rouge, as well as the facilities at (9) The most conspicuous objects, when approaching the many small communities along the river. the passes, are the lights, which are easily recognized. (2) Note: All mileage distances given in this chapter are Southwest Pass Entrance Light (28°54'21"N., in statute miles unless otherwise indicated. Historically, 89°25'43"W.), 122 feet above the water, is shown from distances on the Mississippi River are in statute miles, an 85-foot tower on a white dwelling on piles; a racon is referred to an origin at the Head of Passes. Distances in at the light. Southwest Pass East Jetty End Light 4, 38 this system are suffixed AHP (i.e., above Head of Passes). feet above the water, is shown from a red skeleton tower (3) on piles with a red triangular daymark. A lighted buoy COLREGS Demarcation Lines (Sea Buoy) is 1.6 miles south of the east jetty. (4) The lines established for this part of the coast are described in 33 CFR 80.820 and 80.825, chapter 2. (10) The numerous oil well structures in East Bay, (5) some of which extend about 3 miles southeast of a line ENCs - US3GC05M, US3GC03M, US3GC04M between the jetties at South and Southwest Passes, are Charts - 11360, 11340, 11366 also prominent. (11) (6) Mississippi River empties into the north central part Anchorages of the Gulf of Mexico through a number of mouths or (12) Vessels should anchor in the Fairway Anchorage, passes which, taken together, form the delta of the river. northeast of South Pass. (See 33 CFR 166.100 through The river and its tributaries form the largest network of 166.200, chapter 2.) navigable waters in the world. The two principal passes, (13) Numerous oil well structures off the entrances to the South Pass and Southwest Pass, are about 1,600 nautical Mississippi River Delta passes and in East Bay can be miles from New York, 500 nautical miles from Key West, seen for some distance offshore. Smoke from burning gas 300 nautical miles east of Galveston and 440 nautical from some of these wells is seen from far offshore. miles east of Corpus Christi. The river is the access to the (14) The discolored water discharge from Mississippi Ports of New Orleans and Baton Rouge and the numerous River usually provides mariners with their first indication cities in the central part of the United States located in that they are approaching land. However, this is not a the Mississippi River Valley and along its tributaries, the sure indication; during high river stages and with north Ohio, Missouri, Red, Tennessee and other rivers flowing winds the discolored water will be encountered in some into it. From the mouth, at the entrance to Southwest Pass, directions 60 miles or more from land, and at times the it is about 1,840 miles to Minneapolis, 1,960 miles to water will appear broken from 15 to 20 miles from the Pittsburgh, 1,680 miles to Knoxville and 1,530 miles to passes. The land near the entrances to the passes is low Chicago via the Illinois Waterway. (See the publication marsh covered with tall, coarse grass and weeds. Distances Between United States Ports for more detailed (15) information.) COLREGS Demarcation Lines (7) The shape of the delta is somewhat like the foot of (16) The lines established for the Mississippi River and a bird, with its four toe-like extensions protruding into Mississippi Passes are described in 33 CFR 80.820 and the Gulf. The passes consist of narrow-banked deposits 80.825, chapter 2. of sand and clay brought down by the river current that (17) continuously adds them to the seaward margins of the Special Notices delta. In this manner the delta is being built seaward at (18) Special Notices affecting locking procedures in an estimated average rate of 300 feet a year. Numerous the New Orleans Corps of Engineers District are issued bays between the passes are changing through wave and through navigation bulletins by the Corps as conditions tidal action and filling up with the immense amounts of warrant. These bulletins announce maintenance projects, material carried down by the river. The upper half of hazards to navigation and other pertinent information of 352 ¢ U.S. Coast Pilot 5, Chapter 8 26 SEP 2021 importance to mariners. these bulletins are posted at www. The Louisiana Department of Transportation and mvn.usace.army.mil/Missions/Navigation/Navigation- Development has installed vertical clearance gauges on Bulletins/. the Paris Road Bridge; the clearances posted are for the (19) middle 500-foot channel between the fixed red channel Shipping safety fairways lights on the bridge. Mariners desiring present Paris Road (20) Vessels should approach the Southwest Pass and Bridge clearances before entering the Mississippi River- South Pass (Mississippi River) through the prescribed Gulf Outlet Canal are advised to seek competent local safety fairways. (See 33 CFR 166.100 through 166.200, knowledge for water heights and bridge information. The chapter 2.) present vertical clearance above mean sea level may be determined for the 500-foot midwidth of Paris Road (21) Bridge by using a present, reported and nearby water Channels height, in feet, relative to mean sea level clearance of (22) The improved ship channels into Mississippi River 140 feet. A positive (higher) water height reading should are through Southwest Pass and South Pass. Several be subtracted from 140 feet, and a negative (lower) water minor passes can be used only by small craft. A federal height reading should be added to 140 feet. project provides for a 45-foot channel over the bar and (30) The overhead power cables across the canal, near the through Southwest Pass, to Head of Passes. The project is Paris Road Bridge and near the junction with the Inner under constant maintenance dredging. The project further Harbor Navigation Canal, have a minimum clearance of provides for a 45-foot channel from Head of Passes to 170 feet. New Orleans, thence 45 feet to Mile 181 above New Orleans, thence 40 feet to Baton Rouge. The channels (31) are well marked. Contact the New Orleans District, Corps Caution of Engineers, for controlling depths. See Appendix A for (32) The Coast Guard advises that because of constantly mailing address and contact information. changing river stages mariners should carefully review and validate mast height data and air draft to ensure (23) adequate clearance under the bridges and overhead cables Note on the Lower Mississippi River. It is recommended that (24) The Associated Branch Pilots, Port of New Orleans, maximum vessel height be determined for various drafts advised that South Pass has a recommended draft limit of and trim of the vessel and be kept readily available on 15 feet. The pilots further advised that a recommended the bridge of the vessel. Bridge clearance data for various deadweight tonnage limit of 21,000 DWT. and/or 15 feet river stages can be obtained from the Coast Guard. is in effect for ships using South Pass. The deadweight tonnage limit is recommended because ships of large (33) tonnage do not steer well. The tonnage limit is subject to Anchorages a larger limit as the draft limit deepens. (34) Vessels should anchor in Southwest Pass Anchorage (25) Southwest Pass has a recommended draft limit of 45 southeast of the entrance to Southwest Pass, South Pass feet. There is no limit on deadweight tonnage for ships Anchorage northeast of the entrance to South Pass or using Southwest Pass. in the Mississippi River-Gulf Outlet Canal Fairway (26) The Mississippi River-Gulf Outlet Canal project Anchorages east and north of the Mississippi River-Gulf was officially de-authorized in June 2008 and closed to Outlet. (See 33 CFR 166.100 through 166.200, chapter navigation in 2009. Rocks have been placed across the 2.) channel at Mile 36.0 and navigational aids below Mile (35) In heavy weather, craft in the vicinity of South Pass 36.0 have been removed, with exception of MRGO seek refuge in the pass. Vessels may anchor off South Pass Lighted Buoy 11. Mariners should not attempt to navigate and Southwest Pass as appropriate, weather permitting.