UNITED STATES COAST GUARD MARINE SAFETY OFFICE NEW ORLEANS 

Volume IV, Issue XXVI I                            FOR OFFICIAL USE ONLY                           AUGUST 2004

MARINE SAFETY OFFICE NEW ORLEANS IS NOW OPERATING AT CONDITION FOUR DUE TO THE APPROACHING TROPICAL STORMS BONNIE AND CHARLEY.

INDUSTRY SHOULD CONDUCT A THOROUGH REVIEW OF THEIR HURRICANE PLAN TOENSURE THE SAFETY OF THEIR PERSONNEL AND PROPERTY.

BARGE FLEET, VESSEL, AND FACILITY OPERATORS ARE ENCOURAGED TO ENSURETHE INTEGRITY OF BARGE AND VESSEL MOORINGS WITHIN FLEETING AND WATERFRONT FACILITIES.

DEEP-DRAFT VESSELS, TUGBOATS, EXCURSION VESSELS, AND OFFSHORE SUPPLY VESSELS SHOULD PLAN THEIR TRANSITS ACCORDINGLY TO AVOID HEAVY WEATHER ASSOCIATED WITH THE TROPICAL STORMS. OWNERS AND OPERATORS OF OFFSHORE PLATFORMS AND RIGS SHOULD CONSIDER SECURING OPERATIONS ANDEVACUATING ALL PERSONNEL.

WE WANT TO REMIND THE MARITIME COMMUNITY THAT BRIDGE CLOSURES ON THE INNER HARBOR NAVIGATIONAL CANAL MAY BEGIN 36 TO 48 HOURS BEFORE A HURRICANE MAKES LANDFALL.

THE CLOSURE OF THESE BRIDGES IS TRIGGERED BY THE SPEED OF ADVANCE OF AN APPROACHING HURRICANE AND THE CLOSURE OF THE FLOODGATES WHICH PROTECT THE CITY OF NEW ORLEANS FROM RISING STORM SURGE.

UPON THE APPROACH OF A HURRICANE, MARINE SAFETY OFFICE NEW ORLEANS WILL STAY IN CLOSE CONTACT WITH THE ARMY CORP OF ENGINEERS, ORLEANS LEVEE DISTRICT, AND THE BRIDGES THEMSELVES TO DETERMINE TO THE BESTPOSSIBLE INFORMATION ON BRIDGE CLOSURE PLANS. THIS INFORMATION WILL BE RELAYED TO THE MARITIME COMMUNITY VIA BULLETIN AND UMIB IMMEDIATELY.

MARINERS AND MARINE MANAGERS ARE URGED TO PLAN AHEAD FOR VESSEL AND TOW MOVEMENTS IN THE INNER HARBOR NAVIGATION CANAL WHEN A HURRICANE IS APPROACHING.

The Vessel Traffic Center can be contacted at 504-589-2780 or on VHF-FM channels 16 or 67 for additionalinformation. All recipients of this bulletin are encouraged to report information concerning suspicious or criminal activity to local law enforcement and the Marine Safety Office at (504) 589-6261 or the National Response center via the 24-hour telephone number at 1-800-424-8802.

F.M. Paskewich

Captain of the Port