Lower Mississippi sets 11′6″ draft cap, seven-wide tow rules

The officials in charge of the draft sizes in the Lower Mississippi River have implemented a new draft cap and tow regulation following news of the Lower Mississippi experiencing extremely low water levels. The Mississippi River is a crucial transport hub for several key sectors in the United States. America is feeling the effects of climate change, and the new draft restrictions and tow limitations are evidence that the energy sector needs to do more to ensure that the climate is considered when implementing new projects and policies.

The Army Corps of Engineers is hard at work on the Mississippi River

Whenever an engineering project needs that special attention that would enable a smooth and problem-free project, the Army Corps of Engineers is called upon to accelerate the project’s timeline. The Army Corps of Engineers has an unparalleled reputation for engineering excellence and often takes on projects that require a nonstop work ethic and exceedingly high levels of engineering excellence.

That excellent engineering acumen has been brought to the Lower Mississippi as the site requires extensive work to widen and deepen the river in certain places. A report from the US Department of Agriculture states that following an exceedingly dry August, water levels in the Lower Mississippi dropped to the unacceptable level of 0 feet for the first time since February, but still exceeded the level of last September 2 (–6 feet).

Officials have implemented barge size restrictions as well as a limit on tow weights

Officials are concerned about the exceedingly low water levels in the Lower Mississippi and have implemented the following restrictions. For any ship heading south, draft levels may not exceed 11.5 feet, and tows may not be more than 7 barges wide. For any mariners heading northbound, the restrictions are for
northbound traffic, draft levels may not exceed 11 feet, and tows may not be more than 5-6 barges wide (depending on the load size) and 7 barges long.

In the report from the US Department of Agriculture, it states that the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration’s (NOAA) National Weather Service has forecasted less than average precipitation for the weeks to come, which may have an adverse effect on the already lowered restrictions. If the forecast is correct, the restrictions may become even worse.

That would certainly be felt by the mariners operating in the region. Limiting the size and number of ships passing through the area could have a negative effect on trade and the energy sector overall. Shipping channels are extremely important for America’s trade and energy sector. The recent explosion and subsequent same-day opening of a shipping channel in the Baltimore channel exemplifies the importance of the shipping industry to the United States.

The report has stated that “by September 18, the river gauge at Memphis, TN, is expected to drop to −4.8 feet (the low-water threshold).” If that happens, we expect further restrictions to be implemented for the Lower Mississippi.

The climate change crisis can not be denied any longer by the US Government

The Trump administration has signed into law several executive orders aimed at accelerating the importance of the energy sector in the United States. It aims to achieve its goal by bypassing several policies and regulations set in place by the Biden administration that aimed to ease the pressure on the climate by transitioning the United States away from fossil fuels towards the renewable energy sector. Trump has stated that the traditional energy sector is the only way for the United States to reach energy independence. But what he may have overlooked is the inevitable effect on the climate that his policies and executive orders may have. The restrictions will remain in place for the foreseeable future until the levels reach acceptable levels again.