Port of New Orleans Says Operations are Unaffected by Low Mississippi River Conditions

Low water levels in the upper reaches of the Mississippi River aren't affecting operations within the Port of New Orleans because the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers has maintained the congressionally authorized 45-foot-deep channel on the lower part of the river from Baton Rouge, La. to the mouth of the river, the port said. “We do not anticipate any interruptions to deep-draft shipping or cruise operations,” said Port President Gary LaGrange. All of the port's berths are at 100 percent of their authorized depths and no restrictions on the Lower Mississippi River are anticipated, he said. Liquid and dry bulk commodities, which rely on barge transport, are the main cargoes concerned with low river levels in the Midwest, the port said. Draft restrictions on inland barge traffic in the Midwest could make barge transit pricier for growers, producers and manufacturers. The primary area of concern is stretches of the river between St. Louis, Mo., and Cairo, Ill., where the Corps of Engineers continues to apply all available resources to maintain a navigable nine-foot-deep channel for barge traffic, the port said.