Heavy rain leads to problems on Mississippi river
14 April 2008
Lamorte Burns & Co Inc, P&I Correspondent in New Orleans, has advised that persistent heavy rain in the Mississippi Valley has caused problems for shipping on the Mississippi river. The very significantly increased currents and river levels have made routine operations much more difficult, with reports being received of ships struggling or unable to hold their position either alongside or at anchor, even with tug assistance.
The bad weather has led the US Army Corps of Engineers to open the Bonnet Carre spillway for the first time in eleven years, in an effort to ease pressure on the levees.
Further details are in the attached Corps of Engineers news release.