The U.S. Coast Guard recently reported eight groundings of barges due to low water level on the lower Mississippi River. Restrictions on traffic have been placed from mile markers 478 to 492 and waterway closure from mile markers 686 to 676.
The restrictions on navigations are critical given the beginning of the harvest season and the need to transport fertilizer northbound. Approximately 100 tows with 1600 barges were waiting permission to pass the stack island on Tuesday October 4th.
The Marine Transportation System Recovery Unit is coordinating activities on the river to reestablish traffic under the Western River Waterways Coast Guard District 8.
On October 6th, Ingram Barge Company provided formal notice of force majeure with respect to their network down-river from Baton Rouge, LA. With delays in shipment, reduced loading of barges to reduce draft, it is inevitable that freight rates will increase contributing to the cost of production especially in the Southeast.