SAFETY / EMSWORTH / GENERAL / SEC OV BNM 0047-25 /
BNM 0047-25 OV OHIO RIVER THE U.S. COAST GUARD CAPTAIN OF THE PORT HAS ISSUED THIS SAFETY ADVISORY DUE TO HIGH WATER / HIGH FLOW CONDITIONS AT EMSWORTH DAM MILE MARKER 6.2 OHIO RIVER. THE GATE OPENING AT EMSWORTH DAM READS GREATER THAN 85 FEET. FOR VESSELS TRANSITING THE OHIO RIVER, WHEN TRANSITING DOWNRIVER WITH THE INTENTION OF USING THE FRONT CHANNEL PAST BRUNOT ISLAND, MILE MARKER 1.5, KEEP TOWARDS THE RIGHT DESCENDING BANK WHILE ENTERING THE FRONT CHANNEL TO AVOID SEVERE SET TOWARDS THE ISLAND. WHEN TRANSITING UPRIVER WITH THE INTENTION OF USING THE BACK CHANNEL PAST BRUNOT ISLAND, MILE MARKER 3, EXERCISE CAUTION WHILE ENTERING THE BACK CHANNEL TO PREVENT BEING SET AGAINST THE LEFT DESCENDING BANK. ENSURE VERTICAL CLEARANCE IS SUFFICIENT WHILE TRANSITING UNDER BRIDGES LOCATED BETWEEN MILE MARKERS 0 AND 3 ALLEGHENY RIVER AND BETWEEN MILE MARKERS 0 AND 9 MONONGAHELA RIVER. EXERCISE CAUTION WHILE TRANSITING IN THE AREA OF THE EMSWORTH AND DASHIELDS LOCK AND DAMS, MILE MARKERS 13.3 TO 15, DUE TO THE STRONG CURRENTS IN THE AREA. SOUTHBOUND TOW VESSELS ARE RECOMMENDED TO HAVE A HELPER BOAT PRESENT TO ASSIST WHEN EITHER, (1) PUSHING A TOW CONSISTING OF TWO BARGE LENGTHS OR GREATER WHEN AT LEAST ONE BARGE IS A TANK BARGE OR, (2) CONDUCTING A DOUBLE LOCKAGE THROUGH EMSWORTH, DASHIELDS, OR MONTGOMERY LOCKS
