Vessel Agent Handbook
Welcome to the Coast Guard Sector New Orleans Vessel Agent Handbook Webpage. The purpose of this website is to provide information on commonly asked questions related to vessel operations in the Lower Mississippi River. The website is organized by categories related to Coast Guard Sector New Orleans divisions: Port State Control, Waterways Management, Waterfront Facilities, and Vessel Traffic Service (VTS). Important contact information is below:
VTS Lower Mississippi River (LMR): (504) 365-2514 or VHF-FM Channel 12
Sector New Orleans Command Center: (504) 365-2200
Sector New Orleans Waterways Management: WWMNOLA@uscg.mil
Sector New Orleans Facilities: facilitiesnola@uscg.mil / (504) 329-0726
Sector New Orleans Port State Control: PSCNOLA@uscg.mil / (504) 365-2361
Port State Control:
Overview:
Notice of Arrival (NOA):
Letter of Deviation (LOD):
Certificate of Compliance (COC)
Vessel Incident Discharge Act (VIDA):
Waste Disposal:
Waterways Management:
Overview:
The Sector New Orleans Waterways Management Division plays a vital role in ensuring the safety, security, and efficiency of one of the busiest and most complex waterways in the United States. Its primary responsibilities encompass marine safety and navigation, which includes maintaining Aids to Navigation (ATON), managing vessel traffic, and addressing hazards that could impact the safe transit of commercial and recreational vessels. Stakeholder engagement is central to its operations, as the Sector actively partners with port authorities, industry representatives, local governments, and other stakeholders to address concerns and ensure the efficient and safe management of waterway operations.
Hurricane Procedures:
- Details can be found in the Sector New Orleans Maritime Hurricane Contingency Port Plan (MHCPP) available at: https://linktr.ee/WWMNOLA
Hurricane Port Conditions:
Port Status:
Anchorages:
Security Zones:
Mariners in the Lower Mississippi River will occasionally become aware of the Coast Guard enforcing a security zone to safeguard something when deemed necessary.
- A security zone is an area of land, water, or land and water which is so designated by the Captain of the Port or District Commander for such time as is necessary to prevent damage or injury to any vessel or waterfront facility, to safeguard ports, harbors, territories, or waters of the United States or to secure the observance of the rights and obligations of the United States.
- The purpose of a security zone is to safeguard from destruction, loss, or injury from sabotage or other subversive acts, accidents, or other causes of a similar nature for vessels, harbors, Ports, and Waterfront facilities in the United States and all territory and water, continental or insular, that is subject to the jurisdiction of the United States.
- Further information on security zones can be found at: https://www.ecfr.gov/current/title-33/chapter-I/subchapter-P/part-165/subpart-D
Safety Zones:
Mariners in the Lower Mississippi River will also occasionally become aware of the Coast Guard enforcing a Safety Zone to increase safety measures in a particular area.
- A safety zone is a water area, shore area, or water and shore area to which, for safety or environmental purposes, access is limited to authorized persons, vehicles, or vessels. It may be stationary and described by fixed limits, or it may be described as a zone around a vessel in motion. Detailed and useful information related to a safety zone is:
- No person may enter a safety zone unless authorized by the COTP or the District Commander.
- No person may bring or cause to be brought into a safety zone any vehicle, vessel, or object unless authorized by the COTP or the District Commander.
- No person may remain in a safety zone or allow any vehicle, vessel, or object to remain in a safety zone unless authorized by the COTP or the District Commander.
- Each person in a safety zone who has notice of a lawful order or direction shall obey the order or direction of the COTP or District Commander issued to carry out the purposes of this subpart.
- Further information related to safety zones can be found at: https://www.ecfr.gov/current/title-33/chapter-I/subchapter-P/part-165/subpart-C
Cyber Threat Procedures:
The maritime industry is undergoing a significant transformation that involves increased use of cyber-connected systems. While these systems improve commercial vessel and port facility operations, they also bring a new set of challenges affecting design, operations, safety, security, training, and the workforce.
Facilities:
Overview:
Transportation Worker Identification Card (TWIC) Escorts:
Seafarer Access:
- In 2019 the Coast Guard issued a final rule on April 1, 2019, “Seafarers Access to Maritime Facilities” requiring owners or operators of a maritime facility regulated by the Maritime Transportation Security Act of 2002 (MTSA) to implement a system providing seafarers, pilots, and representatives of seamen’s welfare and labor organizations access between
vessels moored at the facility and the facility gate, in a timely manner in accordance with their approved Facility Security Plan (FSP), and at no cost to the seafarer or other individuals. Sector New Orleans issued MSIB XXIV Issue 004 in January 2024 that contains more details on this requirement, and that MSIB can be found at the following link: WWMNOLA | Facebook | Linktree
Terminal Specific Restrictions:
Vessel Traffic Service Lower Mississippi River:
Overview:
- VTS LMR’s area of operations extends from Port Hudson Light at MM 254.5 Above the Head of Passes (AHP) to the waters within a 12 nautical mile radius around the Southwest Pass Entrance Light at MM 20.1 Below the Head of Passes (BHP). VTS LMR is a 24/7/365 manned traffic center that provides three essential services to users; Information Service, Navigation Assistance Service and Traffic Organization Service.
- In the LMR, there are two permanent Vessel Movement Reporting Systems (VMRS), which are systems used to monitor and track vessel movements in the AOR. Those locations are the New Orleans Harbor and Eighty-One Mile Point. A temporary VMRS at Wilkinson Point is operational during high water periods as defined in the Sector New Orleans Waterway Action Plan Baton Rouge Annex. The check-in/check-out locations for those areas, radio frequencies to utilize, and all other pertinent information on VTS LMR specifics is located in the VTS LMR User Manual which can be found at this link: https://linktr.ee/WWMNOLA
Incident Reporting:
- In the VTS LMR AOR, any owner, operator, charterer, master or person directing the movement of a vessel which is subject to the vessel Bridge-to-Bridge Radiotelephone Act (reference 33 CFR 26.03) is required to notify the VTS or Coast Guard Sector New Orleans Command Center, as soon as practicable, of the following:
- Marine Casualty (as defined in 46 CFR 4.05-1)
- Collision
- Allision
- Pollution spill (as defined in 33 CFR 151.15) or Hazardous Material (49 CFR 176.48) (Further guidance provided on the Oil Spill Reporting section of this website)
- Aid to Navigation discrepancy, outage or damage
- Hazardous conditions (as defined in 33 CFR 160.203)
- Improper operation of vessel equipment required by 33 CFR 164
- Hazardous vessel operating condition (as defined in 33 CFR 161.2)
Pilotage in the VTS LMR AOR:
- Louisiana statute requires vessels over 100 Gross Tons to take on a pilot for navigational purposes while transiting along the Lower Mississippi River. Contact information for the pilot offices is below:
- Federal Pilots: 985-898-1949
- Associated Branch Pilots (BAR): 504-831-6615
- Crescent River Port Pilots Association: 504-392-5017
- New Orleans Baton Rouge Steamship Pilots Association: 504-832-1199
Hazardous Vessel Operating Conditions (HVOC):
- As described in 33CFR161.2, HVOC's are any condition related to a vessel's ability to safely navigate or maneuver. If an HVOC occurs, it should be reported to the VTS or SCC. If a vessel is suffering a HVOC, it is not allowed to enter the Algiers Point or Eighty-One Mile Point Special Area without prior approval from the Captain of the Port. Examples of HVOC's include, but are not limited to:
- The absence or malfunction of vessel operating equipment, such as propulsion machinery, steering gear, radar system, gyrocompass, depth sounding device, automatic radar plotting aid (ARPA), radiotelephone, Automatic Identification System equipment, navigational lighting, sound signaling devices or similar equipment.
- Any condition on board the vessel likely to impair navigation, such as lack of current nautical charts and publications, personnel shortage, or similar condition.
- Vessel characteristics that affect or restrict maneuverability, such as cargo or tow arrangement, trim, loaded condition, underkeel or overhead clearance, speed capabilities, power availability, or similar characteristics, which may affect the positive control or safe handling of the vessel or the tow.
Potential Operating Restrictions:
- In accordance with 33CFR160.111, if determined to be necessary depending on varying circumstances, the COTP may place operating restrictions on a vessel. Some instances that could lead to a ship receiving operating restrictions are below (list not exhaustive):
- Adverse weather conditions
- Reduced visibility
- Temporary traffic congestion
- Condition associated with the vessel
- High/Low river stage
- Some potential operating restrictions that can be placed on a vessel are below (list not exhaustive):
- Vessel required to anchor
- Vessel not allowed to transit inbound or outbound
- Vessel required to utilize towing (or additional towing) vessels
- Daylight only operations
- Speed restrictions
Oil Spill Reporting:
- While operating in the VTSA, all instances of pollution observed should be reported to the National Response Center (NRC) and then to the SCC. The phone number for the NRC is 1-800-424-8802. Once this report is made a case number will be provided, and then that case number can be provided to the SCC. Some helpful information to have prepared to assist with the NRC report can be but is not limited to:
- Location of the pollution
- Size of the spill
- Color of the spill
- Potential source of the spill (if known)