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NAVOPLAN

Port Intelligence Brief

New Orleans, United States

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62 Verified Intelligence Items

57Verified
Intelligence

46Official
Sources

90%Overall
Confidence

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CoordinatesN 29 56' 60.0000"
W 90 2' 60.0000"

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Harbor ProfileGulf of Mexico; North Atlantic Ocean
Size: Large

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EntranceTidal Range: .00 ft
Depth: 36.08 ft

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Port StatusPort of Entry: Yes
Shelter: Excellent

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Last UpdateJun 28, 2026
09:30 ET

🧭 Approach & Entrance 7 items

🛟 Shelter & Refuge 6 items

⚠ Local Cautions 6 items

🛒 Crew Rest & Resupply 7 items

☎ Harbor / Authority 5 items 🔒

📡 Contacts & VHF 6 items 🔒

🛥 Marinas 5 items 🔒

⛽ Fuel & Utilities 6 items 🔒

🛂 Clearance & Formalities 7 items 🔒

🚑 Medical & Emergency 7 items 🔒

1 - 10

Current Briefing

Approach & Entrance

New Orleans approach intelligence includes pilotage, entrance channel depths, harbor communications, traffic density, anchoring restrictions, and operational cautions for arrival planning.

1 - 1

Verified Intelligence

Charting And Sailing Publications

Official Source · Verified Jun 30, 2026

Primary charting authority: NOAA nautical charts; U.S. Coast Pilot 5 (Gulf of Mexico) Chapter 8 covers Head of Passes to New Orleans.

95% Confidence

Vts Reporting And Special Area Requirements

Official Source · Verified Jun 30, 2026

VTS Lower Mississippi River operates 24/7; VMRS/check-in required at New Orleans Harbor and Algiers Point special area; monitor VHF-FM channels (e.g., 12, 5A, 67); VTS participation/VMRS thresholds codified (examples: power-driven vessels ≥40 m; towing vessels ≥8 m engaged in towing; passenger vessels ≥100 GT).

95% Confidence

Project Channel Depths And Dimensions

Official Source · Verified Jun 30, 2026

Project/navigation depth: 45 ft (MLLW) maintained from Head of Passes to Baton Rouge; constructed widths vary (e.g., 750 ft Head of Passes→New Orleans; narrower at jetty/bar approaches).

93% Confidence

Shoaling Dredging And Notices

Official Source · Verified Jun 30, 2026

Channels and bars shoal and change rapidly; USACE publishes channel surveys and dredging operations; USCG Navigation and MSIB/LNM publish active dredging, hazards and operational restrictions — consult latest LNM/MSIB and USACE surveys.

92% Confidence

Pilotage And Pilot Exchange

Official Source · Verified Jun 30, 2026

Compulsory river pilotage: Louisiana statutes and USCG Sector New Orleans require river pilots for vessels above statutory thresholds (commonly vessels >100 GT); Pilottown is the traditional bar/river pilot exchange location; contact local pilot associations for boarding and exchange details.

92% Confidence

Entrance Character

Official Source · Verified Jun 30, 2026

Primary seaward approach: Southwest Pass — jetty-protected dredged approach into Head of Passes; multiple passes (Southwest, South, Pass A Loutre) with jetty and bar features at entrances.

90% Confidence

Currents And Stage Effects

Official Source · Verified Jun 30, 2026

Currents in New Orleans area vary with river stage: VTS/manual reports ~1 to 6.5 knots (typical range); USACE notes velocities up to ~6 mph and higher in constrained reaches during extreme high water.

90% Confidence