Emsworth Locks and Dams, Ohio River, Mile 6.2 Closures of Primary and Auxiliary Lock Chambers 78-Foot Tow Width and Throttle Restriction to Primary Lock Chamber
Notice Number: 213093
Effective: 04/27/2026 06:00-09/04/202623:45 EDT
1. TO ALL WHOM IT MAY CONCERN:
Notice is given that the U.S Army Corps of Engineers Repair Fleet will be performing maintenance work on filling valves in the 110-ft x 600-ft primary chamber from April 27th through September 4, 2026. The filling valves are located on the riverside of the middle wall and a flat bulkhead on the landside of the middle wall will be used to dewater each valve culvert.
During this time, there will be lock closures of the 110-ft x 600-ft primary chamber and 56-ft x 360-ft auxiliary chamber as indicated below. There will also be tow width and throttle restrictions in the 110-ft x 600-ft primary chamber.
The closure is anticipated to result in significant delays to normal lock operations and vessel movement. During the auxiliary chamber closure, all vessels will use the primary lock chamber.
2. DELAYS TO NAVIGATION:
The 56-ft x 360-ft auxiliary chamber at Emsworth L/D will be
closed from 06:00 AM April 27, 2026 through 11:59 PM September 4, 2026
except as noted below.
The 110-ft x 600-ft primary chamber at Emsworth L/D will be
restricted to a maximum tow width of 78 feet and throttle restricted from
06:00 AM April 27, 2026 through 11:59 PM September 04, 2026.
In addition to these restrictions, the lock chamber will be
closed intermittently from 06:00 AM April 27, 2026 through 11:59 PM September 04, 2026.
The closures are expected to average 17 hours per day. The intermittent closures are necessary as no work can be performed in or on the valve culvert while there is a tow in the lock chamber. A typical daily closure schedule is detailed below. Effort will be made to ensure the total hours the chamber is open in a day is maintained as long as lockages are made in an efficient manner. However, please note that the closure times and durations will vary on a day-to-day basis as required to execute the work in the most efficient manner possible.
There will be unrestricted openings of the 110-ft x 600-ft primary chamber and the 56-ft x 360-ft auxiliary chamber at Emsworth L/D during the following time periods:
2:00 AM May 22, 2026 through 7:00 AM May 26, 2026 and
2:00 AM July 03, 2026 through 7:00 AM July 07, 2026
.
The 110-ft x 600-ft primary chamber will remain open and unrestricted
7:00 AM May 26, 2026 through 7:00 AM May 27, 2026 and 7:00 AM July 07, 2026 through 7:00 AM July 08, 2026
until the queue has been cleared. Once the queue has been cleared, the typical daily closure schedule and restrictions will resume.
TYPICAL DAILY SCHEDULE:
56-ft x 360-ft Auxiliary Chamber: Closed
110-ft x 600-ft Primary Chamber: 0000 to 0200 – Closed
0200 to 0700 – Open
0700 to 1200 – Closed
1200 to 1300 – Open
1300 to 2200 – Closed
2200 to 2300 – Open
2300 to 0000 – Closed
A suspended frame will be positioned on the middle wall inside the land lock chamber to mark the location of the valve bulkheads. Vessels are directed to stay on the land side of the chamber and should not make any contact with the frame as it could result in damage to the bulkhead and delays to the work in progress.
When exiting the primary chamber, towboats shall use minimal power as required to reduce prop wash. This low throttle restriction shall be adhered to within the confines of the lock chamber when departing the lock chamber.
If no valve bulkheads are present in the primary chamber during non-work periods, width and throttle restrictions will be lifted. Notice of the periods, if available, will be communicated through established procedures as soon as they are known. Due to the nature of the work, advanced notice of these periods may be less than 7 days.
During the repairs, the floating mooring bitt will be unavailable for use. Tows with barges will be moored on the land wall side of the lock chamber.
3. COMMON TERMS:
Some common terms used in the notice include:
a. Primary Vessel: The vessel that is in control of the full tow in transit before and after being broken into smaller tows (strings) for lockage.
b. Helper Boat: Vessel used by towing company to perform lockage when the primary tow is broken into a series of smaller tows (strings).
c. Pull Boat: Vessel in queue designated by USACE to pull cuts from the chamber during self-help.
d. Lockage String: A string of barges under the control of a vessel (helper boat). Example: A 15 barge tow can be broken into 3 strings of 5 barges.
4. PROCEDURES:
The Corps will institute the following lockage procedure which has been developed in cooperation with the Waterway Association of Pittsburgh. Boat locking order will be determined by arrival time at Emsworth L/D, and all pilots should radio Emsworth L/D at normal arrival points. Red flag barges must be reported by the pilot during this radio call. All tows must be ready to lock when added to the tier sheet. No adding or swapping of barges will be allowed once the tow’s lock turn has been established. No crew changes, taking on stores etc. will be permitted during the closure. These activities will need to be arranged at landings or other approved locations and must not impede the lockage process.
In an effort to reduce delay time at the locks, a program of “self-help” by navigation interests is necessary. A “self-help” program will allow waiting towboats to assist tows out of the lock chamber. The Lockmaster will designate the pull boats as tows arrive for position. The second and third towboats in the first series of lockage's in the opposite direction will be the designated pull boats. It will be necessary for all towboats to monitor their radios 24 hours a day.
The Corps is asking for everyone’s cooperation and help in making the locking operations go as smoothly as possible during the closure of the primary chamber. Specific procedures to facilitate lockage operations through the lock chamber have been developed in cooperation with the towing industry. These include:
a. All excess rigging will be removed prior to entering the lock chamber. Remaining rigging should be ready to be knocked loose after the cut is secured in the lock chamber.
b. Three deckhands are required during double lockages.
c. All multiple cut tows will be made up in designated staging areas, clear of the lock gates, so as not to interfere with lockage operations.
d. To maximize efficiency, the next designated tow and helper boat in queue shall be staged on the land wall above or below the main chamber before the scheduled opening as designated by the Lockmaster.
e. The Emsworth lock filling system may cause turbulence and surging of water while filling the primary chamber. Deckhands need to be extra vigilant in tending lines to avoid an accident which could close the locks totally.
Towboats are cautioned to use minimal power when operating over the lower sill to avoid forcing debris onto the miter sill. This debris could prevent the miter gates from closing and require stoppage of navigation until the material is removed by dredging or diving operations.
If critical industrial shipments are essential to sustain continued operation, the affected companies should immediately contact the Waterways Association of Pittsburgh at least 36-hours prior to the scheduled lockage. Only the designated cargo or barges will be given priority unless stated in the request that all barges in that tow be given priority. They will review all requests for priority before submitting them to the Corps for our consideration. If it becomes necessary to prioritize lockage's through the primary lock chamber, the Corps will make the final decision concerning lockage procedures as conditions and situations change. In accordance with standard Corps policy, the Lockmaster may also vary the queue or locking procedure in an effort to maximize efficiency.
All towboats are to stay with their tows while waiting for lockage's unless designated to assist other tows through the lock chamber.
Information concerning lockage's will be broadcast by radio on Channel 13 and any towboat not answering a call from the locks may be dropped to the end of the waiting list.
//Signed//
Vincent DeCarlo, P.E.
Chief, Operations Division
