Current predictions by the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration call for improving conditions at Southwest Pass - the main shipping channel into the Mississippi River - over the next 72 hours.
There are no restrictions on the Mississippi River now and there are no indications from any agency there will be.
"We are continuing to coordinate efforts with the Coast Guard, pilots and all maritime stakeholders to ensure there will be no disruption to commerce on the Mississippi River," said Port President and CEO Gary LaGrange. "Conversations are ongoing with all of our customers and no one has indicated intentions of diverting ships away from the Port of New Orleans. We have every confidence in the Coast Guard, NOAA, pilots and all involved that commerce will continue uninterrupted on the Lower Mississippi River."
Ships will be inspected upon arrival at Southwest Pass to determine if they need to be cleaned. The Coast Guard says ships moving at a safe pace through light oil sheen may not require cleaning.
To date, there have been no reports of oil on commercial cargo vessels entering the Mississippi River or along the Gulf Intracoastal Waterway.
As a precaution, two cleaning stations have been established on the Mississippi River in order to better facilitate the flow of maritime commerce. The cleaning stations are now located at Boothville and at Burrwood.
In the instance of a heavily oiled ship, it will be cleaned at Boothville, where it can anchor. Booms will be placed around the ship before it is pressure washed. The Burrwood location is for ships with light oil sheen and the ships to be cleaned while in motion. The Burrwood location is in Southwest Pass, about 15 miles below Head of Passes.