The ongoing flooding along the Mississippi River is stalling river traffic in New Orleans, where a majority of U.S. ag exports leave the nation. For many operators along the river, the disruption started nearly a year ago, when a wet fall swelled water volume in the river system. Flooding has stalled traffic in New Orleans, with one-way passageways and restrictions at locks imposed by the Coast Guard, leaving cargo ships at anchor because the barges can’t reach them. It cost $25,000 a day to anchor a cargo ship, and nearly 27 are currently parked along the river, according to one river pilot who spoke with the New Orleans Advocate. Silting of the navigation channel is threatening river traffic, too. The flooding is expected to last at least another month along nearly all major U.S. rivers. Experts predicted 2019 flood damages exceeded $3 billion last month. Meanwhile, the lower Missouri River was closed to all traffic last week, and many stretches of the Mississippi have experienced temporary closures.
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