Hines Furlong Line Seeks Extension Of Fleeting Area On Cumberland River

Hines Furlong Line has applied for a permit to expand its fleeting area at Cumberland River Mile 124.2–124.7 on the left descending bank in Clarksville, Tenn.

The permit was submitted March 8 with comments accepted through April 7.

As part of a 2016 permit, Hunter Marine was authorized to install five deadman anchors and associated barge fleeting to facilitate 10 barges configured two wide by five long along 1,500 linear feet of bridge frontage between Cumberland River Miles 123.7 and 124.1 on the left bank. The fleeting area is currently being utilized.

In 2016, Hunter Marine proposed additional barge fleeting configured two wide by 13 long from Cumberland River Mile 124.2 to 124.7 on the left bank along 2,535 feet of shoreline. The anchorage method involved 10 concrete anchors positioned 300 linear feet apart in upland areas. Due to outstanding cultural and archeological concerns at that time, the permit was application was withdrawn, and a permit for that area was not issued. 

This application involves the same area as the 2016 proposal with a revision to the proposed anchorage method. Hines Furlong Line requests a permit modification to extend the fleeting area approximately 3,000 linear feet upstream of the previously authorized fleeting area that is being utilized. 

The extended fleeting area would accommodate an additional 26 barges configured two wide by 13 long along approximately 2,535 linear feet of shoreline.

The moored barges would extend 100 feet from the normal summer pool elevation of 359.0 feet. The navigation channel extends bank to bank, more than 500 feet wide when measured at Barkley Lake. Other fleeting areas exist on the right bank.

The barges would be secured by 16 land-based pipe anchors positioned 200 linear feet apart on private property with an existing agricultural field. Each anchor would consist of a T-shaped, 12-inch-diameter schedule 80 pipe driven into the ground approximately 12 feet and filled with concrete. A 1-1/8-inch galvanized steel wire cable would extend from the anchors 70 feet down the riverbank to secure the fleeted barges. The work does not involve excavation, a discharge of fill material into the river, dredging of the river bottom or other upland work.

Hines Furlong is requesting the extended fleeting area to establish safe and secure anchorage for barges waiting to unload sand and rock products, steel and other bulk commodities used in the Nashville area, providing a more efficient and economically feasible transportation method compared to trucking the products into the congested downtown area. Hines Furlong Line said the proposal would allow adequate fleeting for timely deliveries to meet the ever-increasing market demand for products and would additionally accommodate demands during the upcoming temporary closure of Cheatham Lock and Dam in spring 2021.