US producer CF Industries and distributor Interoceanic (IOC) declared force majeure today after Hurricane Ida crippled river logistics at the Port of New Orleans and brought regional production facilities off line.
The force majeure issued by CF affects production and shipment from the producer's Donaldsonville, Louisiana, nitrogen complex, according to a letter sent to customers obtained by Argus. CF said in the letter that Donaldsonville remains off line after shutting down on 28 August prior to Ida's landfall.
CF was not available for comment after repeated inquiries.
IOC, the exclusive marketer of ammonium sulfate produced at PCI Nitrogen in Pasadena, Texas, also declared a force majeure on shipments today, citing force majeures declared by its service providers and ongoing logistics issues at New Orleans and on the lower Mississippi river in the aftermath of the Category 4 storm.
The US Coast Guard reopened the Mississippi river to nearly all vessel traffic at 4pm ET on 1 September. The river is open without restrictions below mile marker 105, although deep-draft vessels are restricted to daylight transit.
A safety zone remains in effect between mile markers 105 and 108, where local utility Entergy is retrieving downed transmission lines from the river, according to the Coast Guard. All vessels are banned from entering the area without express permission until 30 September or until salvage operations are complete.
Waivers are required for vessels wanting to transit between mile markers 108 and 167.5 because of ongoing barge recovery efforts in the area, and transit between mile marker 167.5 and Baton Rouge, Louisiana, is restricted to daylight movements.
