Cargo and cruise operations are ongoing at the Port of New Orleans and have not been interrupted due to the high-River event. “It’s business as usual,” said Port President and CEO Gary LaGrange. “While we will continue to monitor the situation and remain in contact with our valued customers, we do not foresee any business interruptions.” Port facilities have welcomed 14 vessels since May 22. Included in that figure are eight container vessels slated for the Napoleon Avenue Container Terminal, four general cargo vessels and two cruise ships. A 15-mile stretch of the Mississippi River near Natchez, Miss., reopened after a brief closure by the U.S. Coast Guard. Corps officials opened an additional bay at the Morganza Spillway bringing the total to 16 of 125 bays opened. The 16 bays allow 108,000 cubic-feet-per second of the Mississippi River to flow into the spillway. Also, 330 of the 350 bays at the Bonnet Carre Spillway were open sending 316,000 cubic feet of water per second into Lake Pontchartrain upriver from New Orleans.