East Coast Alerts
By Mel Neale
July 13, 2006

Broward Bridges, Ft. Lauderdale, FL on New Schedule—Finally:

The Final Rule for the Broward County Bridges ( Ft. Lauderdale, FL) goes into effect on July 31, 2006. The following schedule will be followed at these bridges 24 hours a day, seven days a week, with the exception of the first weekend in May each year during the annual Air and Sea Show when the East Sunrise Boulevard Bridge and the East Las Olas Bridge will be closed to vessel traffic on the first Saturday in May between 9:45 and 10:45 p.m. and on Saturday and Sunday between 4 and 6 p.m.

New Schedule:

• Hillsboro Boulevard Bridge (Mile 1050 at Deerfield Beach: hour and half hour
• NE 14 th Street Bridge (Mile 1055) at Pompano: 15 and 45 minutes past the hour
• Atlantic Boulevard Bridge (Mile 1056) at Pompano: hour and half hour
• Commercial Boulevard (Mile 1059) at Lauderdale-by-the-Sea: hour and half hour
• Oakland Park Boulevard Bridge (Mile 1060.5) at Ft. Lauderdale: 15 and 45 minutes past the hour
• East Sunrise Boulevard Bridge (Mile 1062.6) at Ft. Lauderdale: hour and half hour
• East Las Olas Bridge (Mile 1064) at Ft. Lauderdale: 15 and 45 minutes past the hour
• SE 17 th Street Bridge (Mile 1065.9) at Ft. Lauderdale: hour and half hour
• Dania Beach Boulevard Bridge (Mile 1069.4) at Dania Beach: hour and half hour
• Sheridan Street Bridge (Mile 1070.5) at Ft. Lauderdale: 15 and 45 minutes past the hour
• Hollywood Beach Boulevard Bridge (Mile 1072.2 at Hollywood: hour and half hour
• Hallandale Beach Boulevard Bridge (Mile 1074) at Hallandale: 15 and 45 minutes past the hour

East River , NY , NY Even More “Partially Closed”:

In addition to closing the entire Channel of the East River between the Queensboro Bridge and Roosevelt Island Bridge until approximately August 31, 2006, USCG 1st DistrictLNM 27 states that Weeks Marine will be conducting operations in the eastern half of the West Channel of the East River between the Queensboro Bridge and east 72nd Street Powerhouse commencing on or about Monday June 19, 2006 through approximately July 24, 2006. Operations will take place from 0600 to 1800, using a spud barge and support vessel. The eastern half of the West Channel will be CLOSED TO ALL TRAFFIC during this period. To facilitate safe navigation, VTS New York will establish one-way traffic with no meeting or passing between the Queensboro Bridge and East 72nd Street Powerhouse during these operations. During non-working hours (1800-0600), the work platform will be moored along the Roosevelt Island bulkhead and anchor wires attached to mid-channel anchor buoys will be slacked to the river bottom. Mariners are advised to transit the area with caution. The 24 hour point of contact is Weeks Marine, Inc. Dispatch at 908-272-4010.

Flooding Fallout:

Many locks and canals in the New York State Canal system were closed for a while following flooding from heavy rain in late June. Check http://www.canals.state.ny.us/news/notices/index.html to find out the current state of the canals and locks. Recent news articles report that most of the canal system is now open.

Delaware River Caution:

USCG 5 th District LNM 27 and 28: Mariners are advised that numerous aids to navigation with the Upper Delaware River and Delaware River have been affected by the recent flooding conditions. Many aids are off-station, submerged, or missing and many are unreliable. Mariners should use extreme caution when navigating due to numerous obstructions floating in the river. Vessels should contact Sector Delaware Bay (215) 271-4940 or Sector Baltimore (410) 576-2521 for up to date conditions concerning the navigation of the waterways.

Construction Progresses at Woodrow Wilson Bridge, I-495 around DC:

USCG 5 th District LNM 28 states that Mariners are advised that construction of the new Woodrow Wilson Memorial Drawbridge across the Potomac River, mile 90.7, between the City of Alexandria, Virginia and Oxon Hill, Maryland is ongoing until 2009. While opening the new Outer Loop Bridge to traffic this spring is a significant milestone for the Woodrow Wilson Bridge Project, demolition of the old bridge and continued aggressive construction of the new Inner Loop Bridge will continue to influence navigation on the Potomac River near the bridge. Due to continued commissioning, the new OL Bridge will remain in the closed-to-navigation position between the hours of 10 am and 2 pm each day from June 26, 2006 through August 25, 2006. At all other times, the OL Bridge will operate in accordance with the operating drawbridge regulations set out in Title 33 Code of Federal Regulations Part 117.255. Scheduled openings of the old drawbridge remain unchanged. By July 17, 2006, vehicular traffic using the I-95/495 highway is scheduled to be completely shifted onto the new OL Bridge. The old drawbridge will be demolished through mid-2007. To ensure clear passage contact the Project with at least 24 hours advance notice. After July 17, 2006, openings of the old drawbridge are expected to become more flexible. The remaining portions of the old drawbridge, from the drawbridge to the Maryland shore, will remain in place until mid-2007. Due to continuing work on the Inner Loop (IL) drawbridge, the floating accessway will remain active within the federal navigation channel. The accessway will continue to be retracted upon request with at least 30 minutes notice, as long as no associated concrete pours are occurring. Advancement of the IL drawbridge elements will require continuing intermittent placement of crane barges in the federal navigation channel, which may remain in place overnight. As an alternative, vessels less than 45 feet in height can typically use the marked auxiliary channel, located just east of the federal navigation channel (45- vertical clearance, 130- horizontal clearance, and 22- water depth at MLW). Extensive federal navigation channel restrictions should be expected from November 2006 through June 2007 due to the erection of the IL drawbridge. The federal navigation channel will be restricted to vessels less than 83 feet in vertical height. Across the Potomac River, work on the IL Bridge will continue and boaters traveling outside of the federal navigation channel should use due caution and obey signs. Excessive speed and wake by boaters may cause serious or fatal incidents to the Project. Due to the sensitive and precise nature of the work and for worker safety, it is crucial that mariners obey the speed restrictions and eliminate wakes through the work zone. For any questions, please contact Mr. Mike Baker, Environmental Construction Manager for the Woodrow Wilson Bridge Project at 202-438-7499. For bridge opening requests, please contact the bridge tender at 202-727-5522. The - Mariners Alert- page, located on the Project’s website at www.wilsonbridge.com, is updated weekly and contains additional information. As the construction progresses, check these resources frequently to obtain the weekly schedule outlining items such as expected channel closures due to concrete pours, channel restrictions due to barge placements, auxiliary channel availability, and federal navigation channel vertical clearance information.

Virginia Beach , VA :

Now this will be a weird sight for vacationers: (from USCG 5 th District LNM 28)

PRECON Marine, Inc. will be conducting maintenance and repair work from August 7, 2006 through July of 2007 on an outfall pipe located in the vicinity 16th Street in Virginia Beach, VA (approximate position 36-50-41N / 075-58-16W). This operation will entail the use of a 200-ton crane affixed to the top of a 170' x 30' tressel that will move along the outfall pipe out to approximately 2000 feet from shore. Mariners are advised to use extreme caution while transiting this area.

Another Change in the Schedule at Steel Bridge ( Dominion Boulevard), Chesapeake, VA:

USCG 5 th District LNM 27 and 28: Effective on July 31, 2006, the Coast Guard is changing the regulations that govern the operation of the Dominion Boulevard (US 17) Bridge across the Southern Branch of the Elizabeth River, at AICW mile 8.8, in Chesapeake, Virginia. The final rule will provide for hourly openings of the draw which will now start at 6 a.m. on weekdays and weekends and will not change the morning and evening rush hours which are from 7 a.m. to 9 a.m. and from 4 p.m. to 6 p.m., respectively. The Dominion Boulevard ( US 17) Bridge will continue to open on signal at any time for commercial vessels carrying liquefied flammable gas or other hazardous materials, and for commercial vessels that provide a two-hour advance notice. At all other times, the draw shall open on signal. These changes are necessary in order to relieve vehicular traffic congestion on weekends and between the weekday morning and evening rush hour periods, while still providing for the reasonable needs of navigation. A copy of Public Notice 5-1068, which describes the changes in detail, can be obtained by writing to the address above or by calling (757) 398-6222.

The USCG 5 th District Bridge Chief, Mr. Waverly Gregory, assured me that on weekdays, the bridge will open at 6 a.m., at 7 a.m. and at 4 p.m. if a vessel requests an opening at those times.

 Alligator River , NC Shoaling Reported (Mile 81):

We passed through here in early May 2006 and did not notice that it was any shallower than usual (7-8 ft). However, conditions change, so be on the alert. There is nominal tidal range here, but strong wind influences the water level. USCG 5 th District LNM 28 states that there has been a report of shoaling across the channel in the Alligator River between Alligator River Light 7 and Alligator River Light 8 to an approximate depth of 5 feet MLW. Mariners are advised to use extreme caution when transiting this area.

 Old Topsail Creek , NC Channel Remarked:

There was local opposition to the USCG removal of the aids to navigation in the Old Topsail Creek channel from the ICW to New Topsail Inlet (Mile 270). The channel had been reported to be bare in some places at low tide. USCG 5 th District LNM 27 and 28 report that Old Topsail Creek is now again marked, but it was a bit difficult to figure out exactly how unless you plot the new markers on a chart. Or better yet, check www.NauticalCharts.gov/viewer (Chart 11541). Seek local knowledge if you want to go into this side creek off the ICW.

Can You Grasp this?

From USCG 5 th District LNM 27 and 28: The USNS GRASP will be conducting a dead ship tow of the EX-USS THORN through Beaufort Inlet Channel to the NC State Port Morehead City on July 10 2006. On 14 July the USNS GRASP with the EX-USS THORN in a dead ship tow will depart Morehead City via Beaufort Inlet. On 17 July the USNS GRASP with the EX-USS THORN in dead ship tow will return to NC State Port Morehead City via Beaufort Inlet Channel. On 20 July the USNS GRASP with the EX-USS THORN in dead ship tow will depart Morehead City via Beaufort Inlet Channel. The USNS GRASP can be reached on VHF-FM CH 16. Mariners are requested to use caution when operating in the vicinity of the USNS GRASP and her tow. For any comments or questions, contact Chief Warrant Officer Humphrey at Coast Guard Sector North Carolina, (252) 247-4525, or at Christopher.d.humphrey@uscg.mil

Shallow Water at New River, NC:

We are not talking about the ICW here. The bad area of the ICW at New River Crossing is scheduled for dredging before the end of September, 2006. But local users of the inlet and the New River above the ICW Crossing are encountering some shallow water. USCG5th District LNM’s 27 and 28:

The U.S. Army Corps of Engineers survey of New River Inlet, Cedar Bush Cut, dated 26 June, 2006 indicates shoaling to a depth of 1.8 feet MLLW between New River Inlet Buoy 10A and New River Inlet Buoy 10B. This shoal extends across the entire channel. Mariners should avoid transiting this area during periods of low water and exercise caution when transiting during other tidal stages.

There has been a report of shoaling in the New River between New River Daybeacon 16 and New River Channel Light 17 to an approximate depth of 3.5 feet at MLW extending across the channel. Mariners are advised to use extreme caution when transiting this area.

Georgia ICW, Florida Passage:

USCG 7 th Distict LNM 28:

The following changes have been proposed for the aids to navigation system in the IntraCoastal Waterway at Florida Passage.

FLORIDA PASSAGE RANGE FRONT LIGHT (LLNR 36375) will be permanently discontinued.

FLORIDA PASSAGE RANGE REAR DAYBEACON (LLNR 36380) will be permanently discontinued.

All comments should be addressed to Commander (DPW), Seventh Coast Guard District 909 S.E. 1st Ave ( STE 406) Brickell Plaza Federal Bldg, Miami, FL 33131 to be received by 01 September 2006.

This is at Mile 609 where the Florida Passage empties into the Bear River. (It connects the Ogeechee River and the Bear River leading to St. Catherines Sound.) The range keeps us on track as we encounter cross currents in the Bear River and round red nun “102.” This is a badly shoaled area of the Georgia ICW that has not been dredged for at least five years and is reported (by survey by the Savannah District USACE) to be 6 feet deep in the east quarter, 7 feet in the center and 5.5 feet in the west quarter in May, 2006 (MLW).

It is our opinion that this range should not be discontinued.

This information is not to be used for navigation. Consult the latest charts and Local Notices to Mariners and use prudent seamanship. Conditions may change. Any person or entity that uses this information in any way, as a condition of that use, agrees to waive and does waive any and all claims which may arise from or be related to that use.

Copyright 2004-2008 Tom Neale