East Coast Alerts
By Mel Neale
July 27, 2006

Italicized text indicates our comment. Plain text is copied from the Notices to Mariners or other sources given.

New Free Booklet Charts Offered by NOAA:

Check http://www.nauticalcharts.gov/bookletcharts/ for info about a new offering of free charts from NOAA. The only one available now is of the Chesapeake Bay. The downloads are huge, but the concept is great. You will need broadband access.

Barrington , RI Bridge--Low Hanging Beams Cause Accident:

Boaters in the Barrington, RI area should be aware of the newly placed construction beams on the Barrington River Bridge which limit vertical clearance on the left and right side of the bridge to around 6 ft. at high tide. An accident there on July 16 caused considerable damage to a boat, but no serious injuries. Look for more warning signs in the area. See the article at http://www.eastbayri.com/story/286650540647614.php .

Thames River, New London, CT. Amtrak RR Bridge Closure:

From USCG First District LNM 29: Restricted Bridge Openings – Due to structural damage discovered at the Amtrak RR Bridge across Thames River at mile 3.0, the bridge will remain in the closed position until further notice, except for the following periods when the bridge will remain open for the passage of marine traffic:

Monday through Friday 5:00 a.m. to 5:40 a.m., 11:20 a.m. to 11:55 p.m., 3:34 p.m. to 4:15 p.m. and 8:30 p.m. to 8:57 p.m.

Saturday 8:30 a.m. to 9:10 a.m., 12:36 p.m. to 1:05 p.m., 3:40 p.m. to 4:10 p.m., 5:34 p.m. to 6:07 p.m. and 7:33 p.m. to 8:40 p.m.

Sunday 8:30 a.m., to 9:20 a.m., 11:35 a.m. to 12:15 p.m., 1:27 p.m. to 1:55 p.m., 6:27 p.m. to 7:13 p.m. and 8:28 p.m. to 9:16 p.m.

All vessels capable of passing under the closed draw may do so at anytime. Mariners are advised to transit the area with caution and plan accordingly.

Hudson River Closed for a Day:

First District USCG LNM 28 and 29 state that Kiewit Tully Constructions will be conducting operations to transfer the new span of the 145th Street Bridge, 310 ft. long by 85 ft. wide by 60 ft. tall, from its land based erection site onto the barge ATLAS commencing on or about Friday, July 28, 2006. Operations requiring Waterway restrictions are planned to take place during one 12-hour period. This portion of the Hudson River at Roah Hook will be CLOSED TO ALL TRAFFIC while operations are underway during this period. Picket boats will be on scene to prevent vessel transits. Mariners are advised to plan accordingly and any questions can be directed to Kiewit Tully Constructions at (201) 832-0108.

 Shoaling in Upper Delaware River and in Delaware Bay:

Following the flooding in late June, there were reports of shoaling in many areas of the Upper Delaware Bay and at Miah Maull Range in Delaware Bay. Well, most pleasure boaters need not worry, as most of the reported “shoals” seem to be in the approximate range of 30 to 35 feet deep, except for one which was already a shoal and now is 14 to 21 feet deep. A few have not been reported yet. For a complete list, see Fifth District LNM’s 29 and 30.

DelMarVa Boaters:

USCG 5 th District LNM 30 announces that the Indian River Inlet South Jetty Light (LLNR 4375) will be temporarily discontinued on 27 July 2006 for repair work for approximately two weeks. A 150'x45' crane barge with two small tugboats to assist will be moored near the south jetty. All mariners are requested to proceed with caution and to proceed at a slow speed and produce no wake in the vicinity of the barge.

 GPS Signal Interference in the Chesapeake Bay:

Fifth District LNM 30 carried this warning:

INTERFERENCE TO THE GPS NAVIGATION SIGNAL 25NM FROM THE PATUXENT RIVER NAVAL AIR STATION

1. THE GPS NAVIGATION SIGNAL MAY BE UNRELIABLE DUE TO INTERFERENCE TESTING ON THE FREQUENCIES OF M1575 AND M1227 USED IN SHIPBOARD NAVIGATION AND HANDHELD SYSTEMS. GPS SYSTEMS THAT RELY ON GPS, SUCH AS E-911, AIS AND DSC, MAY BE AFFECTED WITHIN A 25NM RADIUS OF POSITION 38-15.42N 076-26.02 W AT SEA LEVEL.

2. INTERFERENCE TESTING WILL BE CONDUCTED ON THE FOLLOWING DATES:

12 JUL 06 THRU 27 OCT 06 1200Z-2000Z (MONDAY-FRIDAY ONLY)

30 OCT 06 THRU 31 OCT 06 1300Z-2100Z (MONDAY-FRIDAY ONLY)

3. MORE INFORMATION IS AVAILABLE AT THE COAST GUARD NAVIGATION CENTER WEB SITE WWW.NAVCEN.USCG.GOV AND THE MIRROR SITE WWW.NAVCENTER.ORG. GPS USERS ARE ENCOURAGED TO REPORT ANY GPS SERVICE OUTAGES THAT THEY MAY BE EXPERIENCING DURING THIS TESTING VIA THE NAVIGATION INFORMATION SERVICE ( NIS) BY CALLING (703)313-5900.

New Lights in Busy Hampton Roads, VA:

If you’ve ever tried to transit this busy port at night you will understand the need for this change. The 5th District USCG LNM 29 and 30 state that the Coast Guard has approved high intensity flashing green lights, visible over a 360 degree arc of the horizon to be displayed from the mastheads of the Elizabeth River Ferries. Given the prevailing conditions of the Eastern Branch of the Elizabeth River, the Coast Guard has determined that the installation of these lights enhanced the safety and visibility of these ferries to other vessel operators transiting the Town Point Reach in the vicinity of Norfolk, VA. These light characteristics were chosen as they are easily distinguishable from other lights, are not confused with other navigation lights, and allow mariners to quickly identify the ferries against the background of white, pink, and amber lights found on the surrounding shore. This additional safety measure is voluntary and designed to provide the mariner an advanced notice of the vessels' presence on the waterway between sunset and sunrise.

Final Rule for New Pedestrian Bridge Across Dismal Swamp Canal:

5 th District USCG LNM 30 states the following: Effective on August 16, 2006, the Coast Guard is establishing new regulations that govern the operation of the new Great Dismal Swamp Canal Bridge, at AICW mile 28.0, in South Mills, NC. The new regulations will allow the Great Dismal Swamp Canal Bridge to remain open to navigation, closing only for pedestrian crossings and periodic maintenance. The final rule will maintain a level of operational capabilities that will continue to provide for the reasonable needs of the North Carolina Department of Parks of Recreation Visitor Center, at Great Dismal Swamp, and vessel navigation.

Shallotte Inlet ICW Crossing, NC--New USACE Survey Finds Lots of Water:

Check http://www.saw.usace.army.mil/nav/cfr-lr.htm for the latest survey of Shallotte Inlet Crossing of the ICW. The USACE Wilmington survey of June 13, 2006 shows the controlling depth here to now be 11.5 ft, as marked. Markers in this crossing and at the Lockwoods Folly Inlet Crossing have been moved to show the deeper water after dredging.

Dredging in Winyah Bay, SC ICW:

USCG 7 th District LNM 29 states that Cottrell Contracting Corporation has advised that dredging Operations will commence in the vicinity of Winyah Bay Range E between Winyah Bay Channel Lighted Buoy 23 and Winyah Bay Channel Light 28 on or about July 23, 2006. This operation will be ongoing twenty-four (24) hours per day, seven (7) days per week until completion on or about September 2, 2006. The dredge LEXINGTON will be on-scene and will monitor VHF Channel 13 and 16. All mariners are requested to stay clear of the dredge, pipelines, barge, derricks, and operating wires about the dredge. All operators should be aware that the dredge and pontoons lines are held in place by cables, which are attached to anchors some distance from the dredge and pontoons. Buoys are attached to the anchors so they may be moved as the dredge moves. Submerged lines should be avoided. Mariners are requested to exercise extreme caution when approaching, passing and leaving the dredge plant.

Thunderbolt Marina, Savannah GA Closed for Improvements:

Thunderbolt Marina, formerly Palmer Johnson Marina, will be closed from now though the third week in August while new concrete floating docks and transient services are installed.Check www.thunderboltmarine.us/TboltMarina.htm .

CBP Officers at South Florida Marinas for Weekend Check-ins:

Customs and Border Protection officers will be at four South Florida marinas on weekends from now till Labor Day (Sunday and Monday following each weekend, and Tuesday as well after Labor Day) for face to face check-ins of vessels and crew arriving from foreign ports. This will mean that boaters will not have to make the inconvenient trip with all persons aboard their vessels to the nearest CBP office in each area. The marinas are: Miami Beach Marina, Lauderdale Marina, Sailfish Marina at Singer Island and Sailfish Marina at Stuart. This service has been in effect since Memorial Day; look for more next summer.

Miami Beach , FL Area-- East 79 th Street Causeway Bridge Closed :

The Coast Guard informed us in the 7 th District LNM 30, Enclosure 6, Bridge Construction and Repair/Drawbridge Status, that the contractor for repairing the East Span of the 79 th Street Causeway Bridge over the Indian River in Miami/Dade County will not be able to open the bridge from now until September, 2006. This is NOT on the ICW. This bridge had previously been under a restricted opening schedule all summer, but no more.

Slowdown in Dredging Project at Everglades National Park (Flamingo) Marina:

The USCG 7 th Distric LNM 30 also stated that URS Corporation has advised that due to ongoing delays with the dredging project at Everglades National Park this project will not be completed until 31 August 2006. Dredging will be from Flamingo Channel Light 15 (LLNR 15710) to the boat launch. The approximately position of the project: 25-08-28.320N 080-55-17.760W. The dredging will be five (5) days per week from sunup to sunset. A shore based and barge-mounted excavator will be utilized for the project. Boaters may still access the Whitewater Bay area from Flamingo via the Buttonwood Canal and associated boat launch. Fuel will be available on the Buttonwood Canal side of the marina. For further information contact Everglades National Park at (305) 242-7700 or (305) 695- 242-2945. The marina can be contacted at (239) 695-3101.

Chub Cay Marina Open Again:

The Chub Cay Resort and Marina is open again for transients (877 234 CHUB, www.chubcay.com). Some services may not yet be available. Prepare to pay well for the privilege of staying here, fees reported at: $3.50 per foot per day Nov. 15-Aug. 15; $2.50 per foot per day Aug. 16-Nov. 14. Customs and Immigration are available as is fuel.

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