East Coast Alerts
By Mel Neale
October 19, 2006

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

Okeechobee Waterway, Florida, Route 2 Finally Open:
Enclosure 10 to the 7th District USCG LNM 42 is an Oct 11, 2006 Notice to Navigation Interests from the Jacksonville District USACE announcing that finally, almost a year after being closed following Hurricane Wilma, Route 2, Okeechobee Waterway is now free of all “known debris” and is open. The lake elevation is 13.2 feet, with an available draft of 4.52 feet on this route.

However, mariners are cautioned to proceed at their own risk as the USCG has not yet been able to restore aids to navigation. 

No New Malaria Cases Reported in Great Exuma, Bahamas:
The CDC has rescinded its recommendation that travelers to Great Exuma, Bahamas, take specific precautions relating to malaria. There have been no new cases of malaria reported there since June 19, 2006. Check http://www.cdc.gov/travel/other/2006/malaria_bahamas.htm

Cape May , NJ . Dredging:
From the 1 st District LNM 42: The Dredge LEXINGTON will be conducting dredging operations in the Cape May Inlet Channel from 23 October until 15 December, 2006. The dredges will monitor marine VHF channels 13 and 16.

York River , VA Caution:
Most transient boaters who enter the York River stop at York River Yacht Haven, Gloucester Point, just east of this bridge, but some do occasionally venture further up the river. If you have any thought of doing that, please note the following from the 5 th District LNM 42: PRECON Marine, Inc. will begin a 7 - 10 day operation to install a fiberoptic cable across the York River between Yorktown and Gloucester Point on October 24, 2006. These operations will last approximately 7 - 10 days, 24 hrs/day and will take place approximately 1500 feet west of the Coleman Bridge. To complete the project, PRECON Marine utilize a tug and barge arrangement which will propel itself forward by using winches attached to two 6000 lb anchors up to 600 feet ahead of the tug and barge assembly. Mariners are requested to use extreme caution while transiting this area and to coordinate closely with the TUG DOTTI J. on VHF channel 13 prior to passing. Additionally, PRECON Marine will be communicating closely with the Coleman Bridge operator throughout this project. For further information please contact PRECON Marine at 545- 4400.

Norfolk/Portsmouth VA Caution:
Snowbirds take note: The USCG 5 th District LNM 42 announces that the International Search and Rescue Competition 2006 will be held on the Elizabeth River in Portsmouth, Virginia, by the North Landing dock. This event will be held on October 27 and 28, 2006. Fast-moving small craft will be in the general area of the Town Point Reach channel. Mariners are advised to use caution when transiting the area.

Rudee Inlet , Virginia , Again:
From 5 th District LNM 42: The City of Virginia Beach Survey of Rudee Inlet, dated October 12, 2006, indicates a least depth of 7.5 feet, MLLW across the outbound entrance channel, approximately 300 feet East of the South Jetty; and a least depth of 8 feet, MLLW across the inbound entrance channel, approximately 200 feet East of the North Jetty. The survey also indicates a least depth of 8 feet, MLLW, across the channel just West of the inside South Jetty. Marine are advised to use caution.

Charleston Harbor , SC , Aids to Navigation Change Proposed:
From USCG 7 th District LNM 42: The following changes have been proposed for the aids to navigation system in the Wando River.

Discontinue WANDO RIVER RANGE E FRONT DBN (LLNR 3465) and establish Daybeacon 31 displaying Square Green on dolphin.

Permanently discontinue WANDO RIVER RANGE E REAR DBN (LLNR 3470).

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 15 December 2006.

St. Lucie Inlet, Florida, Shoaling Reported Again:
From the USCG 7 th District LNMs 41 and 42: Extensive shoaling has been reported in the St Lucie Inlet, with the depth of water across the entire inlet decreased to approximately five (5) feet. All mariners are advised to stay alert and transit the area with extreme caution.

Florida Bridge News:
Just a few reminders from the USCG 7 th District LNM 42 Bridge Enclosure:

The Bridge of Lions, Mile 779.9, will be closed from 10:00 p.m. till 2:00 a.m. and from 2:05 a.m. till 6:00 a.m. on November 13 through November 15, 2006.

Demolition activity continues at the old Ernest F. Lyons Bridge, Mile 984.9, until December 30, 2006. Demolition blasting is scheduled for October 23 and November 14, 2006.

The PGA Bridge, Mile 1012.6, is on single leaf operation. There is a complete closure of this bridge scheduled from Oct 23 at 7:00 a.m. through 5:00 p.m. on Oct. 24, 2006.

The East 79 th Street Bridge over the Indian River in Biscayne Bay, Miami/Dade County (this is NOT on the ICW) continues to be closed due to construction and will not open until November 15, 2006.

Fender repair is underway at the Roosevelt Bridge (US1), Mile 7.4, Okeechobee Waterway. Work will be done outside the channel. Mariners are asked to proceed with minimum speed.

The Cape Coral Bridge, Mile 142, Okeechobee Waterway, will have its horizontal clearance reduced to 45 feet between 7:00 a.m. and 5:00 p.m. until December 18, 2006.

 ICW Conference Scheduled: BoatUS News Release  

WATERWAY’S ECONOMIC IMPACT AND FUTURE TO BE DISCUSSED AT AIWA ANNUAL CONFERENCE NOVEMBER 15 & 16

The future of the Atlantic Intracoastal Waterway (ICW) and its economic impact will top the agenda at the upcoming Atlantic Intracoastal Waterway Association’s (AWIA) Annual Meeting to be held Thursday, November 16 at the Blockade Runner Resort and Conference Center in Wrightsville Beach, NC. “Working Together to Make a Difference” is the theme of this year’s annual meeting.

Stretching over 1200 miles from Norfolk, VA, to Miami, FL, the strategic waterway has fallen on hard times. Two challenges facing the waterway are minimal appropriations for maintenance as well as an awkward federal budgeting process that fails to recognize the waterway’s importance as a transportation system for waterborne commerce and recreational vessel traffic along the Eastern Seaboard.

“The good news is that we are making a difference,” reports Ryck Lydecker, AWIA Board Member and assistant vice president of Government Affairs for BoatU.S. “Thanks to the support of ICW users and the many communities along the waterway that have joined forces, Congress is beginning to listen — last year it overrode the Bush administration’s waterway maintenance budget of less than $4 million, increasing it to nearly $13 million. However, that is still far short of what is needed to keep the waterway open so one goal of the meeting is to develop grass roots strategies to continue the momentum,” he added.

Government policy continues to short-change the waterway, Lydecker says, because budgeting for federal maintenance is done piecemeal. “The entire route between Norfolk, VA and Miami, FL must be regarded as an integral transportation system, much as interstate highways, to ensure cost-effective and safe navigation conditions,” he said.

The meeting begins Wednesday evening November 15 with an opening reception and exhibits at 5:00 pm. The following day will feature reports from the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers, which is charged by Congress with maintaining the waterway; a report on the economic impact of the waterway in North Carolina; strategy sessions for continued waterway funding; a report on the European inland waterway system; and a discussion on “short seas shipping” on the East Coast. The highlight of the day will be presentation of Waterway Stewardship Awards to 12 North Carolina communities that joined forces with the state and federal governments to address critical dredging needs.

More information plus on-line conference registration is available at http://www.atlintracoastal.org or by phone at: 703-719-7273. BoatU.S. – The Boat Owners Association Of The United States - is a charter member of AIWA.

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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 and also hold authors harmless from any and all claims which may arise from or be related to that use.