East Coast Alerts
By Mel Neale
May 31, 2007

USACE Savannah District Quarterly ICW Surveys Show Shallow Water:

Now there’s MORE shallow water in the ICW between Port Royal Sound, SC and the Florida line. There’s been no dredging for around six years in this area because there’s no money allocated for it in the federal budget. The Savannah District of the USACE surveys it on a quarterly basis and issues reports online. The most recent survey was completed in late April and early May. The results in detail are published at http://www.sas.usace.army.mil/AIWWPROF-may07.pdf . A brief synopsis of the worst shoaling areas follows:*

Fields Cut: Mile 573.3-566.0: West quarter: 6.0 ft, Center line: 5.5 ft, East quarter: 8.0 ft.

Hell Gate: Mile 601.4-602.4: West quarter: 6.0 ft, Center line: 2.0 ft, East quarter: 0.5 ft.

Little Mud River: Mile 653-656.4: West quarter: 3.0 ft, Center line: 6.0 ft, East quarter: 4.0 ft.

Altamaha Sound: Mile 656.4-660.1: West quarter: 7.0 ft, Center line: 6.0 ft, East quarter: 7.0 ft.

Buttermilk Sound; Mile 662.1-664.5: West quarter: 2.0 ft, Center line: 4.0 ft, East quarter: 5.0 ft.

Jekyll Creek: Mile 680.9-685.9: West quarter: 2.0 ft, Center line: 5.0 ft, East quarter: 5.0 ft.

Alternate Route around St. Andrew Sound (NOT on the ICW): Mile 686-701.1: Controlling Depth: 5 ft. (center line) in the Umbrella Creek portion.

NOTE: Surveys report the shallowest depth found in each section. The east and west quarters were run 45 ft on either side of the centerline of the channel. Conditions change. The above depths were found on the days tested and may not be accurate when you pass through. The USACE reports that these are mean low water depths. Strong winds and/or lunar tidal cycles can produce even shallower depths than mean low water. West quarters are red marker sides of the channels, and East quarters are the green marker sides of the channels.

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

Change in Schedule for St. Lucie Lock
The latest lock schedule for the Okeechobee Waterway may be found at: http://www.saj.usace.army.mil/conops/structures/2007NavBull/ntn15may.pdf

As of May 22, 2007, the Franklin and St. Lucie Locks will have one opening each way at 10:00 AM and 15:00 PM.

The Ortona, Moorehaven and Port Mayaca Locks are open from 6:00 AM till 21:30 PM and are on an unrestricted schedule.

The navigational draft available on Route 1 is now reported at around 2.91 (May 29, 2007) feet, due to the drought conditions in Florida. Route 2 remains closed. Check http://www.saj.usace.army.mil/nav/index.html .

Easy EPIRB Registration Online:
With the start of the boating season, many of you may be thinking about new safety equipment. EPIRBs save lives. If you are getting a new one this season, or if you haven’t registered yet, or if your information has changed, it’s very easy to register and update at http://www.beaconregistration.noaa.gov/.

Do Mariners Still Need Weather Information on HF Radio?
We think so. The following is from USCG LNMs 18-22:

PUBLIC COMMENT PERIOD ON CONTINUED NEED FOR HF RADIO BROADCAST OF WEATHER WARNINGS
The US Coast Guard is seeking public comment on the need to continue providing high frequency (HF) radio broadcasts of weather forecasts and warnings. Public comment is necessary in order to assess the demand for the HF radio broadcasts in each of three forms: (1) radiofacsimile; (2) voice; and (3) simplex teletype over radio (SITOR), also known as narrow band direct printing (NBDP). The infrastructure necessary to provide these services has exceeded its useful life expectancy; the equipment is no longer manufactured, repairs are difficult to accomplish, and spare parts generally are not available. Comments should be submitted by August 24, 2007 and addressed to Commander (dpw) 5th Coast Guard District., 431 Crawford Street, Rm.100, Portsmouth, VA. 23704-5004.

Commentary: While most people we know on boats with SSB radios (HF transceivers) now rely on other means to receive weather information than the traditional weather fax and voice broadcasts, there are still some boaters who use HF receivers (much less expensive that a transceiver) to access these services. We don’t now how many. HF receivers also provide a helpful alternative when other sources fail. We hope that those of you who still rely on these methods for receiving weather information will respond to the call for Public Comment.

New York Canals Schedule and Info:
The canals opened late this season due to damage from severe weather. Their schedules can be viewed at http://www.nyscanals.gov/news/notices/index.shtml . As a bonus, like last year, fees are waived for 2007 for recreational vessels. General info is at http://www.nyscanals.gov/ . This is good news for all you Loopers starting on that section.

Cape Cod Canal Controlling Clearances Bulletin:
For those of you traveling to New England and Maine this summer, here’s this info, just for your general information. We pleasure boaters will not need these limits, but this gives an idea of what you might encounter in this canal:

Transit:
Controlling Depth: 28 feet

Max Deep Draft: 28 feet* (*31 feet with a MA Pilot that has reviewed applicable surveys) Reduced from 32 feet due to shoaling.

Max Air Draft: 135 feet.

Max Length Overall: 825 feet* (see note below on max beam).

Max Beam: 144 feet* (beam over 125 feet limits max length overall to 760 feet).

Visibility: ½ mile or greater require for vessels carrying flammable cargo.

Mooring:
West End Mooring Basin Controlling Depth: 32 feet.

East End Mooring Basin Controlling Depth: 25 feet* (Vessels drawing more than 15- must use caution to avoid shoal east of mooring dolphins.

Vessels drawing more than 15- and carrying petroleum or hazardous cargoes must use an assist tug to depart the east mooring basin.)

East End Bulkhead Max Deep Draft: 16 feet.* (use caution around 12.7- high spot on extreme west end of bulkhead and 13.3- high spot nearmanifold.)

Esco Terminal docking Max Draft: Westbound 36 feet; Eastbound 31 feet.

Esco Terminal sailing westbound Max Draft: High Slack 28 feet; Low Slack 26 feet.

Navigation Notes
- 28- shoal north side, vicinity of station #450 and buoy #23

- 28- shoal west of Sagamore bridge, south side vicinity of station #155

- 28- shoal near east mooring basin north side, vicinity of station #35

- 15- shoal eastern end of east mooring basin, west of station #30

- 36- shoal east entrance, north side vicinity of stations #15

- 36- shoal east entrance, south side vicinity of station # 5

Bridge Updates:

Possible Debris at Fuller Warren Bridge, St Johns River, FL:
From 7 th USCG District LNM 21: Fuller Warren Bridge across the St. Johns River in Jacksonville may have concrete pilings partially submerged on the northwest side of the channel. Exercise Caution when transiting.

Main Street Bridge, St. Johns River, Jacksonville, FL Temporary Closure:
From 7 th USCG District LNM 22: This bridge will be in the closed position from 6 a.m. to 6 p.m. on June 2 and 3, 2007 for repairs.

Lady’s Island Bridge, ICW Mile 536, SC Schedule:
As reported in the last East Coast Alerts (May 1, 2007), the high level bridge at ICW Mile 639.7 in Beaufort, SC has been damaged and now has a limited schedule for vehicular traffic. The increased traffic on the Lady’s Island Swing Bridge ( Woods Memorial Bridge) at Mile 536 has necessitated restricting its openings for boats. This schedule will likely be in effect until September 1, 2007. The following is the latest from Coast Guard Sector Charleston:
General opening requirements:

1. In accordance with 33 CFR 117.911, the draw shall open on signal to:
   
   Tugs with tows (e.g. pushing or pulling equipment); and
   Vessels in a situation where a delay would endanger life or property.
   
2. As a reminder, in accordance with 33 CFR 117.31, the drawtender will take all reasonable measures to have the draw closed for approaching emergency vehicles.

On Monday through Friday, except Federal holidays:

1. The draw need not open during the following hours:
   
   05:30 a.m. – 09:14 a.m.
   09:30 a.m. – 2:14.m.
   2:30 p.m. – 7:59 p.m.
   
2. The draw will open at the following times:
   05:15 a.m., 09:15 a.m., 2:15 p.m., & 8:00 p.m.
   
3. During the night, the bridge will open on the hour, with the exception that no opening will occur at 05:00 a.m. on weekdays.

Note: Per the general opening regulations, the draw shall open on signal to tugs pushing or pulling tows throughout the day. Recreational boaters are reminded to stay out of the way of tugs and tows lining up to maneuver through the bridge. Recreational boaters that pass through a bridge opening with a tug and tow, shall pass behind the tug and tow in order to ensure safe transit through the bridge.

On Saturday, Sunday and Federal holidays:

1. The draw need not open during the following hours:
   
   07:16 a.m – 9:44 a.m. (Adjusted May 11, 2007)
   10:00 a.m – 1:59 p.m. (Adjusted May 11, 2007)
   2:16 p.m. – 3:59 p.m. (Adjusted May 11, 2007)
   4:16 p.m. – 6:59 p.m.
   
2. The draw will open at the following times:
   07:00 a.m., 9:45 a.m. 2:00 p.m., 4:00 p.m. & 7:00 p.m.

During the night, the bridge will open on the hour, with the exception that no opening will occur at 05:00 a.m. on weekdays.

Bridge of Lions, St. Augustine, FL, May and June, 2007, Bridge Closures:

From the Bridge of Lions Rehabilitation Project:

NIGHT Closures
May 9 – June 30, 2007

7:00 p.m. to 7:00 a.m. (Monday through Thursday Nights)
7:00 p.m. – 2:00 a.m. (Friday Nights)

Channel closed at night, Monday through Friday nights every week until June 30, 2007. (Exception: Channel will remain open Memorial Day weekend.)

DAY Closures
June 4-7, 2007 (Monday through Thursday)

Channel Closed 24 hours, except designated openings listed in this table.
Openings provided only at: 7:00 a.m.,12:30 p.m., ** 7:30 p.m.

June 11-14, 2007 (Monday through Thursday)

Channel Closed 24 hours, except designated openings listed in this table.
Openings provided only at: 7:00 a.m., 1:30 p.m., ** 7:00 p.m.

*Requests for all bridge openings, even at designated opening times, must be made via marine radio to the Bridge Tender on Channel 9.

** During the June daytime closures, these openings will still be provided even though they overlap into a scheduled night closure.

These closures have been reviewed and approved by the U.S. Coast Guard. Questions? Call (904) 825-3647 or (904) 669-1165.  

Sebastian River , FL, Dredging:
USCG 7 th District LNM 22 states that Subaqueous Services are advising all mariners transiting the San Sebastian River between the U.S. 1 bridge and the North Prong Dam, that this portion of the river is being used as a staging area for floating and submerged pipelines. The piping is marked with identification buoys and lights. Actual dates and locations/positions of new dredging area will be updated in this Local Notice to Mariners as they commence: (See below for new location/position as of May 29, 2007) Dredging will commence on June 1, 2007, in the vicinity of 27 degrees 50-48.28N, 080 degrees 28-19.43W. This work will continue for approximately 35-45 days, on or about July 21, 2007. This work will include a 150' X 40' 16" hydraulic dredge C-WAY, one (1) tug boat (Razorback), two (2) tender boats, and one (1) flexifloat barge. Dredge operations will continue twelve (12) daylight hours a day, seven (7) days a week until completion. All vessels can be contacted on VHF Channel 1 for safety and maneuvering information. All mariners are urged to transit this area with extreme caution and a slow safe speed as some pipe is submerged. For further information please contact Mr. Chris Faught at (321) 228-0235.

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.