East Coast Alerts
By Mel Neale
June 14, 2007

Ft. Lauderdale , FL. Las Olas Moorings Closed Temporarily:
The moorings at Las Olas Bight, just to the south of the Las Olas Bridge, are closed temporarily for maintenance. These are operated by the City of Ft. Lauderdale. We don’t yet have a date for reopening, but we’ll keep you posted. Levend Ekendiz, the Dockmaster at the city’s Las Olas Marina (954 828 7200) across the ICW from the moorings, says that there are ample spaces to tie at the docks. For boats that are able to tie at the floating docks, the cost may be less than a mooring, depending on the boat’s length. He notes that there are many summer season entertainment events in the area that boaters should find attractive. *

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

Proposed New Anchoring Regulation in Maine, Comment Period:
These are from the USCG 1 st District USCG LNM 23. They call for public comment (that’s YOU). If you are concerned, then comment.

SUMMARY: The Coast Guard proposes to establish three special anchorage areas in Yarmouth, Maine on Casco Bay. This action is necessary to facilitate safe navigation in that area and to provide safe and secure anchorages for vessels of not more that 65 feet. This proposal is intended to increase the safety for life and property on Casco Bay, improve the safety of anchored vessels, create workable boundaries for future mooring expansion, and provide for the overall safe and efficient flow of recreational vessels and commerce.

SUMMARY: The Coast Guard proposes to establish a general anchorage area in Edgecomb, Maine, on the Sheepscot River. This action is necessary to facilitate safe navigation in that area and to provide safe and secure anchorages for transient vessels visiting the area. This proposal is intended to increase the safety for life and property on the Sheepscot River, improve the safety of anchored vessels, provide for ample anchorages for transient vessels, and provide for the overall safe and efficient flow of recreational vessels and commerce.

DATES: Comments and related material must reach the Coast Guard on or before 23 July 2007.

ADDRESSES: You may mail comments and related material to Commander (dpw), First Coast Guard District, 408 Atlantic Ave., Boston, Massachusetts 02110, who maintains the public docket for this rulemaking. Comments and material received from the public, as well as documents indicated in this preamble as being available in the docket, will become part of this docket and will be available for inspection or copying at room 628, First Coast Guard District Boston, between 8 a.m. and 3 p.m., Monday through Friday, except Federal holidays.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Mr. John J. Mauro, Commander (dpw), First Coast Guard District, 408 Atlantic Ave., Boston, Massachusetts 02110, Telephone (617) 223-8355 or email at John.J.Mauro@uscg.mil.

MA-PLYMOUTH, KINGSTON AND DUXBURY HARBORS-PLYMOUTH HARBOR-Revised
USCG 1 st District LNM 23: On July 1, 2007 the Boston Traffic Separation Scheme will be revised per the International Maritime Organization (IMO) COLREG.2/Cire.58/dated 11 December 2006 and Corr.1 dated 26 February 2007. NOAA is preparing five nautical chart new editions showing the changes. The charts are National Ocean Service (NOS) Charts 13200, 13009, 13267, 13260 & 13006. These paper charts showing the entire changes will be available for sale July 1st when the routing measure takes effect. Print-on-Demand (POD) NOS charts of these five new editions will be available from OceanGrafix ( www.OceanGrafix.com ) starting in June. NOS Raster Navigational Charts ( http://www.chartmaker.ncd.noaa.gov ) will also show the changes starting in June. The NOS charts not showing the full scheme will be revised with "Chart corrections" published in the LNM the last week of June.

Bridge Repair, New Jersey ICW:
USCG 5 th District LNM 23: Mariners are advised that fender system repairs will be conducted at the Route 30 Bridge, at ICW 67.2, across Beach Thorofare, at Atlantic City, NJ, from 7 a.m. to 3:30 p.m., Monday to Friday, from June 4 through August 6, 2007. To facilitate the repairs, a 17-foot Carolina skiff and two work floats, measuring 8 ft X 12 ft, will occupy the channel. This will be a movable operation as not to impede vessel traffic.

More Dredging on Chesapeake at Poplar Island:
Frim USCG 5 th District LNM 23: The Southwind Construction Corp. DREDGE JENNI LEA will be conducting dredging operations in the vicinity of Poplar Island from 13 June until 01 December, 2007. A submerged and floating pipeline will be on site and marked with lights. The dredge and assist vessels PROUD MARY and DANNY JOE will monitor VHF-FM channels 13 & 16. Operations will be conducted 24 hours a day 7 days a week.

Chincoteague VA , Alternate Channel:
This is from the USCG 5 th District LNM 23 and it’s just in time for the annual Pony Swim, when there are a lot of strangers in town in boats: On or about May 29, 2007 America Bridge will establish six Daybeacon to mark an alternate channel during bridge construction across Chincoteague Channel/Lewis Creek, until January 2009.

A. America Bridge Temporary Alternate Chincoteague/ Lewis Creek Channel Daybeacon 31 37 56 17.018 - 75 22 22.333 SG on pile

B. America Bridge Temporary Alternate Chincoteague/ Lewis Creek Channel Daybeacon 2B 37 56 18.383 - 75 22 20.211 TR on pile.

C. America Bridge Temporary Alternate Chincoteague/ Lewis Creek Channel Daybeacon 2A 37 56 19.331 - 75 22 18.837 TR on pile.

D. America Bridge Temporary Alternate Chincoteague/ Lewis Creek Channel Daybeacon 1A 37 56 20.754 - 75 22 16.972 SG on pile.

E. America Bridge Temporary Alternate Chincoteague/ Lewis Creek Channel Daybeacon 1B 37 56 19.872 - 75 22 19.183 SG on pile.

F. America Bridge Temporary Alternate Chincoteague/ Lewis Creek Channel Daybeacon 1C 37 56 18.730 -75 22 20.849 SG on pile.

Chart: 12211.

Dredging in Lower Chesapeake Shipping Lanes:
USCG 5 th District LNM 23 states that the U.S. Army ACOE hopper DREDGE MCFARLAND will be conducting dredging operations in the Cape Henry and York Spit Channels from 15 June through 15 August, 2007. The dredge will monitor VHF-FM channel 13 & 16.

Dangerous Obstructions at Chesapeake Bay Entrance:
While this will presumably only affect large vessels with deep draft, it’s nice to know that someone is checking these things out. The USCG 5 th District LNM 23 states that a NOAA survey of the approaches to the Chesapeake Bay (southeast end of the Chesapeake Channel) is reporting the following hazards to navigation:

A. Dangerous Obstruction; least depth 11 feet; at 37-00-14.140N, 075-58-37.745W.

B. Dangerous Obstruction; least depth 31 feet; at 36-59-31.204N, 075-59-58.600W.

Dredging in Alligator River-Pungo River Canal, NC ICW:
From USCG 5 th District LNM 24: The DREDGE RICHMOND will be conducting dredging operations in the vicinity of Walter B. Jones Bridge on the Alligator River/ Pungo Canal from 12 June until 01 September, 2007. The dredge will monitor VHF-FM channels 13 & 16.

Comment: It was our observation that the water was not particularly shoal here when we passed in May, 2007, although this is always subject to change. There are many more serious problem areas in the NC portion of the ICW such as Lockwoods Folly Inlet Crossing, Carolina Beach Inlet Crossing and New River Crossing. Or the Alligator River Entrance (this one is really not bad unless you pass too close to flashing red “8” or miss the new entrance markers),

Dredging in Beaufort, NC:
From USCG 5 th District LNM 23-24:The DREDGE MARION will be conducting dredging operations in the vicinity of Taylor's Creek from 01 June through 20 June, 2007. The dredge will monitor VHF-FM channels 13 and 16.

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 .

ICW Shoaling, SC, Daufuskee Landing Area:
From USCG 7 th District LNM 24: Extensive shoaling has been reported in the vicinity of Ramshorn Creek Temp Buoy 40A. The approximate position is 32-26.872N 080-53.883W.

Comment: This would be a new marker. It was not there in May, 2007 when we passed.

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.)

*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. For information please contact Mr. Chris Faught at (321) 228-0235.

GPS May Be Unreliable through the end of 2007 in Central Florida:
Comment: while this seems like it could be really bad for boaters, the position plots out to be on land, and the only boats that could be affected, insofar as we can tell, would be in the restricted area of the Banana River west of Kennedy Space Center or closer to shore than they should be east or south of the Cape Canaveral.

This is from the USCG 7 th District LNM 24: The GPS Navigational Signal may be unreliable from 25 May 2007 through 31 December 2007, due to interference testing on GPS Frequencies 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 3NM radius of position 28-28-14N 080-34-48W. During this period GPS users are encouraged to report any GPS service outages that they may experience during this testing via the Navigation Information Service (NIS) by calling (703) 313-5900 or by using the NAVCEN's web-site's GPS report a problem worksheet at www.navcen.uscg.gov

Shoaling at Ponce Inlet and ICW at Ponce Cut, New Smyrna Beach Area, Florida:
The USCG 7 th District LNM 24 reports the following shoaling:

The Shoaling has been reported in the vicinity of Ponce de Leon Inlet Temporary Buoy 7B, and encroaching from the east in approximate position 29-04-22.226N 080-55-19.176W. All mariners are urged to use extreme caution while transiting the area.

Comment: This inlet frequently shoals and markers are often added or moved to reflect such. Check for the latest information if you choose to use Ponce de Leon Inlet.

Shoaling has been reported in the vicinity of Ponce Cut Temporary Buoy 18A in approximate position 29-03-25.845N 080-54-50.430W. All mariners are advised to use extreme caution while transiting the area.

Comment: The ICW has been shoaling for years here in the vicinity of red daybeacon “18” and the green/red junction marker that’s now where the charts may show flashing green “19.” The temporary buoy “18A” should help, but it has been our observation for the last few times we’ve been past that the shoaling (to around 6 feet at mean low water) extends entirely across the channel.

Dredging of Sebastian Inlet, FL:
Dredging will finally be taking place in the channel from the Indian River ICW to Sebastian Inlet, in conjunction with dredging of the upper Sebastian River. This area has been filling in for many years and has had various levels of depths, usually of around three feet controlling. It is crossed by a fixed bridge of 37 ft. vertical clearance, so this is not a large sailboat inlet, but is very popular locally for recreational, sport fishing and charter boat use. The dredging area is marked. Refer to http://www1.tcpalm.com/tcp/local_news/article/0,2545,TCP_16736_5573770,00.html for details .

Change in Schedule for St. Lucie and Franklin Locks:
The latest lock schedule for the Okeechobee Waterway may be found at: http://www.saj.usace.army.mil/conops/structures/2007NavBull/ntn30May.pdf .

As of June 7, 2007, the Franklin and St. Lucie Locks will have one opening each way at 12:00 noon.

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

Check http://www.saj.usace.army.mil/nav/index.html for other information, such as navigational draft available. On June 12 at 2400 hours the navigational draft available for Route 1 was 2.87 feet.

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, or it’s been two years since you registered, 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.

This information is not to be used for avigation. 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.