East Coast Alerts
By Mel Neale
June 28, 2007

Much Needed Dredging in Matanzas Inlet FL, ICW Mile 792.5:
When we passed last April, it was only five feet deep in parts and getting shallower. Florida provides state funding for dredging through the Florida Inland Navigation District (FIND) and is not totally dependent on the federal government to keep its Intracoastal Waterway open, like states further north. FIND is funded by taxes on waterfront property. I spoke with Mr. Stewart mentioned below and he said that it would be dredged to at least the federally mandated 12 feet deep at MLW. From the USCG 7 th District LNM 25:* Southwind Construction Corporation has advised that hydraulic dredging operations will commence on or about June 27, 2007. The hydraulic dredge WILCO and two (2) tenders (Miss Leanne and Betty Lou), will be on scene and monitoring VHF-FM Channels 13 and 16 with Working Channel being 69. All mariners be advised that floating rubber and submerged polythylene pipeline associated with dredging operation will be on-scene and visibly lighted and marked according to U.S. Coast Guard Regulations. Mariners are urged to use extreme caution in the area and transit at their slowest safe speed to minimize wake, and proceed with caution after passing arrangements have been made. The pipeline will traverse southerly along edge of right descending bank from Matanzas River Light 82 (LLNR 3955), and then will be submerged southeasterly across the ICW to the Matanzas River. The pipeline shall be submerged along the existing channel of the Matanzas River, beneath the Highway A1A bridge to the point of discharge on the Atlantic Beach at Old Highway A1A. This project will be continous twenty-four (24) hours per day and seven (7) days per week until completion on or about September 15, 2007. For further information please contact Mr. Darrell Stewart at (812) 867-7220 or (812) 455-7199.

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

Lady’s Island Bridge, Beaufort SC, ICW Mile 536, Resumes Normal Schedule:
From a Coast Guard Charleston MSIB: Effective 0800 on June 25, 2007, the Coast Guard has returned the Lady’s Isl and Swing Bridge across the Beaufort River, Mile 536.0, Beaufort, SC to the normal scheduled openings established in 33 CFR 117.911(f).

St. Julian Creek Danger, Norfolk VA, ICW Mile 4.95:
Another sailboat is lost, but no lives this time. For the reported third time in seven years, a northbound sailing vessel has met disaster while traveling the ICW by taking the wrong route after passing through the Gilmerton Bridge northbound and, leaving the ICW, heading straight into unmarked St. Julian Creek. The correct ICW channel makes a sharp right turn around Money Point and is clearly defined by the green markers and the magenta line. The problem up St. Julian Creek is an overhead power cable with a 45 ft. vertical clearance. I am not familiar with the seven year old story (this info came from a local TV newscast), but I do remember the previous most recent one just a few years ago. That boat was a total loss (burned up), one of the two people aboard died and the other was seriously injured. The most recent one happened just a few days ago. A jet skier rescued the singlehand liveaboard reportedly bound north from Florida, but the boat was shown capsized and burning, a total loss to his home.

Although we don’t know the facts of this specific case and make no implication or inference as what happened, this is a mistake that can be made through inattention to the charts and the markers in the channel. Pay attention. There are many areas where the twists and turns of the ICW can be confusing if you’re not paying close attention and carefully following updated charts. Also be careful to avoid the tendency to “Follow the Leader”. We observed about 15 boats carefully “Follow the Leader” on an incorrect route out of the Alligator River in NC this spring. No one ran aground, miraculously. Even in the protected ICW, accidents can happen.

New Bridge at New Bern, NC:
From USCG 5 th District LNM 26: Mariners are advised that work is in progress to replace the existing US 70/Alfred Cunningham (swing-type) Bridge, at mile 0.0, across Trent River, at New Bern NC, with a new lift bridge. This phase of the work will involve the removal of the swing span and fender system commencing on or about July 5, 2007. Scheduled work hours will be from 7 a.m. to 5:30 p.m., Monday thru Friday, and will remain in effect until August 24, 2007. To facilitate the work, the swing span will be maintained in the open position to vessels allowing traffic through one channel until removal. A barge, measuring 40 ft X 140 ft, will occupy the other channel to remove the piles and fender system. The contractor will also use work boats in the vicinity. Excessive speed and wake by boaters may cause serious effects to the bridge project. It is important that mariners obey the speed restrictions and reduce wakes through the work zone. Mariners should use extreme caution when transiting the area.

New Cape Fear River Range Light:
From USCG 5 th District LNM 26: Sunny Point Terminal Entrance Range Rear Light will be established in position 33 59 49.581N, 077 57 34.176W showing a Iso G 6s, characteristic visible 1.5 degrees either side of the range line, and lighted 24 hours a day.

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 .

Bridge of Lions, St. Augustine, FL, July 2007, Bridge Closure:
July 2007
Channel Closures
Notice To Mariners:

The channel will be closed at the Bridge of Lions temporary bridge in St. Augustine as follows:

July 9-12, 2007(Monday through Thursday) Channel Closed 24 hours, except openings provided only at: 7:00 a.m., 12:30 p.m. and 5:30 p.m.

July 16-19, 2007 (Monday through Thursday) Channel Closed 24 hours, except designated openings provided only at: 7:00 a.m., 11:30 a.m. and 6:00 p.m.

NIGHT Closures July 9 – Aug. 3, 2007, 7:00 p.m. to 7:00 a.m. (Monday through Thursday Nights) and 7:00 p.m. – 2:00 a.m. (Friday Nights). Channel closed at night, Monday through Friday nights every week through August 3, 2007.

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

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

I spoke with Laurie Sanderson today regarding the closure of the channel. She reports that the actual channel beneath the bridge will be blocked by barges most of the time during the closure periods, so even boats that can normally pass under the bridge will not be able to go through. The side spans outside the channel will be open.

INSTALLATION OF LED LANTERNS ON AIDS TO NAVIGATION: SEVENTH COAST GUARD DISTRICT
Now the 7 th District will be changing over to LEDs just like the First District. The 5 th District is implementing a year long test on specific lights and has asked for public comment before switching as the First and Seventh Districts are doing (see list below). From the USCG 7 th District LNM 25: The U. S. Coast Guard will be installing state of art LED lanterns on aids to navigation through out the Seventh Coast Guard District. The only change to published characteristics will be an increase or decrease in nominal range. As a rule, the change will be an increase in nominal range. On those occasions where a decrease in nominal range may occur, and this reduction in service to the mariner is greater than one nautical mile, the Coast Guard will publish a proposed change and/or an advance notice in this publication. Mariners are requested to review the District Local Notice to Marine closely for changes in their area.

LED Field Test in Fifth District Area:

The Coast Guard will be conducting a one-year field test using self contained Light Emitting Diode (LED) Lanterns. The LED lanterns will replace standard lighting equipment on the following aids to navigation:

Chesapeake Channel Lighted Buoy 23 (LLNR 7150)
Chesapeake Channel Lighted Buoy 33 (LNRL 7200)
Chesapeake Channel Lighted Buoy 34 (LLNR 7205)
Chesapeake Channel Lighted Buoy 86 (LLNR 7755)
Chesapeake Channel Lighted Wreck Buoy WR 87 (LLNR 7765)
Fort McHenry Channel Lighted Buoy 18 (LLNR 8310)
Thimble Shoal Channel Lighted Bell Buoy 9 (LLNR 9255)
Thimble Shoal Channel Lighted Buoy 15 (LLNR 9285)
Elizabeth River Channel Lighted Bell Buoy 3 (LLNR 9465)
Norfolk International Terminal North Lighted Buoy 2N (LLNR 9551.5)
Elizabeth River Channel Lighted Buoy 18 (LLNR 9600)
Elizabeth River Channel Lighted Buoy 29 (LLNR 9715)
Elizabeth River Channel Lighted Buoy 33 (LLNR 9850)
Newport News Channel Lighted Buoy 2 (LLNR 10840)
Newport News Channel Lighted Buoy 14 (LLNR 10890)
York River Entrance Channel Lighted Gong Buoy 2 (LLNR 13400)
York River Lighted Buoy 18 (LLNR 13495)
Perrin River Junction Lighted Buoy PR (LLNR 13510)
York River Lighted Buoy 21 (LLNR 13560)
Curtis Bay Entrance Channel Lighted Buoy 1 CB (LLNR 20860)
Curtis Bay Channel Lighted Buoy 2 (LLNR 20865)
Curtis Bay Channel Lighted Buoy 9 (LLNR 20910)
Curtis Bay Channel Lighted Buoy 13 (LLNR 20935)
Dundalk Terminal East Channel Lighted Buoy 4 (LLNR 21025)
Dundalk Terminal East Channel Lighted Buoy 7 (LLNR 21027)
Ferry Bar Channel Lighted Buoy 2 (LLNR 21210)
Hatteras Inlet Channel LT 11 (LLNR 28730)
Hatteras Inlet Channel LT 24 (LLNR 28785), nominal range will increase to 4NM
Oregon Inlet Channel LT 55 (LLNR 28195), nominal range will increase to 4NM
Roanoke Sound Channel LT 4 (LLNR 28375), nominal range will increase to 4NM
Roanoke Sound Channel LT 22 (LLNR 28485), nominal range will increase to 4NM
Walter Slough Channel LT 5 (LLNR 28320)

Comments on the visibility of these new LED lanterns under all atmospheric and background lighting conditions are encouraged. Please send comments to: Commander (dpw), 5th Coast Guard District, 431 Crawford Street, Rm.100, Portsmouth, VA. 23704-5004, Attn:Mr. Tom Fylnn, Or email to: Thomas.W.Flynn@uscg.mil

EPIRB Rental and Easy Registration Online:

With the boating season upon us, many of you may be thinking about new safety equipment. EPIRBs save lives. But these are expensive for just a short time usage or for a one time cruise. Check out renting one from BOATUS at http://www.boatus.com/foundation/EPIRB/. Whether you’re getting a new one this season, or are renting one, 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/. This is free, takes only a few minutes, and is critically important.

Do Mariners Still Need Weather Information on HF Radio?

We think so. The following is from USCG LNMs 18-26:

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. We are repeating this information because of its significance to mariners.

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.