East Coast Alerts
By Mel Neale
September 20, 2007

We have learned of two more planned ICW bridge closures.

The Socastee Swing Bridge, Mile 371, will be closed for repairs to all traffic, including commercial, from Oct. 8 through 12, 2007. Small recreational vessels that can fit under the 10 ft. vertical closed clearance can pass through, after coordinating with the repair crew.

The Figure Eight Island Swing Bridge, Mile 278.1, will be closed for sandblasting and painting at the following times starting Nov. 1, 2007 and ending January 31, 2008:
Closed daily from 6:30 p.m.-6:00 a.m., from 9:00 a.m.-11:00 a.m. and from 1:00 p.m.-4:00 p.m.

At all other times, it will open according to its normal schedule which is on the hour and half hour.

There is a 20 ft MHW vertical clearance normally, and vessels that can pass under may do so. Commercial vessels may request an opening during the nighttime closure period with a three hour notice on VHF Channle 13 or by calling 910-686-0635.

Drought Causes Change in Dismal Swamp Canal Schedule:
There has been a severe drought in Southeastern Virginia and Northeastern North Carolina during most of 2007. The 5 th District USCG LNM 38 announces that due to lack of rain and subsequent low water levels in Lake Drummond and the Dismal Swamp, beginning September 24, 2007, and until further notice, the locks at Deep Creek, VA and South Mills, NC, will be operated only at 9:00 a.m. and 3:00 p.m., 7 days a week. The draw bridges adjacent to these locations will be operated in coordination with the locks.

Anyone wishing to transit this route should check for the further reduction in scheduled openings or possible closure of the route altogether, which is necessitated at times due to lack of water.You can call the USACE at 757-201-7500 (option 3) to check the status.*

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

George C. Musson Bridge, Mile 845, New Smyrna Beach, FL, Two Openings per Day:
Attention Snowbirds: Plan ahead for this delay. The 7 th District LNMs 37 and 38 give the following schedule for the Coronado Beach Bridge, AKA George C. Musson Bridge (a relatively new ICW bridge): Beginning on September 24 at 7:35 a.m. and ending at 4:50 p.m. on December 21, 2007, the George C. Musson Bridge will open on signal EXCEPT: 7:35 a.m.-4:50 p.m. it will be CLOSED, and will only open at 10:30 a.m. and 1:30 p.m. The vertical clearance will be reduced by 4 feet due to scaffolding. Vessels may pass under the bridge during repairs.

Another ICW Bridge Closes on Sailboat:
We read in a newspaper article recently that the Wrightsville Beach Bridge, ICW Mile 283, closed onto and broke the 55-foot mast of a 44-foot sailboat that was attempting to pass through its span. This seems to happen too often. We don’t know the details or which party, if any, was at fault. The article said that there were no injuries, which is good, but the boat was pictured and the mast was broken in half.

This is another reminder to all of us using the waterways that accidents can happen and that we should all be extra vigilant in our travels.

In approaching an opening bridge, we should communicate our intentions or request for an opening via VHF to the bridge tender on the appropriate channel (usually 09 or 13) and make sure that they are understood by the bridge tender. Even if the bridge is already opening for other boats, each boat should communicate with the bridge and be sure the bridge operator knows of its intentions. In addition to VHF communications, many opening bridges on the ICW use a sound signal of one long and one short blast when they are opening the bridge and the danger signal of five short blasts when they are closing. As a last resort, if you are uncertain about a bridge, you can call the bridge tender from your cell phone using the phone number published in several guidebooks. Not all will answer, and some counties do not make public their bridge numbers. We have phoned several bridge tenders on occasion and found them to be most helpful. We do not recommend that you call them on the phone all the time, but only if there is a problem with communication otherwise.

NEW OPERATING SYSTEM FOR THE GOBAL POSITIONING SYSTEM
From the 7 th District USCG LNM 38: The U.S. Air Force is transitioning to a new operating system for the GPS Constellation. The phased operational transition will migrate each satellite, ground antenna, monitor station and other GPS data feeds from the Master Control Station to the architecture evolution plan new Master Control Station in an incremental manner. Users that experience problems, anomalies or outages with GPS are requested to provide online feedback via the USCG NAVCEN-S -GPS Outage Worksheet- at: HTTP://WWW.NAVCEN.USCG.GOV/GPS/GPSUSERINPUT.HTM Mariners are encouraged to report all GPS, DGPS, LORAN or AIS problems, anomalies or outages to the USCG Navigation Center at: (703) 313- 5900, E-mail: NISWS@NAVCEN.USCG.GOV .

MA-SEACOAST-GEORGES BANK AND NANTUCKET SHOALS-NANTUCKET ISLAND-SANKATY HEAD:
The USCG 1 st District LNM 38 states that on 24 September 2007 Sankaty Head Light will be temporarily discontinued and the light extinguished to facilitate moving the Lighthouse away from the eroding bank to a more secure location. The light is expected to be secured for approximately three weeks during the move and relocation.

Boston Harbor:
From USCG 1 st District LNM 38:

Dredging: Drilling, Blasting and Dredging operations are being done in Boston Harbor and the North Ship Channel beginning until further notice. Mariners are urged to use extreme caution in the area. Locations will include Lat. 42° 20- 19.14-N Lon. 70° 58- 46.5-W, E/SE of Castle Island, Lat. 42° 20- 23.92-N Lon. 70° 20- 46.94-W, President Roads Anchorage, Lat. 42° 21- 15.80-N Lon. 70° 55- 51.95-W, North Channel, and Lat. 42° 22- 03.70-N Lon. 70° 55- 18.83-W, North Channel. Mariners are further advised to transit at their slowest safe speed to minimize wake and proceed with caution after passing arrangements have been made. Diving operations will be ongoing and appropriate signals will be shown. Security zones will be established during blasting operations. Vessels involved will be the Drill Barge (120 by 38)-Alex-, and the Dredge (200 by 50) -Jonathan-. The Barges will be spudded down during good weather and will utilize anchor. VHF Channels 13 and 16 will be monitored.

Offshore Navy Exercises: U.S. Navy ships will conduct surface and subsurface exercises including launching and recovery of inert exercise torpedoes from 19 to 28 Sep 2007 in an area bounded by 42-00N/ 069-45W; 42-00N / 068-45W; 40-55N / 068-45W; and 40-55N / 069-02W. Mariners transiting this area are advised to proceed with caution and are requested to cooperate with patrolling Navy vessels and aircraft. TWR 841, M/V MEGAN T. MILLER, and a US Army LSV (after 26 Sep) will be stationed in the area while operations are in progress and will monitor VHF-FM channels 13 and 16.

LONG ISLAND SOUND Cable Work:
USCG 1 st District LNM 38 reports that c able removal and installation will be done between Manresa Island and Sheffield Island and Sheffield Island and Northport, NY. The work will be done from 1 October 2007 - 30 April 2008. The hours of operation will be 24 hours a day, 7 days a week. On scene will be tug VALERIE B, barge SEI 14 & SEI 54, crew boat DAISEY W and the lay vessel SKAGERRAK, that will be monitoring VHF-FM channels 13 & 16.

Ambrose Channel Dredging Update:
Many Snowbirds will pass through this area heading south. The USCG 1 st District LNM 38 gives the following update: Great Lakes Dredge & Dock continues dredging in S-AM -1, the green side of Ambrose Channel, south of the Verrazano Narrows Bridge through October 31, 2007 on a 24-hour / 7-days per week basis. The Hopper Dredges Dodge Island and Liberty Island, Survey Vessel Wolf River, Launch St. Johns River, Tug Sea Bear, and Derrick Barge Weeks 508 or 534 will be on scene. Ambrose Channel will not be closed to navigation and dredges will MOVE ON DEMAND. Dredges & support equipment are required to report their movements and positions to VTS New York on Channel 14. The Dredge Dodge Island and Liberty Island are monitoring Channels 13 and 16. Mariners are requested to contact the dredge on Channel 13 to make any necessary navigational arrangements. As part of this project, the Hughes Spud Barge 990 will be set up at the west end of the Turning Basin in Port Jersey Channel, south of Bayonne Terminal North Basin Buoy B (LLNR 37180). Supplementary lighted anchor buoys may be used. Dredge spoils will be pumped to a rehandling area ashore, southwest of the barge, via floating hose and submerged pipeline. The barge, anchor buoys, and hose are illuminated by white lights mounted on stanchions. The Hughes Spud Barge 990 will not interfere with the Port Jersey Channel Range Lights.

Manasquan , NJ , Bridge Work:
From USCG 5 th District LNM 38 (Mariners should exercise extreme caution when transiting the area):

Mariners are advised that structural inspections will be conducted at the Route 70 Bridge, at mile 3.4 across Manasquan River, in Brick Township NJ, from 9 a.m. to 4 p.m., Monday to Friday, from September 10 through September 28, 2007. To facilitate the inspection, a barge and scaffolding system will occupy the channel. This will be a movable operation as not to impede vessel traffic. Mariners are advised that maintenance work is planned from October 1-14, 2007, at the Route 35 Bridge, at ICW mile 1.1, across Manasquan River, at Brielle, NJ. The work will involve repairs to the fender system and rip-rap replacement around the piers of the bridge during the daylight hours from 7 a.m. to 3:30 p.m. To facilitate the work, a 40-foot work boat and barges, measuring 40 ft X 64 ft and 8 ft X 20 ft, will occupy the main and adjacent channels of the bridge. The available horizontal clearance, in the main navigational channel, may be reduced to approximately 70 feet. However, this is a movable operation and removal of barges will be provided by calling the contractor at (609) 352-5339.

Dredging in Delaware River:
From the USCG 5 th District LNM 38: The DREDGE CHARLESTON will be conducting dredging operations in the Delaware River at various ranges from 15 September, 2007 until further notice. Mariners are cautioned to stay clear of dredge, booster, floating (pontoon) and submerged pipelines, barges, derricks and operating wires associated with dredging and marine construction operations.

Rock Hall Harbor, Upper Chesapeake, Marker Change:
From USCG 5 th District LNM 37: On or about 30 September, 2007 Rock Hall Harbor Lighted Buoy 5 will be discontinued. Rock Hall Harbor Warning Daybeacon A will be changed to Rock Hall Harbor Light 5 showing a Flashing Green 4s (Fl G 4S) characteristic.

New Amber Lights in Southern Branch, Elizabeth River, Norfolk Area, ICW:
This is on the busy ICW route through Norfolk. From the 5 th District LNM 38: Va. Electric and Power Company-s Chesapeake Energy Center, on the western shore of the Southern Branch Elizabeth River has established two lights in association with their new coal unloading facility. The flashing 4 second amber lights are established atop the 26- x 20- concrete mooring dolphins on the northern and southern ends of the facility.

1. Chesapeake Energy Center North Lighted Mooring Dolphin N, Fl Y 4s

2. Chesapeake Energy Center South Lighted Mooring Dolphin S, Fl Y 4s

Dredging in Elizabeth River, Norfolk VA, at Town Point:
More happenings on the already busy Southern Branch/ICW: From the 5 th District LNM 38: Norfolk Dredging Co. DREDGE 428 will commence dredging operations in the Elizabeth River at Town Point at the Metro Machine Shipyard from 21 September, 2007 until 24 September and then move to the Southern Energy Facility on the Southern Branch until 28 September and then return to Metro Machine until 05 October, 2007. The dredge will standby on channels 16 and 16 VHF-FM and IT IS REQUESTED THAT TRAFFIC CALL 30 MINUTES PRIOR TO EXPECTED TIME OF PASSAGE. Dredge material will be transported to the Craney Island Disposal Area via tugs and scows.

Navy to Deploy Two Miles of Steel Pipe, Cape Henry, Chesapeake Bay:
From the USCG 5 th District LNM 38: The U.S. Navy will be conducting a logistics exercise in the vicinity of Cape Henry from Wednesday, September 26 through Sunday, September 30, 2007. During this time the M/V WHEELER and associated assist vessels will be restricted in their ability to maneuver as they deploy and recover over two miles of steel pipe in Anchorage Bravo. Mariners are advised to maintain safe distances from these vessels while transiting this area.

Bogue Inlet, Not on the ICW, Marker Change:
Most transient boaters on the ICW do not use this channel, but local boaters do. The 5 th District LNM 38 gives information that o n or about 15 October, 2007 the following aids to navigation changes will occur:

1. Bogue Inlet Buoy 6 will be changed to Lighted Buoy 6, Q R characteristic.

2. Bogue Inlet Buoy 8 will be changed to Lighted Buoy 8. Q R characteristic.

3. Bogue Inlet Buoy 14 will be changed to Lighted Buoy 9, Q G characteristic.

4. Swansboro Coast Guard Channel Daybeacon 5 will be changed to Light 5, Q G characteristic.

Dredging, Adams Creek to Core Sound, NC, ICW:
The 5 th District LNM 38 reminds us that the DREDGE RICHMOND will be conducting dredging operations in the AIWW at Adams Creek to Core Sound from 06 Sep until 06 Nov, 2007.

Onslow Beach Bridge , ICW Mile 240.7, Closure:
A reminder from the 5 th District LNM 38: Mariners are advised that the Onslow Beach Swing Bridge across the North Carolina Cut, at AICW mile 240.7, at Camp Lejeune, NC, will be closed to vessels from 8 a.m. on Tue, 25 SEP 07 until 8 a.m. on Thu, 27 Sep 07, to facilitate mechanical repairs. The available vertical clearance in the closed-to-navigation position is approximately 12 feet, above mean high water. Mariners able to pass under the closed span may do so and should adjust their transits accordingly.

Dredging Canaveral Harbor Entrance:
From the 7 th District LNM 37: Weeks Marine, Inc., has advised that maintenance dredging will continue in the Canaveral Harbor Entrance Channel South Jetty Sediment Trap adjacent to and in the vicinity of Canaveral Harbor Entrance Lighted Buoy 13A. The bucket dredge #506 and attendant plant will be on-scene and operating on a twenty-four (24) hours per day, seven (7) days per week basis until completion on or about December 15, 2007. The dredge can be contacted on marine radio VHF Channels 12 (Port Canaveral Working Channel), 13 and 16. For further information or questions please contact Mr. Jimmy Rude at (985) 237-5063.

Lake Okeechobee Still Shallow:
The 7 th District LNM 37 carries the following warnng. We updated with the most current information: Due to extremely restricted channel depths in Lake Okeechobee, mariners are strongly advised that the following should be taken in consideration whether transiting the Lake or stopping for recreational activities such as fishing.

We checked http://www.saj.usace.army.mil/conops/structures/navbulln.htm for the latest figures:

As of September 19, 2007: Lake level is 9.59 feet.

Route 1: Navigational depths: 3.53 feet.

Route 2 (the Rim Canal) is closed with navigation depths of 0.93 feet.

We hope that the rain this week will help.

ST JOHNS RIVER, ENTRANCE to JACKSONVILLE HARBOR: WAMS ANNOUNCEMENT:
The Coast Guard is seeking public input regarding the future of this busy area. From the 7 th District LNM 38: The U.S. Coast Guard is conducting a Waterways Analysis Management System (WAMS) study of the St Johns River. The study will include looking at waterborne commerce and safe commercial and recreational navigation with a focus on the existing aids to navigation in the area. The St Johns River WAMS study includes the navigable waters from the St Johns Lighted Buoy STJ inbound to Winter Point south of the Fuller Warren Bridge. The study specifically targets: Precautionary and Regulated Navigation Areas, port facilities and Army Corps of Engineer surveys and projects. The study will also be expanded to include the ST Johns Light, Mayport Basin, intersection of the Intracoastal Waterway, Blount Island and the Trout River up to the Trout River Swing Bridge. WAMS studies are conducted periodically throughout designated navigable waters to better facilitate safe and effective waterways. Any interested group, association, company or individual wishing to provide recommendations or comments on existing, additional or reduction of aids to navigation in this area, may participate in a user survey, or receive further information may contact CWO4 Dave Foley by 30 November 2007. CWO4 Dave Foley can be reached at Coast Guard Sector Jacksonville, Waterways Management Division, at (904) 564-7565, via e-mail at David.X.Foley@uscg.mil or via mail at: Commander (WAMS), USCG Sector Jacksonville, 4200 Ocean Street, Atlantic Beach, FL 32233, Attn: CWO4 D. X. Foley Jr.

Florida Bridge Update:
New Information on Florida Bridges:

Jacksonville Area, Fender Repairs, Outside the Navigable Channel:

A Slow Speed, No Wake pass is requested at the following bridges:

Trout River Bridge, Mile .85, Trout River: 6 a.m.-7 p.m., Oct. 18-26.

Mathers Bridge, Mile 21.4, St Johns River, 6 a.m.-7 p.m., Oct. 24- Nov. 3

Hart Bridge, Mile 22.1 St Johns River, 6 a.m.-7 p.m., Nov 1-?? (no date given)

Atlantic Boulevard Bridge, Mile 744.7, ICW, 6 a.m.-7 p.m., Oct 12-20

George C. Musson Bridge , Mile 845, ICW: See Above

Jewfish Creek Bridge , US 1, Keys: While the high-rise bridge is under construction the opening regulations for this bridge will temporarily change to: From September 10, 2007-April 30, 2008, the bridge will open on signal except: from 7 a.m. to sunset daily the draw shall open on the hour and half hour.

Florida Continues to Classify Manatee as “Endangered”:
Nationally, the manatee is now classified as threatened, not endangered, but not so in Florida. Florida Governor Charlie Crist requested at the last minute a delay of the decision to downgrade at the Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission meeting in St. Petersburg. The commission had planned to reclassify the manatee as threatened, due to counts indicating increasing numbers of the creatures.

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.