East Coast Alerts
By Mel Neale
March 20, 2008

Good News in North Carolina ICW:
According to a USACE Wilmington District official with whom I spoke on March 17, 2008, two ICW dredging projects are nearing completion: The first is the ICW between the Atlantic Beach Bridge (Mile 206.7) and the Cedar Point Bridge (Mile 226) north of Swansboro; the second is in the vicinity of Bear and Brown Inlet Crossings of the ICW, (Approximately between Miles 235 and 238).

The first area includes all of Bogue Sound, with its numerous shallow spots. The second is the notorious green can “61A” area where boats have been confused by the markers and grounding for years, especially during the fall, 2007.

Other areas scheduled for dredging in 2008, according to the USACE Wilmington official with whom I spoke, are New River Inlet Crossing and Carolina Beach Inlet Crossing and Snows Cut area.*

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

Bad News in North Carolina ICW:
The same USACE official with whom I spoke on March 17, 2008 confirmed that two of the worst shoaling areas of the ICW in North Carolina are not currently on the dredging schedule for 2008: Lockwoods Folly Inlet Crossing and Shallotte Inlet Crossing. There could be changes in the dredging schedule in light of the following survey report: The USCG 5 th District LNM 12 reports that a ACOE survey conducted 11 March 2008 indicates shoaling to a depth of 2.3 feet MLLW in the vicinity of Cape Fear River-Little River Buoy 47A (LLNR 40230). Mariners are advised to avoid transiting this area during periods of low water and exercise caution when transiting this area during other tidal conditions. Chart: 11534. This is in Lockwoods Folly Inlet Crossing of the ICW. This survey is not yet up on the USACE Wilmington web site. Check http://www.saw.usace.army.mil/nav/cfr-lr.htm for updates. This page also lists surveys for Shallotte Inlet Crossing.

The surveys of Lockwoods Folly Inlet Crossing and Shallotte Inlet Crossing show a controlling depth that is adequate for many vessels to pass, but they will have to use the route described by the waypoints to find this depth.

Good News for North Carolina Small Inlets:
Another USACE Wilmington official with whom I spoke on March 17, 2008 confirmed that dredging is or will be taking place in many of the shallow coastal inlets in North Carolina (NOT the ICW), including, but not limited to, Lockwoods Folly Inlet, Carolina Beach Inlet, New Topsail Inlet, Oregon Inlet and Bogue Inlet.

This is good news for local recreational boaters and commercial interests that depend on using these inlets. Many of these inlets are in need of immediate attention. For example, this notice was included in the USCG 5 th District LNM 12: ACOE survey of Lockwoods Folly conducted 11 March 2008, indicates shoaling to a depth of 2.1 feet MLLW between Lockwoods Folly Inlet Buoy 4 and Lockwoods Folly Inlet Buoy 6; Shoaling to a depth of 2.2 feet MLLW in the vicinity of Lockwoods Folly Inlet Buoy 8. Mariners are advised to avoid transiting this area during periods of low water and exercise caution when transiting this area during other tidal conditions. Remember that these are “inlet” conditions, NOT on the ICW.

Dismal Swamp Canal Route NOW OPEN, Four Openings Daily:
The 5 th District LNM 12 continues to announce that effective February 22, 2008 the locks at Deep Creek, VA and South Mills, NC and the drawbridges on US Route 17 will return to their normal operating schedule to accommodate vessels desiring to use the Dismal Swamp Canal (Route 2) of the Atlantic Intracoastal Waterway. The locks and bridges will operate at 8:30 AM, 11:00 AM, 1:30 PM and 3:30 PM seven days a week. Vessels are allowed to moor overnight in the canal. There will only be one operator at Deep Creek and one at South Mills, so the bridge will not be manned when the lock is being operated, and vice versa. Locks and bridges monitor channel 13 VHF-FM. Mariners are also advised that this scheduled opening is subject to delays caused by weather or unforeseen difficulties.

Check Your Electronics:
From the various USCG District LNMs 11 and 12: REPORTS HAVE BEEN VERIFIED THAT SOME SAAB R3-AIS TRANSPONDERS, WHEN COMBINED WITH AN OLDER GPS RECEIVER, HAVE STOPPED WORKING WHILE GPS SATELLITE PRN32 IS IN VIEW. VESSELS AFFECTED ARE REPORTED BEING 'INVISIBLE' TO OTHER AIS EQUIPPED VESSELS IN ADDITION TO SOME AIS EQUIPPED SHORE STATIONS. IT HAS BEEN REPORTED VESSELS EQUIPPED WITH THE SAAB R3-AIS TRANSPONDERS CONTINUE TO RECEIVE AIS INFORMATION FROM OTHER AIS EQUIPED VESSELS. ALL VESSELS ARE ADVISED TO CHECK THE PROPER OPERATION OF THEIR AIS AND GPS EQUIPMENT. GPS PROBLEMS SHOULD BE REPORTED TO THE USCG NAVIGATION CENTER AT WWW.NAVCEN.USCG.GOV/GPS/USERINPUTGPS.HTM OR CONTACT THE USCG NAVIGATION INFORMATION SERVICE AT 703.313.5900.

Older EPIRBs Need to be Replaced:
From various USCG District LNMs 11 and 12: The International Cospas-Sarsat System will cease satellite processing of 121.5/243 MHz beacons on 1 February 2009. All beacon owners and users should begin taking steps to replace their 121.5/243 MHz beacons with 406 MHz beacons as soon as possible.- - International COSPAS-SARSAT organization with guidance from the UN. Operation of Class A/B/S EPIRB stations shall be prohibited after December 31, 2006.

Anchorage Regulations-- Yarmouth, ME, Casco Bay:
AGENCY: Coast Guard, DHS.

ACTION: Final rule.

SUMMARY: The Coast Guard hereby establishes three special anchorage areas in Yarmouth, Maine, Casco Bay. This action is necessary to facilitate safe navigation in that area and provide safe and secure anchorages for vessels not more than 65 feet in length. This action is intended to increase the safety of life and property in Yarmouth, improve the safety of anchored vessels, and provide for the overall safe and efficient flow of vessel traffic and commerce.

What VHF Frequency in Maryland?
The following was copied directly from the USCG 5 th District LNM 11. We think the intent is to keep VHF recreational boating traffic off Channel 13. We hope the Coast Guard does not really mean that recreational boaters should use VHF Channel 68 as their primary working and calling frequency, but as their working frequency after first calling on and then switching from VHF Channel 16, which they are supposed to be monitoring at all times. For the imminent boating season, the Coast Guard in cooperation with the Maryland State Highway Administration are hereby advising recreational vessel owners and operators that communicate via VHF-FM marine radio to transmit on Channel 68 versus Channel 13 as the primary working or calling frequency. For the reasons of safety of navigation and to reduce the amount of communication traffic between recreational vessels and/or drawbridge operators on normally used Channel 13 VHF-FM in the State of Maryland, the Coast Guard now request that all recreational vessel owners communicate all non-emergency transmissions via marine radio on Channel 68 VHF-FM as the primary working and calling frequencies.

Chesapeake and Delaware Bay Ice Buoy Update:
From the USCG 5 th District LNM 12: Due to operational requirements numerous main channel aids to navigation in the Chesapeake Bay, Potomac River, Tangier Sound and Delaware Bay and River may not be restored to their post "Ice season" signal as per the Light List Vol. II Atlantic Coast Shrewsbury River, New Jersey to Little River, SC until on or about 31 March, 2008. All mariners should navigate with caution and report any discrepancies to the U.S. Coast Guard. A D5 BNM will be issued when all signals are restored to their seasonal signal requirement as per the Light List Vol. II Remarks.

Deep Dangers:
While these “Obstructions” are deep enough that they should not affect recreational boaters, they should be noted as an example that not all obstructions, even in popular cruising areas, are yet charted, and there may be more. From the USCG 5 th District LNM 11:

A NOAA survey conducted 13 September, 2007 indicates DANGERS TO NAVIGATION, two obstructions (within 15 foot radius of each other) at 37-32-49.123N, 076-16-44.512W, least depth 18 feet MLLW. Chart: 12235.

A NOAA survey conducted 14 November, 2007 indicates DANGERS TO NAVIGATION at the following locations:

A. Obstruction at 37-26-38.239N, 076-04-01.523W, least depth 42 feet MLLW.

B. Obstruction at 37-26-00.291N, 076-03-55.292W, least depth 41 feet MLLW.

C. Obstruction at 37-25-30.389N, 076-03-40.226W, least depth 36 feet MLLW.

Rudee Inlet Again:
This Atlantic Ocean inlet in Virginia Beach, VA is routinely surveyed and routinely dredged. And it routinely shoals in again. Get local knowledge if you are not a regular user of this inlet. From the USCG 5 th District LNM 12: A survey of Rudee Inlet indicates shoaling to a depth of 8 feet MLLW across the outbound entrance channel from the south jetty west for approximately 200 feet. Mariners are advised to transit this waterway with caution.

Great Bridge Diving Operations:
From the USCG 5 th District LNM 12: Chesapeake Bay Diving will be conducting diving operations in the ICW between Great Bridge Locks and Battlefield Blvd installing conduit between the two bulkheads of the waterway. The Tug JESSIE LEE with deck barges will be onsite during the operation. Operations will be conducted from March 13 until April 4, 2008. Hours of operation will be from 7:00 A.M to 5:00 P.M. the Tug JESSIE LEE will standby on VHF-FM Ch. 13 & 16. All mariners are advised to transit with caution and NO WAKE. Mariners are advised to transit with caution and at a NO WAKE speed.

Alligator River Bridge to Close for a Day:
From the 5 th District LNM 11: Mariners are advised that the US 64 Swing Bridge, at AIWW mile 84.2, across Alligator River in Columbia NC will be closed to vessels from 8 a.m. to 8 p.m. on Wednesday, April 2, 2008, to perform electrical repairs. The available vertical clearance of the swing span in closed to position to vessels is approximately 14 feet, above mean high water. Mariners should adjust their transits accordingly and use extreme caution when transiting the area.

Onslow Beach Bridge Construction:
Also from the USCG 5 th District LNM 11: Mariners are advised that structural work will be performed at the Onslow Beach Swing Bridge across the North Carolina Cut, at AIWW mile 240.7, at Camp Lejeune, NC beginning Monday, March 10 until Friday, May 23, 2008. To facilitate rivet repairs, scaffolding equipment will be used on the bridge reducing the available vertical clearance by approximately three feet to 9 feet, above mean high water. This work will not interfere with operation of the swing span. Mariners should use extreme caution when transiting the area.

Shoaling in NC, NOT on the ICW:
From the USCG 5 th District LNM 12: Shoaling to a depth of 2.0 feet MLLW has been reported in the vicinity of Core Sound Light 31 (LLNR 34580). Mariners should use extreme caution when transiting the area. Chart: 11541.

ICW Shoaling, NC:
This is a quote directly from the USCG 5 th District LNM 12: NC – Shallotte Inlet SHOALING (chart 11534) Shoaling to a depth of 01ft MLLW 100yards west of Cape Fear River-Little River Daybeacon 75 (LLNR 40320) Ref. LNM 50/07. I investigated further the USCG LNM report of shoaling to 1-foot in the vicinity of Shallotte Inlet marker, green “75,” and found a US Army Corps of Engineers Survey of that area conducted in October, 2007. They call this the “Shallotte River Crossing” of the ICW, and it's now on my list of ICW problem spots. You can look at the survey at

http://www.saw.usace.army.mil/nav/AIWW/CFLR/T17.pdf . The shoal to 1-foot extends from “75” westward on the green side outside edge of the channel and towards green “77.” The red side is to the north and not marked. The ICW is oriented east/west here. The problem is that there is also an area of shoaling on the red side, to 4-5 feet, extending towards the shoal on the green side, leaving a narrow swath of deeper water. However, the deeper water is only in the7-8 foot range. This looks somewhat like a shoal “across the channel” to me. The survey gives GPS waypoints for the deepest water, with controlling depth of 7.1 feet. Depths refer to Local Mean Low Water. Always remember that conditions can change. But you should proceed cautiously there and get the latest info of actual conditions at the time.

Sisters Creek Bridge Repair:
From USCG 7 th District LNM 09: The Sisters Creek Bridge at ICW Mile 739.2 will be undergoing fender repair from April 1, 2008 through January 10, 2009, 7:00 a.m. till 5:00 p.m., Monday-Thursday. A barge will be stationed behind the bridge fender system and may impact the navigable channel for short periods.

Dredging in St. Johns River, FL:
From the 7 th USCG District LNM 11: Weeks marine has commenced maintenance dredging in the Jacksonville Harbor Channel, Jacksonville, Florida. The hopper dredge R.N.WEEKS will dredge the channel from the Mayport Coast Guard Station to approximately 1.75 miles above the highway 9A bridge. A barge will be moored to the right descending bank approximately 1.75 miles above the highway 9A bridge to unload the dredge spoils. The dredge will be tied to the barge during the unloading process. All equipment will have required lights for night operations. The project will be on a continuous basis twenty-four (24) hours per day, seven (7) days per week basis. The dredge can be contacted on marine radio VHF Channels 13 and 16. All mariners are requested to transit the area with caution with their slowest safe speed. For further information please contact Mr. Charles Balentine at (985) 875-2500.

St. Augustine Inlet Buoy Off-Station:
The 7th District LNM 12 reports that St. Augustine Inlet Lighted Buoy “5” is reported to be off-station.

Ft. Pierce , FL Inlet Project:
From the USCG 7 th District LNM 12: Taylor Engineering, Inc., and Surfbreak Engineering Sciences, Inc., has commence a coastal and marine related project in the Fort Pierce Inlet, the Indian River Lagoon and the Atlantic Ocean. This project will includes the installation of underwater scientific equipment, divers and survey vessels. A 6 ft X 6 ft aluminum tripod with monitoring equipment has been installed/anchored to the bottom with a 600 lb sinker attached on the north side of the channel in 15- of water. The purpose of this project is to analyze current velocities and sand movements within the channel for possible modifications to the Entrance Jetties to mitigate shoaling problems. For further information please contact Mr. Richard Bouchard at (772) 462-1710. There is a very strong current in this inlet.

Space Shuttle Landing:
From the USCG 7 th District LNM 12: The National Aeronautical and Space Administration (NASA) has requested that all mariners unless authorized by NASA please refrain from RADAR tracking of the STS-123 launch and landing. STS-123 is scheduled for a nominal sixteen (16) day mission. The possible launch opportunity is March 11, 2008. The possible landing period depending on the actual launch date is March 26, 2008.

Lake Okeechobee Continues Shallow:
We checked http://www.saj.usace.army.mil/conops/structures/navbulln.htm for the latest depth figures on the Okeechobee Waterway:

As of March19, 2008: Lake level is reported at 10.21 feet.

Route 1: Navigational depths: reported at 4.15 feet.

Route 2 (the Rim Canal) is closed with navigation depths reported at 1.55 feet.

This is up about 1.8 inches from the last alert two weeks ago.

Ft. Lauderdale , FL Naval Operations:
From the USCG 7 th District LNM 12: The U.S. Navy South Florida Testing Facility (SFTF) has advised that Inert Target Recovery Operations has commenced offshore of Fort Lauderdale, Florida, until March 24, 2008. The targets will be removed from the following area bounded by the following coordinates:

RMP Operating Area:

26-04.140N 080-05.560W

26-04.140N 080-02.500W

25-53.700N 080-05.560W

25-53.700N 080-03.000W

The targets in the field will be recovered using a ROV in water depths ranging from 60 feet to 600 feet. All vessels are asked to stay well clear of the recovery vessel and support vessel.

For further information please contact Mr. Anthony Bush at (954) 926-4032

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.