East Coast Alerts
August 25, 2005
By Mel Neale

New Shoals in Same Old Places, NC ICW:
LNM #34 from the 5th District USCG referred to two recent US Army Corps of Engineers surveys showing new shoals in, you guessed it, Lockwood’s Folly Inlet Crossing and Shallotte Inlet Crossing, in the North Carolina ICW:

A ACOE survey conducted 20 July, 2005 revealed shoaling to a depth of 2.4 feet in the vicinity of Cape Fear/Little River Buoy 47A (LLNR 40230 Note: This is in Lockwoods Folly Inlet Crossing). Aids to navigation may not accurately mark the channel.

A ACOE survey conducted 25 July, 2005 revealed shoaling to a depth of 5.5 feet in the vicinity of Cape Fear/Little River Buoy 81 (LLNR 40340 Note: This is in Shallotte Inlet Crossing). Aids to navigation may not accurately mark the channel.

Survey charts of these areas may be viewed at the ACOE website at www.saw.usace.army.mil/nav. Mariners are cautioned not to transit this area during low water and to use extreme caution when transiting this area during other tidal states.

NOTE: The Coast Guard uses the abbreviation ACOE for the Army Corps of Engineers, while the Army Corps of Engineers usually uses USACE (as in their web address).

Check This Out:
From USCG LNM #34, 5th and 7th District: Special Notice

On July 15, 2005, the Coast Guard announced in the Federal Register (Volume 70, Number 135, Pages 41045-41046) the availability of the Draft Programmatic Environmental Assessment (PEA) and Draft Finding of No Significant Impact (FONSI) for the Mark 11 Static Barrier Running Gear Entanglement System (RGES). The Coast Guard is proposing to establish and operate a Mark (MK) 11 Static Barrier RGES at various and currently unknown U.S. ports throughout the U. S. Maritime Domain, when necessary. The purpose of proposed action is to improve the Coast Guard's capabilities to intercept and interdict small boats and watercraft. The MK11 Static Barrier RGES would deliver an entanglement device which would foul the propellers of unauthorized vessels attempting to approach restricted areas. The MK 11 Static Barrier RGES would be used to provide a barrier around a high value asset or to establish a "line of demarcation" thereby out lining a security or safety zone and allow security forces sufficient time to react and counter a threat. Mariners are invited to request a copy of the Draft PEA and Draft FONSI by one of the following means, either: (1) Mail: Mr. Neal J. Armstrong, U.S. Coast Guard Headquarters (G-OCU-3), 2100 Second Street SW, Washington, DC 20593, (2) Fax: (202) 267-4415, or (3) E-mail: narmstrong@comdt.uscg.mil. Comments should be submitted by August 26, 2005.

Comment: Is this scary or what? Watch out Bad Guys in Boats!

New Temporary Channel Markers in Oregon Inlet, NC (Not on ICW):
USCG LNM #34 announces that severe shoaling exists at the bar of the Oregon Inlet Channel. A temporary alternate channel has been established over the bar in the following positions:

(1). Oregon Inlet Alternate Channel Junction Buoy East (no LLNR) in position 35-45-53N, 075-34-25W.
(2). Oregon Inlet Alternate Channel Junction Buoy 1 (no LLNR) in position 35-45-48N, 075-34-37W.
(3). Oregon Inlet Alternate Channel Junction Buoy 2 (no LLNR) in position 35-45-47N, 075-34-48W.
(4). Oregon Inlet Alternate Channel Junction Buoy 3 (no LLNR) in position 35-45-41N, 075-35-08W.
(5). Oregon Inlet Alternate Channel Junction Buoy 4 (no LLNR) in position 35-45-41N, 075-35-17W.
(6). Oregon Inlet Alternate Channel Junction Buoy West (no LLNR) in position 35-45-39N, 075-35-26W.

All mariners are advised to transit the area with extreme caution.

New Broward County, FL Bridge Schedule to be Announced:
The long awaited new bridge schedule for 12 of Broward County’s bridges is finally being announced soon in a Public Notice to be printed and mailed this week. All of these bridges will open twice each hour, as in the text conducted from December 2004 through February, 2005. Comments will be taken until Oct. 1, 2005. Project Manager is Mr. Gwin Tate, 7th District Bridge Branch, phone number: 305 415 6747.

New USCG Local Notices Format:
The new LNM format for the 5th District Local Notices (#34) gives a handy separate list and links for the following:

Chart correction
http://chartmaker.ncd.noaa.gov and http://www.maptech.com

2005 Light List/ Summary of Corrections
http://www.navcen.uscg.gov/pubs/LightLists/LightLists.htm

Coast Pilot Corrections
http://nauticalcharts.noaa.gov/ncd/cpdownload.htm

D5 LNM on Internet/Archived Back Issues for 2005
http://www.navcen.uscg.gov/lnm/d5

Chesapeake Bay Weather Buoys
http://www.cbos.org/client.cgi

NOAA Weather Buoy Sites
http://seaboard.ndbc.noaa.gov/Maps/wrldmap.shtml

Tides on Line
http://www.tidesonline.nos.noaa.gov

Tides, Currents, Ports
http://www.co-ops.nos.noaa.gov

Weather
http://www.intellicast.com/

This information is not to be used for navigation. Consult the latest charts and Local Notices to Mariners and use prudent seamanship. Any person or entity that uses this information in any way, as a condition of that use, agrees to waive and does waive any and all claims which may arise from that use.

Copyright 2004-2008 Tom Neale