East Coast Alerts
By Mel Neale
August 24, 2006

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

Erie Canal Finally Open:
Lock 10, located in the approximate middle of the Erie Canal, has been closed since flooding damage on June 30, 2006, preventing passage from one end of the canal to the other. According to a newspaper article at: http://www.timesunion.com/AspStories/story.asp?storyID=509889&category=REGION&newsdate=8/20/2006 this lock is now open and vessels can pass through the entire canal, although there is still some damage to the shoreside along the way.

U.S.S. Constellation Turn-Around in Baltimore:
If you’ve seen this massive vessel, then you know this will be an exciting event. The USCG 5 th District LNM 33 reports that Mariners are advised that the turn-around of the U.S.S. Constellation will occur on the Patapsco River at Baltimore, Maryland on Friday, September 8, 2006. The event consists of a dead ship tow of the historic sloop of war, between the Inner Harbor and Fort McHenry National Monument and Historic Site, then returning the vessel to its Inner Harbor berth. A temporary safety zone becomes effective from 2 p.m. to 7 p.m. on Friday, September 8, 2006. This moving safety zone, on all waters within 200 yards ahead of and 100 yards outboard and aft of the U.S.S. Constellation, is established for the safety of life and property on navigable waters during the event. If you have any questions please contact Mr. Ron Houck, U.S. Coast Guard Sector Baltimore, Waterways Management Division, at (410) 576-2674.

I wish I could be there to see it. When you visit Baltimore, go aboard.

Knapps Narrows Channel Shoaling:
This is a very popular short cut through largeTilghman Island and can save many miles on a trip up the Choptank River on Maryland’s Eastern Shore. We’ve done it several times in the past with a six foot draft, but according the USCG 5 th District LNM 34, we may not want to try it until it’s dredged again: There has been a report of shoaling channelward to a depth of 3.5 feet MLW in the vicinity of Knapps Narrows West Channel Light 4 and on the centerline of the channel between Knapps Narrows East Channel Daybeacon 5 and Knapps Narrows East Channel Light 6 to a depth of 4 feet MLW.

Old Woodrow Wilson Bridge ( Washington, DC) Demolition:
USCG 5 th District LNM 34 states that Mariners are advised that an explosives demolition of the steel structure at the old Woodrow Wilson Memorial Bridge approach area (Virginia side only) near Jones Point, in Alexandria, Virginia, will occur on Monday, August 28, 2006, at midnight. A temporary safety zone will be established upon the waters of the Potomac River, within 750 feet of the demolition site, located in approximate position latitude 38° 47 36N, longitude 077° 02 25W, effective from 11:30 p.m. on August 28, 2006 through 12:30 a.m. on August 29, 2006 (and from 11:30 p.m. on August 29, 2006 through 12:30 a.m. on August 30, 2006, if needed). This safety zone is necessary to control vessel traffic for safety of life and property on navigable waters in order to protect mariners from the hazards associated with the explosives demolition. The effect will be to restrict vessel traffic on a certain portion of the Potomac River. Contact Mr. Ron Houck for any comments or questions, at Commander, Coast Guard Sector Baltimore, 2401 Hawkins Point Road, Baltimore, MD, 21226-1791, telephone (410) 576-2674. Chart 12289.  

Southbound Cruisers Rendezvous 2006, New Bern, NC:
From Dick Giddings, Local Contact and Organizer: This annual event is scheduled for Oct. 24-29, in New Bern, NC.  Registration and welcome will be at the Sheraton Grand New Bern, poolside throughout the afternoon and evening of the 24th. Wednesday, Thursday and Friday will feature seminars/speakers, pot luck dinners and a catered dinner on Friday.  Eileen Quinn will entertain Friday afternoon.  And, after the dinner on Friday there will be door prizes, and 50/50 drawings. Flea Market, LP gas fill, and transportation to Wal-Mart, West Marine, etc. will be available. 

Speakers will include: Chris Parker (Marine Weather & Communications), Claiborne Young (Cruising the Carolina Coast), Skipper Bob (Bahamas Cruising), Bentley Smith, MD (Medicines Aboard & Cruisers' Knots), Bob Jennette, Ph.D. (Anchors), George Marvin (Watchkeeping & Suddenly Alone), Guy Smith (CSS Neuse), Larry Baldwin (Neuse Riverkeeper), and more.

Marina discounts, and phone numbers will be posted on the NCgam.com website soon, along with motel/hotel info for those who will be driving in for the event.  Advance registration is requested, although money won't be collected until the day of Registration, Tuesday, Oct. 24.  Registration will be limited to approximately 200 people, with those advance registrations having priority. Check the Southbound Cruisers' Rendezvous website www.ncgam.com.

New River Inlet , NC Shoaling:
This is the inlet to the ocean, NOT part of the ICW: USCG 5 th District LNM 33 reports that there has been a report of shoaling in the vicinity of New River Inlet Buoy 1 (LLNR 29655) and New River Inlet Buoy 3 extending across the channel. Mariners are advised to use caution when transiting this area.

The part of the ICW where the New River crosses it is notoriously shallow, but according to reports I‘ve read recently, it is currently being dredged (dredging has already been completed at Lockwoods Folly Inlet Crossing, Bogue Inlet Crossing and Shallotte Inlet Crossing). Announcement of this dredging project appeared in our May 4, 2006 East Coast Alerts. Dredging at New River Crossing is expected to be completed in September, before the fall Snowbird migration.

St. Catherines Inlet , Georgia, Shoal:
USCG 7 th District LNM 33 reports that shoaling has been reported headed seaward in the centerline of the channel towards the NE approximately 300 to 500 yards from St. Catherines Sound Lighted Buoy 2. The recorded water depth is 6 ft to 6.5 ft at mean low water. All mariners are advised to use extreme caution while transiting the area.

This is one of the shallow unimproved (undredged) inlets connecting the ICW to the ocean at the mouth of a large open sound in Georgia. Any of these sound entrances should be used only in calm weather with no sea or swell running. We have been in and out of this one several times with no problems but a few years ago, a friend in a large trawler with more than 6 ft draft ran aground in this general area leaving St. Catherines Sound at low tide. In other sounds in Georgia, shoaling has also been reported recently: in the lower entrance channel of St. Andrews Sound, and in Altamaha Sound where all of the channel markers have been removed due to shoaling. Even though there may be up to eight feet of tidal range (sometimes more) in Georgia, the sound entrances should only be used with extreme caution. Remember that shoals may shift dramatically in areas such as this.

Shuttle Launch Restrictions, Port Canaveral Area:
NoRadar Use: USCG 7 th Distrit LNM 33 states that The National Aeronautic and Space Adminstration (NASA) has requested that all mariners unless otherwise authorized by NASA please refrain from RADAR tracking of the STS-115 launch and landing. STS-115 is scheduled for a nominal eleven (11) day mission. The possible launch period is August 27, 2006 to September 7, 2006. The possible landing period is September 7, 2006 to September 18, 2006. For further information please contact Ms. Cathy Sham at (281) 483-0124.

Bridge Restrictions:To facilitate vessel traffic during the NASA Shuttle Atlantis launch on August 27 th 2006 the State Road 401, Addison Point, NASA Causeway, State Route 3 Barge Canal and Haulover Canal Bridges will have the following marine traffic control plan. The bridges will be closed from 3 hours prior to the launch and 3 hours after the launch. During this time the bridges will open for 5 minutes every half hour to allow accumulating boat traffic to move through. However, from 1 hour prior to launch to 1 hour 30 minutes after the launch, the bridges will remain closed and will be unable to accommodate vessel traffic. 

Dredging in Port Canaveral:
USCG 7 th District LNM 34 announces that Weeks Marine, Inc., will commence dredging operations in the West Turning Basin and the Entrance Channel South Jetty Sediment Trap of Port Canaveral, Florida. This project will be ongoing twenty-four (24) hours per day, seven (7) days per week until approximately November 15, 2006. Tugs and scows will transport the dredge material to the disposal area(s). Sand suitable for beach fill will be placed in the Near Shore Placement Area. The remaining material will be placed in the Offshore Dredged Material Disposal Site (ODMDS). See attached enclosure number (8) for chartlet of locations of the dredging areas and the dredged material placement areas. Attendant plant will be working around the dredging and placement areas as well as transition between these sites and have all required Coast Guard lighting for night time operations. The dredge and attendant plant will monitor VHF Channel 12 (Port Canaveral Working Channel), 13 and 16. All mariners are urged to use extreme caution while transiting the area. For further information or questions please contact Mr. Jimmy Rude at (985) 237-5063 or Mr. Rich James at (985) 237-5025.

ICW Bridge Update (from USCG 7 th District LNM 34):

McCormick Bridge, Mile 747.5:
Construction of a new bridge will begin in December, 2006 and will continue until February 2009. A barge will be in the immediate vicinity of the bridge and may be in the navigable channel as needed. Channel restrictions will be placed in the future Local Notice to Mariners and Broadcast Notice to Mariners.

Pineda Causeway Bridge, Mile 908.5:
This bridge is undergoing repairs until April 30, 2007. This work should not affect the navigable channel under this bridge.

Ernest F. Lyons Bridge, Mile 984.9:
The demolition of the Ernest F. Lyons ( Ocean Boulevard) Bridge is scheduled to begin on September 27, 2006 and will continue until November 8, 2006. during this time period there will be periodic waterway closures. Updates will be provided via future Broadcasts and Local Notices 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.

Copyright 2004-2008 Tom Neale