East Coast Alerts
By Mel Neale
December 14, 2006

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

More LED’s (Therefore “ Reduced Nominal Range”) for Aids to Navigation in the Northeast:
These are in major boating areas. From USCG 1st District LNM 49:

The Coast Guard will be making the following changes to this waterway on or about 11 Dec. 2006:

Change the lighting equipment to Light Emitting Diodes (LED's) and reduce the nominal range to 3 NM on the following aids;

Sandy Hook Channel Lighted Gong Buoy 1 (35090)
Sandy Hook Channel Lighted Bell Buoy 2 (35095)
Sandy Hook Channel Lighted Gong Buoy 3 (35100)
Sandy Hook Channel Lighted Bell Buoy 4 (35105)
Sandy Hook Channel Lighted Gong Buoy 5 (35110)
Sandy Hook Channel Lighted Buoy 6 (35115)
Sandy Hook Channel Lighted Gong Buoy 7 (35125)
Sandy Hook Channel Lighted Bell Buoy 8 (35120)
Sandy Hook Channel Lighted Gong Buoy 11 (35155)
Sandy Hook Channel Lighted Bell Buoy 12 (35150)
Sandy Hook Channel Lighted Gong Buoy 13 (35165)
Sandy Hook Channel Lighted Bell Buoy 14 (35160)
Sandy Hook Channel Lighted Bell Buoy 16 (35170)
Sandy Hook Channel Lighted Gong Buoy 17 (35175)
Sandy Hook Channel Lighted Bell Buoy 18 (35180)
Sandy Hook Channel Lighted Buoy 20 (35185)

The Coast Guard will be making the following changes to this waterway on or about 5 Jan 2006:

Change the range of the following aids from a nominal range of 4 NM to 3 NM using a Light Emitting Diode (LED) lantern;

East Passage Lighted Gong Buoy 9 (LNR 17805)
East Passage Lighted Bell Buoy 11 (LNR 17810)
East Passage Lighted Bell Buoy 12 (LNR 17855)
East Passage Lighted Bell Buoy 14 (LNR 17940)
East Passage Lighted Buoy 17 (LNR 17965)
East Passage Lighted Buoy WR21 (LNR 18084)
East Passage Lighted Bell Buoy 24 (LNR 18095)
East Passage Lighted Buoy 25 (LNR 18100)
East Passage Lighted Bell Buoy 26 (LNR 18105)

New Jersey Bridge on Winter Schedule:
From the USCG 5th District LNM 49: Effective on December 21, 2006, the Coast Guard is changing the regulations that govern the operation of the Route 35 Bridge, at ICW mile 1.1, across Manasquan River, at Brielle, NJ. The final rule will allow the drawbridge to provide vessel openings upon four hours advance notice from December 1 to March 31. This change will eliminate the continual attendance of draw tender services during the non-peak boating season while still providing for the reasonable needs of navigation.

More Dredging in Upper Chesapeake Bay:
The USCG 5th District LNM 49 also announces that the bucket dredges WEEKS 550 and 551will be conducting dredging operations at the southern approach to the C and D Canal in the vicinity of Tolchester Beach and Grove Point at the mouth of the Sassafras River from 02 December until 01 April, 2007. Dredge spoil will be transported by scows to the Overboard Disposal Area at Tolchester Beach. The dredge can be contacted on VHF-FM channels 13 and 16.

CHESAPEAKE BAY: INTERFERENCE TO THE GPS NAVIGATION SIGNAL 25NM FROM THE PATUXENT RIVER NAVAL AIRSTATION
This is supposed to continue for nearly FOUR months. From USCG 5th District LNM 49 and 50:

THE GPS NAVIGATION SIGNAL MAY BE UNRELIABLE DUE TO INTERFERENCE TESTING ON THE FREQUENCIES OF M1575 AND M1227 USED IN SHIPBOARD NAVIGATION AND HANDHELD SYSTEMS. GPS SYSTEMS THAT RELY ON GPS, SUCH AS E-911, AIS AND DSC, MAY BE AFFECTED WITHIN A 25NM RADIUS OF POSITION 38-15N 076-26W AT SEA LEVEL. INTERFERENCE TESTING WILL BE CONDUCTED ON THE FOLLOWING DATES:

A. 04 DEC 06 THRU 31 MAR 07 0300-1100Z (MONDAY-FRIDAY ONLY)

MORE INFORMATION IS AVAILABLE AT THE COAST GUARD NAVIGATION CENTER WEB SITE WWW.NAVCEN.USCG.GOV AND THE MIRROR SITE WWW.NAVCENTER.ORG. GPS USERS ARE ENCOURAGED TO REPORT ANY GPS SERVICE OUTAGES THAT THEY MAY BE EXPERIENCING DURING THIS TESTING VIA THE NAVIGATION INFORMATION SERVICE (NIS) BY CALLING (703)313-5900 OR BY USING THE NAVCEN'S WEB SITE'S GPS REPORT A PROBLEM WORKSHEET.

Bogue Inlet (Not ICW) Shoaling:
From USCG 5 th District LNM 50: A US Army Corp of Engineers survey of 05 December, 2006 indicates shoaling in Bogue Inlet Channel to a depth of 4.1 feet MLW. The shoaling extends across the entire channel and begins approximately 250 yards seaward of Bogue Inlet Buoy 15, north to approximately 200 yards north of Bogue Inlet Buoy 16. Mariners should avoid transiting this area during periods of low water and exercise caution when transiting during other tidal periods. Mariners can view this survey at www.saw.usace.army.mil/nav/inlets/bogueinlet.pdf.

While this is not an inlet used often by transient boaters, it is the inlet that serves the Coast Guard Station at Swansboro and provides its access to the Atlantic Ocean. This should be of concern to us all.

Figure Eight Island Bridge, NC , Closed for Maintenance:
From USCG 5 th District LNM 50: Mariners are advised that the Figure Eight Swing Bridge, at AICW mile 278.1, at Scotts Hill, NC, will be closed-to-navigation from 7 a.m. on Wednesday, January 3, 2007 until and including 7 a.m. on Friday, January 5, 2007. The drawbridge will be closed to vessels to perform needed mechanical and structural repairs. To avoid delays, mariners should adjust their schedule accordingly.

This is one most powerboats can get under without opening with its 20 ft. vertical clearance.

Sunset Beach Pontoon Bridge, NC, Nighttime Closure to Shut Down ICW:
Also from the USCG 5 th District LNM 50: Mariners are advised that the SR 1172 (Pontoon) Bridge, at AICW mile 337.9, at Sunset Beach, NC, will be closed-to-navigation from 9 p.m. on Wednesday, January 3, 2007 to 5 a.m. on Thursday, January 4, 2007; and from 9 p.m. on Thursday, January 4, 2007 to 5 a.m. on Friday, January 5, 2007. The drawbridge will be closed to vessels to perform needed structural repairs. At all other times, the drawbridge will operate in accordance with the operating drawbridge regulations set out in Title 33 Code of Federal Regulations Part 117.821(a)(6). To avoid delays, mariners should adjust their schedule accordingly.

NOTE: This bridge has a 0 ft. vertical clearance. When it is closed, no vessel can pass through. It is nice of them to schedule the work at night so that the ICW can be used during daylight. This is a very old bridge and of historical interest so there is no plan to replace it. When we passed through in November, 2007, we noticed that the pontoon looked like it could sink any day. Let’s hope that this repair works.

Send Your Comments on South Carolina ICW Here:
The following is a quote, with no spelling corrected, from the USCG 5 th District LNM 50. There are a lot of things you can comment on here such as the shallow areas that need maintenance dredging, for example the channel between the Isle of Palms Bridge and Charleston Harbor, especially just north of the Ben Sawyer Bridge; Fenwick Cut; the southernmost exit from the Asheepoo-Coosaw Cutoff Canal to name a few. There is also the difficult schedule at the Wappoo Creek Bridge with all its current, and the aging Ben Sawyer Bridge and Ladys Island Bridge.

The U.S. Coast Guard is conducting a Waterways Analysis and Management System (WAMS) study of the Intracoastal waterwayy between McClellanville, SC, mile marker 425 to Beaufort, SC., mile marker 540. The study focuses on the area's aid to navigation, waterborne commence, marine casualty information, port, harbor resources, emergency response plans, routine and emergency communication capabilities, and future development projects. Any company or individual wishing to provide comments or participate in a user survey should contact USCG Sector Charleston Waterways Management Division WAMS Officer CWO2 Hunter G. Crider by the close of business January 31, 2007. CWO2 Hunter G. Crider can be contacted at Sector Charleston at (843) 724-7647, via e-mail at: Hunter.G.Crider@uscg.mil or via mail at: Commander (WAMS), USCG Sector Charleston, 196 Tradd Street, Charleston, SC 29401, Attn: CWO2 Hunter G. Crider.

Space Shuttle Radar Ban During Landing:
USCG 7th District LNM 49 as usual carries the following information regarding shuttle launching and landing:

The National Aeronautical and Space Administration (NASA) has requested that all mariners unless authorized by NASA please refrain from RADAR tracking of the STS-116 launch and landing. STS-116 is scheduled for a nominal twelve (12) day mission. The possible launch opportunity extends from December 7, 2006 to December 17, 2006 (It was launched on Saturday, December 9, 2006.). The possible landing period depending on the actual launch date extends from December 19, 2006 to December 29, 2006 (Projected landing date would be December 21, 2006.). For further information please contact Ms. Cathy Sham at (281) 483-0124.

St. Lucie Inlet, FL Shoaling Continues:
Recent USCG 5 th District LNMs continue to report 5 ft. MLW depths across the entire channel at St. Lucie Inlet. USACE dredging is scheduled to begin in January, 2007. But there is help if you consider using that channel, with proper cautions. Check http://www.stlucieinlet.com/default.aspx for the latest information (note that the survey date is November 17, 2006, almost a month ago, and conditions can change at any time). Note: I downloaded the survey which was a 5.32 MB file size and took around 15 minutes on my Verizon aircard with National Access 1XRTT connection.

New Bahamas Fishing Limits Announced:
The following information is quoted from an article by Macushla N. Pinder for the Bahama Journal ( http://news.bahamianyellowpages.com/2006/12/01/new-catch-limits-for-sports-fishermen-2/) :

December 1, 2006 at 4:50 pm

Beginning January 1, 2007 according to Agriculture and Marine Resources Minister Leslie Miller, the following new catch limits will be in effect for sportfishermen:

The implementation date of the new limits is January 1, 2007, according to Agriculture and Marine Resources Minister Leslie Miller.

The rules currently allow for six crawfish per person, but that will be changed to six per vessel. Similarly, sports fishermen will no longer be allowed to catch conch at all in Bahamian waters.

The catch limits for demersal fish - groupers and snappers, etc. - will be changed from 20 lbs per person to 20 lbs per vessel and from a total of six pelagic species - dolphins, kingfish, wahoo, tuna, - per person to six per vessel.

The Minister added that all fish retained must be kept with the head and tail intact while aboard the vessel or transported by air. This he said, would assist in the identification process during inspection.

But the Minister also pointed out that there would be exceptions to the catch limits for persons participating in fishing tournaments, in which the approved rules set different guidelines.

The Bahamas Tourism Office in Ft. Lauderdale confirmed that this information is supposed to be correct, but they do not have it officially in writing at this date, December 14, 2006. They are waiting for the information to “filter down”.

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