East Coast Alerts
By Mel Neale
July 26, 2007

Second Sailboat in a Month Hits Overhead Power Line and Burns:
In our June 28, 2007 East Coast Alerts we told you of a sailboat burning up after hitting an overhead power cable with a 45 ft. vertical clearance in St. Julian Creek, off the ICW north of the Gilmerton Bridge in the Norfolk/Portsmouth/Chesapeake VA area. The Channel 10 local TV news on July 17 just reported that another sailboat had met a similar fate the previous day in the same creek. Check http://www.wavy.com/Global/story.asp?S=6792171&nav=23ii .This accident again occurred when a vessel northbound in the ICW apparently took the wrong route after passing through the Gilmerton Bridge. It left the ICW and headed straight into unmarked St. Julian Creek and into the overhead power cable. The correct ICW channel northbound makes a sharp right turn around Money Point and is clearly defined by the green markers and the magenta line on the chart.

Again, we don’t know the facts of this specific case and make no implication or inference as what happened. Pay attention. There are many areas where the twists and turns of the ICW and other navigable channels can be confusing if you’re not paying close attention and carefully following updated charts and watching for aids to navigation. Also be careful to avoid the tendency to “Follow the Leader”.*

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

Lake Okeechobee Drying Up:
The prolonged drought in the Southeast US has caused the virtual closure of the Okeechobee Waterway through Central Florida for most cruising vessels. The lake level is averaging around 9.1 feet which gives an available draft on Route 1 of 3.04 feet, but with a maximum recommended draft of 1.44 feet (considering -1.1 feet for wind). Route 2 has been closed since Hurricane Wilma, first for debris and now for no water. Check http://www.saj.usace.army.mil/conops/structures/2007NavBull/ntn16jul.pdf for the latest Navigational Bulletin from the USACE at Jacksonville. Also check http://www.saj.usace.army.mil/cco/LakeOWatch/index.shtml for some interesting articles on the effect of the lower lake levels.

Hobucken NC Area ICW, Grounding Follow-up:
We just received an email from the skipper of the sailboat that we reported about in the July 12, 2007 East Coast Alerts. We had read that he reported to have run hard aground about a mile south of Hobucken, NC, and had to grab his wife to keep her from going headfirst down the steps. He had reported that he was just to the west of the channel centerline, and that he had plenty of water 10 feet east of the grounding position.

In May 2007 the skipper of a sailboat reported to the Coast Guard Station at Hobucken that it hit something very hard in the middle of the channel at approximate ICW Mile 160.5, between red daybeacon “24” and green can “25,” south of Hobucken, NC. The chart indicates an “obstruction reported” in this area and shows the shipwreck symbol next to the channel. We were a few miles away, also northbound and within VHF range, so we followed the conversations between the captain and the US Coast Guard Station at Hobucken. Apparently a woman aboard the boat was injured seriously when the boat stopped so suddenly.

We were concerned that there might be an obstruction that both had hit. The skipper who just wrote to us apparently was to the north of the first position, off the point north of Green “23”. He thinks that he hit a shoal on the west side of the channel there. He mentioned that Google Earth showed the shoal at the edge of the channel very clearly.

The area of the ICW where Gale Creek and the Bay River meet should be transited carefully. Strong winds can affect the water levels here, and channels can shoal at any time. If you do run aground in the channel here or anywhere, or find shallow water where it’s not supposed to be, it should be reported to the Coast Guard. And if you hit something besides the bottom, it should be reported. Make sure that you have accurate coordinates or can identify the nearest markers.

LORAN C-FUTURE OF LONG RANGE AIDS TO NAVIGATION
The USCG 1 st District LNM 29 contains the following announcement. Most boaters use GPS rather than the older LORAN for electronic navigation. It is our understanding the LORAN is still used by some fishermen and by aviation interests. This is your chance to make your views known if you are concerned about continuing LORAN service.

The U.S. Coast Guard (USCG) announces that it intends to prepare a Programmatic Environmental Impact Statement (PEIS) on the Future of the Long Range Aids to Navigation (LORAN) Program. The current system (LORAN-C) is a low frequency hyperbolic radionavigation system approved for use in the U.S. Coastal Confluence Zone (CCZ) and as a supplemental air navigation aid. LORAN-C provides navigation, location, and timing services for both civil and military air, land, and marine users in the CONUS and Alaska. The PEIS will evaluate the environmental effects of alternative futures for the LORAN-C Program, and aid the USCG in its decision on whether to terminate or continue to operate and invest in the LORAN-C system. Publication of this notice begins a scoping process that will identify and determine the scope of environmental issues to be addressed in the PEIS. This notice requests public participation in the scoping process, establishes a public comment period, and provides information on how to participate.

DATES: Public meetings will be held August 15, 21 and 23, 2007, in Washington, DC, Juneau, AK, and Seattle, WA, respectively. Each meeting will consist of an informational open house from 4:30 p.m. to 6 p.m. and a public scoping meeting from 6 p.m. to 8 p.m. The public meetings may end later than the stated time, depending on the number of persons wishing to speak. Comments and related material must reach the docket on or before August 31, 2007.

The entire public notice is available online at: http://www.access.gpo.gov/su_docs/fedreg/a070717c.html  

Dredging in Cape May Canal:
The USCG 5 th District LNM 30 states that the DREDGE FULLERTON will be conducting dredging operations in the Cape May Canal - West End in the vicinity of the ferry terminal from July 23 until August 24, 2007. The dredge will monitor VHF-FM channels 13 & 16. 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. Operators of vessels of all types should be aware that dredges and floating pipelines are held in place by cables, attached to anchors some distance away from the equipment. Buoys are attached to the anchors so that the anchors may be moved as the dredge advances and the location of the submerged pipelines are marked by buoys on each side of the channel. Dredging projects are usually conducted twenty-four (24) hours a day seven (7) days a week.

Woodrow Wilson Bridge , DC Area, Construction Continues:
There’ll be two more years of this. The USCG 5 th District just issued the following updated information: Mariners are advised that construction of the new Woodrow Wilson Memorial Bridge across the Potomac River, mile 103.8, between Alexandria, Virginia and Oxon Hill, Maryland is ongoing until 2009. The continued aggressive construction of the new Inner Loop (IL) Bridge will continue to influence navigation on the Potomac River near the bridge. Demolition for the remainder of the old bridge toward the MD shore commenced in April 2007. Boaters near the Maryland shoreline should use extreme caution and be on the lookout for advisory signage. To ensure clear passage, contact the Woodrow Wilson Bridge Project with at least 48 hours advance notice. Advancement of the IL drawbridge elements will require continuing intermittent placement of crane barges in the federal navigation channel, which may remain in place overnight. As an alternative, vessels less than 45 feet in height can typically use the marked auxiliary channel, located just east of the federal navigation channel (45-foot vertical clearance, 130-foot horizontal clearance, and 22-foot water depth at MLW). Across the Potomac River, work on the IL Bridge will continue and boaters traveling outside of the federal navigation channel should use due caution and obey signs. Excessive speed and wake by boaters may cause serious or fatal incidents to the Project. Due to the sensitive and precise nature of the work and for worker safety, it is crucial that mariners obey the speed restrictions and eliminate wakes through the work zone. For any questions, please contact Mr. Mike Baker, Environmental Construction Manager for the Woodrow Wilson Bridge Project at 202-438-7499. For bridge opening requests, please contact the bridge tender at 703-836-2396. The "Mariners Alert" page, located on the Project's website at www.wilsonbridge.com , is updated weekly and contains additional information. As the construction progresses, check these resources frequently to obtain the weekly schedule outlining items such as expected channel closures due to concrete pours, channel restrictions due to barge placements, auxiliary channel availability, and federal navigation channel vertical clearance information.

New Temporary Navy Pier East of Little Creek, VA:
From the USCG 5 th District LNM 30: The U.S. Navy will be constructing a temporary pier approximately 1000 yards east of Little Creek Harbor in position 36-55-37.790N / 076-09-52.502W that will extend approximately 600 feet into the Chesapeake Bay. Pier construction will commence July 30, 2007 and it will be dismantled on or about August 31, 2007. The pier will be marked by slow flashing yellow lights every 300 feet. Mariners are requested to use caution while transiting this area.

Diving Operations in Hampton Roads Again:
From the 5 th District LNM 29: Crofton Diving will be conducting cable laying operations in the vicinity of Sewells Point Degaussing range from 09 July until 31 August, 2007. Diving operations will be conducted 24 hours a day, Monday through Saturday. Assisting vessels operators will be standing by VHF-FM channels 14 and 05. All mariners are requested to transit area with caution and NO WAKE.

 Cape Fear River Entrance Uncharted Shoal:
While most of us wouldn’t need to worry about an uncharted 28 ft. shoal, it is disconcerting that something like that could just be “discovered” in this information age. Water this shallow in an otherwise deep area can cause larger than normal seas and possible breaking waves. This is from USCG 5 th District LNM 29: An uncharted dangerous coral/ rock shoal at a depth of 28 feet (8.53m) has been discovered in position 33-42-38.126N, 078-02-07.961W.

 Dredging in Jacksonville FL Area:
The 7 th District LNM 30 announces two dredging projects in the Jacksonville, Florida Area:

Norfolk Dredging Company will commence maintenance dredging in Jacksonville Harbor, Jacksonville, Florida on or about August 1, 2007. The dredging will be conducted in Bar Cuts 3, 4, 5, 8, and 9. Several navigational aids will be relocated or removed during this project. All mariners are urged to transit the area with extreme caution. Please review future Local Notice to Mariners for updates on this project. For further information please contact Mr. Paul Lougheed at (757) 547-9391.

Norfolk Dredging Company will commence dredging operations in the St Johns River on or about August 7, 2007. The dredge ATLANTIC will be dredging in the main channel between Mayport Basin Channel Buoy 2 and the intersection of the Intracoastal Waterway (ICW) in the vicinity of Miles Point LB 24. The dredge operator will standby on VHF Channel 13 and 16. Traffic should call thirty (30) minutes prior to expected time of passage. All mariners are requested to stay clear of the dredge, barges, scows, tugs, derricks and operating wires about the dredge. Operators of vessels of all types should be aware that the barges are held in place by cables, attached to anchors some distance away from the equipment. Buoys are attached to the anchor so that the anchors can be moved if needed. This project will be conducted twenty-four (24) hours per day, seven (7) days a week until completion on or about November 10, 2007. For further information please contact Mr. Steve Newton at (757) 547-9391.

More Semi-Submersible Testing:
From the USCG 7 th District LNM 30: Lockheed Martin in conjunction with the United States Navy will be conducting offshore testing of an unmanned, remotely piloted, semi-submersible vehicle 1 to 10 miles offshore from Jupiter Inlet to Boynton Beach Inlet. Operations will take place beginning July 24, 2007 and ending October 31, 2007. Sea Tow Palm Beach will support the semi-submersible with 2 Inflatable RHIB boats and will be in constant radio contact with the operations crew and equipped with an emergency remote kill switch. The Sea Tow RHIB Boats will be monitoring channel 16 and 71. It is requested that all mariners stay clear and pass with a minimal wake. For further information please contact Mr. Donny Jones at (561) 494-2245.

Navy Activity off Port Everglades, Ft. Lauderdale FL:
The USCG 7 th District LNM 29 announces two Navy ops off Port Everglades of interest to boaters in the area. In other words, stay out of the way. The United States Navy, South Florida Testing Facility (SFTF) has commenced (July 16, 2007) the installation of offshore assets. The gear has been towed out of the Port Everglades Inlet 1NM then 0.3 NM south of the channel, the gear then has been transitioned from a towed position to a suspended position for the rest of the tow offshore. The vessel and tow will transit 11 NM ESE of Port Everglades Inlet at a slow speed with restricted maneuverability to deep water. Due to the limited maneuverability of the surface vessel, constrained by the submerged object, the vessel and the tow should be considered a hazard to navigation. This operation will continue until August 4, 2007. All vessels are requested to stay clear of the U.S. Navy assets, for further information please contact Mr. Anthony Bush at (954) 926-4032.

The United States Navy, South Florida Testing Facility (SFTF) will commenced cable laying operations on July 19, 2007, 1 NM east of the Port Everglades Inlet, then 0.3 NM south of the channel. The cable (s) will be suspended for four (4) to six (6) hours above the water as they are reeled to shore from the cable laying vessel 3000 feet off the beach. The cable will be outfitted with floats 100 feet apart and navy divers will placed the cable on the bottom at safe locations and remove the floatation at or near the position:, 26-01-15.720N 079-52-38.100W. This operation will continue until August 4, 2007. All vessels near the support vessel should use caution when transiting near the area. For further information please contact Mr. Anthony Bush at 954) 926-4032.

South Fork New River, Ft. Lauderdale I-95 Bridges Reduced Clearance:
The USCG 7 th District LNM 29 states that there will be 5 ft. reduced vertical clearance at the I-95 Fixed Bridges across the South Fork of the New River in Ft. Lauderdale while V&R Erectors works on the girders. If any vessel needs the full 55 ft. vertical clearance, 15 minutes notice is required by calling on VHF Channel 13. No dates were given.

This is a Reminder:

Do Mariners Still Need Weather Information on HF Radio?

We think so. The following is from USCG LNMs 18-22:

PUBLIC COMMENT PERIOD ON CONTINUED NEED FOR HF RADIO BROADCAST OF WEATHER WARNINGS

The US Coast Guard is seeking public comment on the need to continue providing high frequency (HF) radio broadcasts of weather forecasts and warnings. Public comment is necessary in order to assess the demand for the HF radio broadcasts in each of three forms: (1) radiofacsimile; (2) voice; and (3) simplex teletype over radio (SITOR), also known as narrow band direct printing (NBDP). The infrastructure necessary to provide these services has exceeded its useful life expectancy; the equipment is no longer manufactured, repairs are difficult to accomplish, and spare parts generally are not available. Comments should be submitted by August 24, 2007 and addressed to Commander (dpw) 5th Coast Guard District., 431 Crawford Street, Rm.100, Portsmouth, VA. 23704-5004.

Commentary: While most people we know on boats with SSB radios (HF transceivers) now rely on other means to receive weather information than the traditional weather fax and voice broadcasts, there are still some boaters who use HF receivers (much less expensive that a transceiver) to access these services. We don’t now how many. HF receivers also provide a helpful alternative when other sources fail. We hope that those of you who still rely on these methods for receiving weather information will respond to the call for Public Comment.

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.