East Coast Alerts
By Mel Neale
May 29, 2008

New Public Docks at Riverfront, Wilmington, Delaware:
From a press release:* (Wilmington, DE) May 21, 2008 -- Visitors to Riverfront Wilmington can now arrive by boat, as the Riverfront Development Corporation of Delaware (RDC) has opened a 360-foot length of public docks along the Christina River.

Located next to a restored shipbuilding crane near Iron Hill Brewery and Joe's Crab Shack, the floating docks are secured to pilings and connected to the Riverwalk by a ramp. The docks can accommodate 10-12 boats on a first-come, first-served basis.

"The ability to welcome boating traffic to the Riverfront has been a goal for many years. It will be a pleasure to see the boats sailing or motoring up the Christina to dock on our banks and enjoy the restaurants and attractions that Riverfront Wilmington has to offer," said Michael Purzycki, RDC executive director. "We hope to eventually have 700 feet of public dock available, which will really bring a great energy and excitement to the Riverfront."

There is no cost for boats to tie-up at the docks, which will be open from sunrise to midnight. A City of Wilmington police officer will serve as harbor master to direct boating traffic that will now include power boats and sailboats in addition to rowers, the River Taxi, and the Kalmar Nyckel tall ship. For more information about Riverfront Wilmington events and attractions, visit www.riverfrontwilm.com.

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

New Jersey Intracoastal Waterway Aids Askew:
We observed in the USCG 5 th District LNM 21, that the there are a number of missing, destroyed, off station, or otherwise problematic Aids to Navigation on the NJICW. Check 5 th District USCG LNM 21 for specifics.

The following is a list of aids with various problems: there may be others, or these may be repaired by the time you go out on the water.

Daybeacon 65, Light 115, Buoy 130A, Buoy 136, Daybeacon 155, Daybeacon 159, Light 172, Daybeacon 217, Buoy 221, 165DB, Buoy 246, Buoy 246A, Buoy 248, Buoy 250, Daybeacon 270, Daybeacon 333, Daybeacon 337, Daybeacon 339, Daybeacon 356, Light 359, Light 365, Buoy 386A.

Dredging, Cape May Ferry Terminal Area:
From the USCG 5 th District LNM 21: The Dredge FULLERTON will be conducting dredging operations in the vicinity of the Cape May Ferry Terminal, Cape May Canal and Oyster Creek from 09 May until 09 June, 2008. The dredge will monitor VHF-FM channels 13 and 16. It is requested that all vessels transit the area of the dredge at a -no wake- speed.

Surveys New Jersey Coast:
From the USCG 5 th District LNM 21: Seaforth Geosurveys, Inc. is planning to conduct geophysical and geological surveys in federal and New Jersey state waters to investigate the environmental and engineering feasibility of the proposed receiving terminal location and potential pipeline corridor from June 2, 2008 and will completed by August 28, 2008.

Vessels:

R/V Connecticut (call sign WCY 4995) a 76ft Steel blue hull with white house. Vessel will be slow steaming and trailing sensors 100 yards astern. Vessel will display all necessary lights and dayshapes for a vessel restricted in its ability to maneuver.

Communications:

Vessels will be monitoring channel 13, 16 and VTS channel as required. Vessels will participate in the VTS system as required. Vessel is fitted with AIS. Cell phone 860-625-3251 email captain d.nelson@uconn.edu, etc.

The study area for these reconnaissance activities extends from our proposed floating terminal site (roughly 20 miles offshore New Jersey and 30 miles south of Long Island) to the onshore coastal area and north into Raritan Bay. More specifically, the area is contained within the following coordinates:

On charts NOAA Charts 12300, 12332 and 12327: From a point at 40º 30.926'N, 74º 19.288'W; then east to 40º 30.341'N, 73º 32.925'W; then south to 40º 4.731'N, 73º 33.283'W; then west to 40º 4.899'N, 74º 0.377'W; then north to 40º 27.596'N, 74º 0.212'W; then west to 40º 27.697'N, 74º 19.297'W; then back to the beginning point at 40º 30.926'N, 74º 19.288'W.

Please contact 902-468-3579 or gcasey@seafortheng.ca if you have any questions or require additional information or detail regarding the proposed reconnaissance activities.

Delaware Bay Hazard:
From the USCG 5 th District LNM 22: The Coast Guard has received a report of a partially submerged hazard to navigation consisting of 3 steel piles, appearing connected and measuring 70ft by 2.5ft at approximate position 38-42.255N, 074-46.208W, 12.5NMs east - southeast of Delaware Bay Approach Lighted Whistle CH. Mariners should transit the area with caution.

Good News for ICW Boaters:
From the USCG 5 th District Bridge Office: On May 22, 2008, the Coast Guard has withdrawn its notice of proposed rulemaking concerning the proposed change to the regulations that govern the operation of the Centerville Turnpike (SR 170) Bridge at AIWW mile 15.2, across the Albemarle and Chesapeake Canal in Chesapeake, VA. The requested change would have allowed the bridge to open on signal every hour on the half hour from 6:30 a.m. to 6:30 p.m., year round. The withdrawal is based on further investigation indicating that this change would not improve the schedule for both roadway and waterway users. A copy of Public Notice 5-1115, which describes the withdrawal of the proposal in detail, can be obtained by writing to the address above or by calling (757) 398-6422.

NOTE: On this site, we called for boaters to make public comments regarding this proposal. We wrote a letter of comment against it, and other boaters must have also. Your voice does make a difference. When public comment is requested, and if you have an opinion or if a proposal will impact you in any manner (positive or negative), please send your comments. This is the second proposal (that we know of) for more restrictive scheduling of an Atlantic ICW bridge that has been withdrawn recently thanks to boaters’ comments.

Deltaville , VA Entrance from Rappahannock Shoaling:
From the USCG 5 th District LNM 22: Shoaling to a depth of 4.5 ft MLLW has been reported in Broad Creek in the vicinity of Broad Creek Daybeacon 2. Mariners should use extreme caution when transiting the area.

Hopewell , VA , Bridge Requires 2-hour Notice:
The USCG 5 th District LNM 21 reports that Mariners are advised that the Benjamin Harrison Bridge (at mile 65.0) across James River in Hopewell Virginia, will require a two hour notice to the bridge tender to open for vessel traffic starting at 11:00 a.m. Wednesday May 21, 2008 until further notice. Mariners should plan their trips accordingly.

Catapult Testing, Newport News Shipbuilding, James River, VA:
From the USCG 5 th District LNM 21: The U.S. Navy will be conducting catapult testing from the USS GEORGE H.W. BUSH at 036-58.7N, 076-26.3W. All vessels are required to remain 1000 feet clear of the vessel's bow in an arc of 90 degrees to starboard and 90 degrees to port until testing is complete. Testing will be conducted from 7 A.M. until sunset, Monday through Friday, until June, 2008. Chart: 12248.

Dredging: Hampton Roads, VA, Area:
From the USCG 5 th District LNMs 21 and 22:

The Dredge MOBRO 112 will be conducting dredging operations in the vicinity of the Newport News Shipbuilding and Drydock from 30 May until 10 June, 2008. The dredge will monitor VHF-FM channels 13 and 16. It is requested that all vessels contact the dredge 30 minutes prior to the expected time of passage and transit the area at a -no wake- speed.

The Dredge MOBRO 112 will be conducting dredging operations in the vicinity of the Perdue Farms Facility (Southern Branch, Elizabeth River) from 09 June until 20 June, 2008. The dredge will monitor VHF-FM channels 13 and 16. It is requested that all vessels contact the dredge 30 minutes prior to the expected time of passage and transit the area at a -no wake- speed.

The Dredge CHARLESTON will be conducting dredging operations in the vicinity of the U.S. Naval Station Norfolk piers 5,6,7,12 and 14 and approaches from 16 May until 10 July, 2008. A submerged pipeline will be in place from the dredge site to the Craney Island Disposal Area. The dredge will monitor VHF-FM channels 13 and 16. It is requested that all vessels contact the dredge 30 minutes prior to the expected time of passage and transit the area at a "no wake" speed.

Chesapeake Bay Bridge Tunnel Project to Close South Auxiliary Channel:
From the USCG 5 th District LNM 22: The Skanska Corp. will commence a six to eight week long rock scouring project over the Chesapeake Bay Bridge Tunnel in the vicinity of the Thimble Shoal Channel commencing 19 May, 2008. During this operation two crane barges will be anchored in the vicinity of the Chesapeake Bay Bridge Tunnel's First Island. As the project progresses the crane barges will move into the South Auxiliary Channel eventually eliminating the use of this channel to vessel traffic. The crane barges- anchor buoys in the four point mooring system may be located up to 1000 feet away from the barge and will be lighted with a slow flashing yellow light. Skanska tug operators will be on scene Monday through Saturday form 7 a.m. to 5:30 p.m. and monitoring VHF-FM channel 13. If no tug is on scene, mariners are encouraged to contact U.S. Coast Guard Sector Hampton Roads on VHF-FM Channel 16 to report any concerns. Mariners should exercise caution when transiting the area.

Shoaling at Bogue Inlet Crossing of the ICW:
From the USCG 5 th District LNM 22: An ACOE survey conducted 16 May, 2008 indicates shoaling to a depth of 0.1 feet MLLW in the vicinity of Bogue Sound Buoy 45A. Mariners should use extreme caution when transiting the area. See http://www.saw.usace.army.mil/nav/aiww/bftcfr/TGS1.pdf . Waypoints are given for safe passage, favoring the red (dock) side of the channel. This is always subject to change.

Reduced Vertical Clearance: Cape Fear River Memorial Bridge, NC:
From the USCG 5 th District LNM 22: Mariners are advised that emergency structural repairs will be performed at the US 17/Cape Fear River Memorial Bridge, at mile 26.0, in Wilmington, NC, from June 1 to August 15, 2008. To aid in the repairs, a containment system will be installed under the movable lift span, reducing the vertical clearance by approximately five feet. Vertical clearances in the full open and closed positions above mean high water will be reduced from135 feet to 130 feet and from 65 feet to 60 feet, respectively. For additional information, mariners should contact the bridge tender at (910) 251-5773 or via marine radio on channel 13 VHF. Mariners able to pass under the closed span may do so and use exercise caution when transiting the area.

Harbor Dredging Projects:
The USCG 7 th District LNM 22 reports the following projects: Norfolk Dredging Company has advised that dredging has commenced in the Charleston Inner Harbor, Wando River and Town Creek. For further information please contact CWO2 Hunter G. Crider, Sector Charleston Waterways Management Division (USCG) at (843) 724-7647.

Southern Dredging Company, Inc., will commence dredging operations in Georgetown Harbor and the Sawpit River on or about June 13, 2008. For further information please contact CWO2 Hunter Crider at (843) 724-7647.

All mariners are urged to transit these areas with extreme caution.

GEORGIA, ICW, Aids to be changed:
The USCG 7 th District announces the following proposed changes in the Aids to navigation on the Atlantic ICW:

SOUTH EDISTO RIVER RANGE A FRONT LIGHT (LLNR 35070) will be permanently discontinued.

SOUTH EDISTO RIVER RANGE A REAR LIGHT (LLNR 35075) will be permanently discontinued.

BUTTERMILK SOUND RANGE A FRONT LIGHT 216 (LLNR 36965) the range will be permanently discontinued. The aids will be renamed Buttermilk Sound Light 216 displaying Flashing Red 2.5-s (.3) and TR-s on a pile.

BUTTERMILK SOUND RANGE A REAR LIGHT (LLNR 36970) will be permanently discontinued.

All comments should be addressed to Commander (DPW), Seventh Coast Guard District 909 S.E. 1st Ave ( STE 406) Brickell Plaza Federal Bldg Miami, Fl 33131 to be received by 01 July 2008.

Beach Renourishment, Fernandina Beach, FL:
The USCG 7 th District LNM 22 states that Weeks Marine Inc., has advised that a dredging and beach Renourishment project will commence on or about May 21, 2008. Equipment mobilization of the dredge, attendant plant, and pipeline will take approximately 30 days to stage, with completion of the pipeline and equipment on or about June 18, 2008. The actual dredging from the borrow area will commence on or about June 30, 2008, with the arrival of the dredge R.S. WEEKS. Dredging activities are anticipated to take approximately 90 days which put completion of dredging on or about September 30, 2008. Complete demobilization of all equipment and pipelines will take approximately two weeks with completion date of October 15, 2008.

Borrow Area Limits:

Latitude Longitude

A. 30-42-17.320N 081-23-14.010W

B. 30-42-17.120N 081-22- 42.520W

C. 30-41-59.010N 081-22-27.430W

D. 30-41-36.710N 081-22-27.610W

E. 30-41-36.890N 081-22-55.520W

F. 30-41-51.580N 081-23-14.210W

The material being dredged from the borrow area will be pumped via a combination of floating pipeline to the area showed on the attached drawing on Fernandina Beach (See Enclosure Number 8.) The pipeline will be marked with all USCG required lighting and markers for the entire length from the borrow area to the beach. The dredge and attendant plant will also be marked in accordance with USCG regulations and will be monitoring VHF Channels 13 and 16 at all times during the length of work for this project. The primary area of operation for this project will be in the borrow area as defined above which should not impact vessels transiting the Kings Bay Entrance Channel, but will impact vessels moving outside of this channel in the vicinity. No Aids to Navigation under this contract requires any relocation or removals. Mobilization and demobilization efforts for the setup and removal of all plant required for the project will take place in the

St Marys River outside of the navigable channel with Weeks marine, Inc., vessels transporting equipment from the staging area out to the borrow area as defined above and on the attachment. For further information please contact Mr. Ely Mahan at (985) 232-1277 or via e-mail at ejmahan@weeksmarine.com

Shoaling in Matanzas River, South of Matanzas Inlet:
From the 7 th District LNM 22: FL East Coast Matanzas River Shoaling has been reported in the vicinity of Matanzas River Daybeacon 110.

No Radar for NASA Launch:
The USCG 7 th District LNM 22 advises that the National Aeronautical and Space Administration (NASA) has requested that all mariners unless authorized by NASA please refrain from RADAR tracking the STS-124 launch and landing. STS-124 is scheduled for a nominal thirteen (13) day mission. The possible launch date is May 31, 2008, the possible landing date depending on the actual launch date is June 12, 2008. For further information please contact Ms. Cathy Sham at (281) 483-0124.

Banana River , FL , Obstruction:
From USCG 7th District LNM 22: The Coast Guard has received a report of a submerged object (possibly an old piling) in 5 feet of water, about 6 inches below the water line on the Banana River located at 28-15.074N/80-39.114W. All mariners are advised to exercise caution while transiting this area.

Lock Closures, Okeechobee Waterway:
According to a May 16, 2008 Notice to Navigation Interests published by the USACE Jacksonville District the navigation lock at Port Mayaca will be closed to traffic at 0600, 7 July 2008 and reopen to traffic at 0600 on 29 August 2008. The navigation lock at St. Lucie will be closed to traffic at 0600, 14 July 2008 and reopen to traffic at 0600 on 29 August 2008.

The notice states that “ these are necessary in order to install Manatee Protection Systems.”

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

As of May 28, 2008: There were no reported levels given for the lake or for Route 1 or Route 2. Route 2 ( Rim Canal) has been closed since Hurricane Wilma in 2005.

Florida Bridge Update: From the USCG 7 th District LNM 22:

Bridge of Lions, St. Augustine:
The channel beneath the Bridge of Lions and adjacent temporary bridge will be closed to marine traffic on the following dates during the day except for two consecutive designated openings according to the following schedule:

The channel will be open on weekends and each day after 6:30 p.m., when the bridge will return to an open-on-demand policy for the evening. Requests for a bridge opening must be made to the bridge tender on Marine Radio Channel 9.

These closures will not affect roadway traffic. For more information, please call (904) 825-3647 or (904) 669-1165.

B.B. McCormick Bridge, Mile 747, JAX Beach, Closed Again:
From MSIB 10-08, USCG Sector Jacksonville: The navigational channel at the B.B. McCormick Bridge at Mile 747 on the Atlantic ICW will be closed from June 2 through June 20, 2008, 8:00 a.m.-5:00 p.m., Monday through Friday. There will be limited channel opening between hours of 12:00 p.m. and 1:00 pm. Channel closed to all marine traffic with opening for declared emergencies only.

Spanish Boulevard Bridge (Mile 1044.9, Boca Raton, FL):The Coast Guard is changing the regulations of this bridge due to repairs. This work will require single-leaf operations on the hour and half-hour with a three hour advance notice to the bridge tender (561 395 5417) for a double-leaf opening. The vertical clearance will be reduced by five feet due to the placement of containment equipment. Dates: 8:00 a.m. on June 15-6:00 p.m. on December 8, 2008. In case of emergencies the bridge will open as soon as practicable.

Davie Blvd. Ft. Lauderdale, New River: ( SW Twelfth Street) Bridge, Mile 0.9 across the South Fork of the New River will be closed to navigation for repairs from 7:00 a.m.-1:00 p.m. Monday-Friday, June 1-June 30, 2008. Horizontal clearance will be reduced to 25 ft. due to barge placement for containment during repairs. It will also be closed from 4:30 p.m.-6:00 p.m. Monday-Friday; the barge will not be in the channel during these times.

The vertical clearance will not be below 21 ft. MHW.

Johns Pass, FL. West Coast: Due to construction this bridge will be closed to navigation from 1:00 a.m. to 11:00 a.m. each day, Monday through Friday until August 31, 2008. There is a scheduled waterway closure on June 2 and 3, 2008 for a concrete pour. These are weather-dependent; updates will be given in Broadcast Notice to Mariners. The channel under the Johns Pass Bridge will be closed to marine traffic for approximately 30 minutes at 1:a.m. and 10:00 a.m. each day to raise and lower the bridge leafs.

Matlacha Pass, Lee County, Pine Island Sound Area: The Coast Guard has issued a public notice announcing a permit application for the approval and plans foe a low-level moveable bridge across Matlacha Pass, Mile 6.0 at Matlacha, Lee county Florida. This public notice 04-08 which solicits comments through June 27, 2008 is attached to 7 th District LNM 22, enclosure 11. Project manager is Mr. Randall Overton, 305 415 6749.

 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.