Construction to build a new, fixed 65′ bridge across the AICW near the site of the Skidaway Narrows Bascule Bridge on Hwy. 204 began in 2010 and has not affected navigation to this point. The completion date of the new bridge is sometime in 2012 and may require additional brief closures such as the one describede below, as the project is completed.

GEORGIA – ATLANTIC INTRACOASTAL WATERWAY – BEAUFORT RIVER TO ST SIMONS SOUND – SKIDAWAY NARROWS BRIDGE: Bridge Replacement Week 01/12
United Contractors, LLC has advised the Coast Guard that they will be closing the Atlantic Intracoastal Waterway at the Skidaway Narrows (Diamond Causeway) Bridge during daytime hours from February 14 through February 20, 2012. This work consists of setting the beams for the new bridge across the waterway. The actual times of the waterway closure will be published in a future Local Notice to Mariners. The contractor will be removing the old bascule bridge approximately in August 2012. This work will request the waterway to be closed to navigation during the removal. The dates and times will be published in a future Local Notice to Mariners. Chart 11507

I checked with the USCG Marine Safety Office here in Savannah Jessie Wallis 912-652-4353 ext 223 and he referred me to the Local Notice to Mariners Jan 2012 and the MSSB December 12 2011. As you can see from the LN to M actual times will be forthcoming in future LN to M.
Mr. Wallis also stated that They had no intentions of closing the bridge totally for the six day period February 14 thru 20, 2012. Mr. Wallis said to follow the instruction in the December 12, 2011 MSSB. Call on channel 9 to the push boat Python to coordinate your safe passage during the period of safety closure.
Kevin R. Quinn

Click Here To View the Cruisers’ Net’s Georgia Bridge Directory Listing For Skidaway Narrows Bridge

Click Here To Open A Chart View Window, Zoomed To A “Navigation Alert” Position at Skidaway Narrows Bridge

Captain Hall reminds us how easy it is to forget to look for those small floats out in an open body of water. The AICW enters St. Catherines southbound from the Bear River near Statute Mile 618 and departs the sound when it enters the North Newport River near Statute Mile 621.

Subject: St. Catherines Sound
Watch for crab pots along the AICW magenta line that crosses the sound.
Captain Larry Hall

Click Here To Open A Chart View Window, Zoomed To A “Navigation Alert” Position Along the AICW’s Passage Across St. Catherine’s Sound

The Waterway intersects the Altamaha River at mile 656 and runs in the Altamaha until entering Buttermilk Sound at mile 660. ALL cruisers traversing this section of the AICW need to be on maximum alert for the obstruction reported below! The Cruisers’ Net is declaring a Navigational Alert for these waters!

Cruising News:
On August 2, 2011 while traveling North there was a large piece of concrete with rebarb partially exposed about mid tide on the Altamaha River between daymarks 204 and 206.
Susan aboard s/v September Song

Click Here To Open A Chart View Window, Zoomed To A “Navigation Alert” Position On the AICW As It Passes Through the Altamaha River

The shoal reported below is a real concern for any cruiser contemplating dropping the hook on otherwise delightful Frederica River. There have also been reports here on the Net about shoaling on this stream’s southerly mouth.
Frederical River cuts into the western shores of St. Simons Island, and both its northern and southern mouths connect directly with the AICW channel.
Has anyone else tried to anchor on Frederica River lately. If so, please click the “Comment on This Posting/Marina/Anchorage/Bridge” link below, and share your experiences.

Don’t even think of mooring [cruising] through the north end of the Frederica River. There is now a shoal at the entry G229 almost right the way across at around 3ft 6ins lowish tide – maybe 6 ft high tide. I was lucky to get off it since the falling current quickly put me on it sideways at a 20 degree angle. Not shown on charts.
Captain Arnold

Click Here For The Cruisers’ Net’s Georgia Anchroage Directory Listing For Frederica River Anchorages

Click Here To Open A Chart View Window, Zoomed To A “Navigation Alert” Section of the AICW and Northern Frederica River

This dredging, which involves the entrance to the East River in Brunswick, GA, could possibly affect navigation for those of you who want to visit this increasingly popular stop just 5.5 miles northwest of the Waterway.

LOCAL NOTICE TO MARINERS: Week 37/11, 9/15/2011
GEORGIA-ST SIMONS SOUND-BRUNSWICK HARBOR AND TURTLE RIVER: Dredging Operations
Marinex Construction Inc., will commence dredging operations on or about September 14, 2011 in the vicinity of East River, Brunswick Harbor, Brunswick, Georgia. The work area will extend from Andrews Island Spit LB A, East River Entrance to Brunswick Harbor RFL. Dredge operations will continue on a 24 hours per day, 7 days per week basis until approximately November 1, 2011. Please contact the Dredge SAVANNAH on VHF Channels 13 and 16. For further information contact Mr. Thomas Payne, VP of Opertions at 843-722-9083 Chart 11502 11506

Click Here To Open A Chart View Window, Zoomed To the Location of Brunswick Harbor

Click Here To Open A Chart View Window, Zoomed To A “Navigation Alert” Position at Brusnwick Harbor

The primary mouth of Umbrella Creek, with anchorages close to the alternate Umbrulla Cut AICW Passage, lies off Jekyll Sound west of the Waterway, departing statute mile 687. Umbrulla Creek’s entrance should not be confused with the Umbrella Cut AICW route, which lies north and west of Umbrella Creek. Our nearby recommended anchorages for these waters can be reached via Umbrella Cut, thereby avoiding the shoaly entrance to Umbrella Creek, from Jekyll Sound, as described below.

May 7th, 2011
We tried to enter the umbrella creek to drop the anchor, the sandbar at the entrance is not 8 feet as shown on the chart, our echo sounder showed us less than 5 feet . Further north, the area is shoaling as well, care should be taken!
Manfred

Click Here To View the Cruisers’ Net’s Georgia Anchorage Directory Listing For Alternate Route Anchorages

Click Here To Open A Chart View Window, Zoomed To A “Navigation Alert” Position at Umbrella Creek

Even though 5+ feet of water at low tide in Georgia waters is considered by most to be “good water”, we have had earlier reports of touching bottom in the AICW’s run through Creighton Narrows, which lies at the south end of Front River and just north of the intersection of Crescent River and Old Teakettle Creek.

Georgia AICW mile 642, between markers 155 and 157. Our friends on “Ever After” passed through this afternoon near low tide. They have a 5′ 9″ draft, and were touching bottom going through. “Ever After” recommends favoring the red side through this stretch.

We found very shallow water between 155 and 157 and before that the channel leading up to 155. We draw 5′9” and had 00 showing, so we must have been ‘dredging’ but did scoot through. We were about a half hour before low tide.
Sami and Barry aboard s/v Ever After

Click Here To Open A Chart View Window, Zoomed To A “Navigation Alert” Position In The AICW/Creighton Narrows