Severe shoaling has shelved out from the southern and southeastern banks, just north of the Fields Cut/ICW’s intersection with Savannah River

Came thru this morning (April 8, 2011) and stayed closer to the green side, never saw less than 11 MLW. While this seems like great news, since the 7′ MLW hump at the north side is still there, you still have to play the tide if you draw 6′ +!

I came through Fields Cut today at dead low tide. Called TowBoatUS for advice which was spot on. When entering Fields from the south, hug the red side. Lots of water.
When in the cut, stay center. The lowest I saw was 7-8′. When exiting the north end favor just to the green side of center. Again 6-7′ of water.
Skipper BobK

Click Here To View the Cruisers’ Net’s “AICW Problem Stretches” Listing For Fields Cut

Even with last year’s dredging, Fields Cut is still subject to shoaling. This AICW trouble spot begins just north of crossing the Savannah River at mile 575 and extends northward to mile 574.

Passed though Fields Cut at 1400 on 3/25/11. We were just after the top of the tide. Saw no less than 19′ staying center of the Cut until we reached the north end when we momentarily saw 11.2′. with 6.5′ above mlw that would be a mlw depth of less than 5′.
Skipper Ed Grygent

Click Here To View the Cruisers’ Net’s “AICW Problem Stretches” Listing For Northern Fields Cut/Wright River Intersection

Click Here To View the Cruisers’ Net’s “AICW Problem Stretches” Listing For Fields Cut

Click Here To Open A Chart View Window, Zoomed To the Location of Fields Cut

Until it was dredged this past spring, the Fields Cut stretch of the AICW, between Wright River and Savannah River, was the source of numerous groundings. Despite the dredging these comments support the contention that there is sto;; shoaling on the southeast side of southern Fields Cut, beneath the magenta line, just as the canal takes its last swing before entering the Savannah River. The advice given by Capt. Jamie and by others has been heeded successfully this fall.

Came through Fields Cut just above the Savannah River yesterday on our way south at absolute low tide with a 5 ft draft. If you stay in the middle and then closer to NW side at the southern end of the cut, depths were no less than 11 feet all the way. Do not follow the magenta line on your electronic charts.
Captain Jamie McLane aboard Wanderer’s Rest

Click Here To View the Cruisers’ Net’s “AICW Problem Section” Listing For Fields Cut

Captain Kovach gives us a detailed depth report on the Fields Cut portion of the AICW, a perennial “AICW Problem Stretch.

10/27/10- Fields Cut: Nice Cruise.
Allez, draft 5 ft Entered Fields Cut 0938 at Wright River 2 hours before high hide which was 1140 depth was 17ft At north entrance. Mid way down cut depth was 13 ft. Depth at south end of Fields Cut 9.5 ft. Met a Tug and Barge at south end as we were ready to enter Savannah River. He took the Red Side all the way as he had to get on the range. We had to move toward the dock at the Green side saw 9.4 ft. The tug talked us over to his starboard side and no problem getting across Savannah River. At 1000 Entered Elba Cut on south side of Savannah River. R2 (19.8 Ff) R4 (15 Ft) R6 (27 ft)
Captains Bob and Helen Kovach aboard M/Y ALLEZ

Click Here To View the Cruisers’ Net’s “AICW Problem Section” Listing For Intersection of Wright River and Northern Fields Cut

Click Here To View the Cruisers’ Net’s “AICW Problem Section” Listing For Fields Cut

ALLEZ is a 50ft trawler with a draft of 4.5 ft and had no problems with the dredged Fields Cut which is the final leg of the SC AICW before crossing the Savannah River.

Larry,
Fields Cut whole length was a piece of cake. Then we met a tug and barge coming into the southern entrance of the cut and we had to move to the Green and near the end of the dock on the left. This Captain was cool as he had to get the barge on the range and was right on the Red side close but talked us over to his starboard side, as he was port to the Red side and we made it.
The other side was also a piece of cake once we crossed the Savannah River. Trick: do this passage from two hours before high tide.
Captains Bob and Helen Kovach aboard M/Y ALLEZ

Click Here To View the Cruisers’ Net’s “AICW Problem Section” Listing For Fields Cut

When I read the message below from Captains Todd and Brenda Lanning, it occurred to me that I misspoke last week when, in an SSECN Alert, I stated that the only AICW problem stretch left in the two Carolinas was found at the intersection of northern Alligator River/AICW and Albemarle Sound (in North Carolina). As Todd and Brenda learned, depths along the southern portion of Fields Cut (just a short hop north of this passage’s intersection with the Savannah River), can still run much too shallow at low tide.
So, you may be asking, why hasn’t this section of the Waterway enjoyed the “stimulus” dredging that has so enhanced the AICW along the rest of it’s run through both Carolinas. I asked the Army Corps of Engineers that very question not too long ago, and was told that their survey missed the shoaling on southern Fields Cut.
Dredging was performed, however, on northern Fields Cut, where this passage leaves the Wright River. If you follow the links below, you will see we have separate “AICW Problems” listings for both these waters.
So, do take care when cruising from Savannah River through the southern 1/3 of Fields Cut, and time your passage for mid to high tide if possible. Follow the links below for more specific advice.

Greetings again,
We just transited Fields Cut at low tide and registered water less than 4.5 feet. Fields Cut is located just after you cross the Savannah River going north. The shallow area is between the range marker at the south end of the cut and the cement pilings on the east shore, roughly 100 yards of shallow water.
Be careful out there!
Todd & Brenda Lanning
Life’s2Short
1985 40′ Oceania Trawler

Click Here To View the Cruisers’ Net’s “AICW Problem Section” Listing For Southern Fields Cut

Click Here To View the Cruisers’ Net’s “AICW Problem Section” Listing For the Intersection of Northern Fields Cut and the Wright River