Wiggins Pass - Click for Chartview

Even with the dredging done in March of this year, we have a Navigation Alert (http://cruisersnet.net/?p=92652) posted for Wiggins Pass, one of the most shoal prone inlets on the Western Florida coastline which cuts the coast between Gordon Pass and Fort Myers Beach. This channel is often dredged, but by the time the dredge disappears over the horizon, the sand is silting back in once again. However, dredging is always welcomed in this busy pass. And to be safe, we strongly recommend calling Pelican Isle Yacht Club at 239-566-1606 for up-to-date depth information BEFORE attempting entry.

FLORIDA-FORT MYERS TO CHARLOTTE HARBOR AND WIGGINS PASS: Hydraulic Dredging.
Orion Marine Construction Inc. will commence hydraulic dredging operations on or about May 24 2013. Operations will occur in Wiggins Pass, Naples. Orion Marine Construction will be performing preliminary construction in Wiggins Pass using a barge for equipment and other vessels. All Barges/Dredges/Tugs/Crew Boats will operate and monitor on working Channel 78 and VHF Channel 16. Hydraulic operations areas and explanations are listed below;
Dredge JERI–B will be dredging in New Pass, Beach operations on Big Hickory Island and Orion Marine Group personnel will be performing crew transfers at Weeks fish Camping in Estero Bay. While dredging, the vessels will be displaying lights and dayboards as required, and may temporally impede the flow of traffic through the channel.
The dredge “JERI-B” will work on Channel 78 and monitor VHF Channel 16. The “JERI-B” will operate 24 hours a day, 7 days a week. A submerged pipeline will be utilized from the dredge to the overboard dredge material discharge area. The path of the pipeline will be properly marked IAW USCG 33 CFR 88.15. Buoys with “Caution Submerged Pipeline” will mark the submerged line. For further information contact the Project Manager Mr. Jared Rackley 904-868-9498, Mr. David Folsom Safety Officer (904) 210-2175 and/or the Project Engineer Mr. Patrick Link 813-508-1631.
Mariners are urged to use extreme caution in the area, transit at their slowest speed to minimize wake, and proceed with caution after passing arrangements have been made. Chart 11427

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Very few cruisers travel the Waterway after dark, but just in case, please note the restrictions given in this Local Notice to Mariners. Figure Eight Island bridge crosses a long, narrow portion of the Waterway north of Wrightsville Beach.
Of course, you may be able to get a good view of the fireworks from the AICW, by loitering just south or north of the restricted zone!

NC– FIGURE EIGHT ISLAND – ATLANTIC INTRACOASTAL WATERWAY – FIREWORKS DISPLAY – SAFETY ZONE
Mariners are advised that a fireworks display will be held on May 31st at 9:30 pm. A safety zone will be established on all waters of the un-named channel north of the Figure Eight Island within a 300 yard radius of the fireworks site in approximate position 34-16-21”N 077-45-15”W., approximately 600 yards southeast of the Figure Eight Island Swing Bridge. This safety zone will be enforced from 08:30 PM to ½ hour past the conclusion of the event. This is necessary to control vessel traffic for safety of life and property on navigable waters during the event. Vessel traffic will be restricted on the entire un-named channel north of the Figure Eight Island Causeway. The fireworks will be launched from shore, which will be marked by a sign labeled “DANGER FIREWORKS STAY AWAY”, to provide on scene notice that the safety zone will be enforced. Vessels may not enter, remain in or transit through the safety zone during the enforcement period unless authorized by the Coast Guard Captain of the Port, or his or her designated representative on scene. All persons and vessels shall comply with the instructions of the Captain of the Port or the designated on-scene-patrol personnel, and upon being hailed by siren, radio, flashing light or other means, the operator of a vessel shall proceed as directed. For any comments or questions, contact the Marine Event Coordinator at Coast Guard Sector North Carolina, (252) 247-4525, or at NCMarineEvent@uscg.mil CHART: 11541

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Space Center Bridge - Click ofr Chartview

The Space Center Causeway Bridge crosses the AICW at Statute Mile 885, south of marker #43. The change in this span’s opening schedule, detailed below, extends the restricted opening hours by 30 minutes both AM and PM.
FLORIDA – ATLANTIC INTRACOASTAL WATERWAY – PALM SHORES TO WEST PALM BEACH – INDIAN RIVER – NASA PARKWAY/SR 405 BRIDGE: Bridge Repairs.
Royal Bridge Incorporated has advised the Coast Guard that they will be painting the NASA Parkway/Addison Point/SR 405 Bridge across the Atlantic Intracoastal Waterway mile 885, Canaveral, Florida from April 1 to May 29, 2013. This office has been advised that only one of the four spans is open; therefore, the mariner will need to request a normal bridge opening at this location.
Starting May 9, 2013, the curfew period for the John F. Kennedy Space Center bridge, mile 885 at Addison Point will be extended to read:. The draw shall open on signal; except that, from 6:00 a.m. to 8:00 a.m. and 3:30 p.m. to 5:30 p.m. Monday through Friday, except Federal holidays, the draw need not open. This portion of the work will be completed on June 21, 2013.
NASA, the bridge owner, has advised that they will be scheduling work on this bridge that may require single-leaf operations from Monday 13 May through Tuesday 2 July 2013. The details for double-leaf openings will be published in a future Local Notice to Mariners. Ref: LNM 08 through 19-13 Chart: 11485

We anchored south of the bridge last night (May 13). We were aware of the normal restricted opening schedule (closed 6:30 am to 8:00 am and 3:30 to 5:00 pm). We called the bridge tender to verify this schedule and were assured that we could get through before 6:30 am. When we called the bridge this morning to request an opening, we were informed that they are on a new schedule (since May 9) due to construction: closed 6:00 am-8:00 am. We did not ask about the afternoon schedule.
Walter Smith

Click Here To View the Eastern Florida Cruisers’ Net Marina Directory Listing For Space Center Bridge

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Old House Channel - Click for Chartview

Old House Channel connects Pamlico Sound and Roanoke Sound and forms the main/bridgeless, non-AICW northbound route into Manteo, NC. Oregon Inlet is a most unreliable and downright dangerous passage from southern Roanoke Sound out into the briny blue. Despite recent dredging in Old House Channel (March, 2013), shoaling is re-occurring. Please see Note C on Chart 12205 regarding frequently shifted navigation aids in these channels.

NC – CURRITUCK BEACH LIGHT TO WIMBLE SHOALS – OREGON INLET – OLD HOUSE CHANNEL – SHOALING
Shoaling to a depth of 4.0 ft MLW has been reported in the vicinity of Old House Channel Buoy 11 (LLNR 28275). Chart: 12204.

Click Here To View the Earlier Dredging Notice

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US 74 Bridge - Click for Chartview

US 74 Bridge has a closed vertical clearance of 20ft and crosses the Waterway in the heart of Wrightsville Beach. Originally scheduled to end May 1, the reduced horizontal clearance of these repairs will not affect most cruisers, but the movements of the barge and crane might.

NC – NEUSE RIVER TO MYRTLE GROVE SOUND – (AICW) – NEW RIVER TO CAPE FEAR RIVER – WRIGHTSVILLE BEACH – BRIDGE REPAIRS
1. Bridge rehabilitation on the US 74/76 Bascule Bridge at mile 283.1 on the Atlantic Intracoastal Waterway in Wrightsville Beach, North Carolina has been extended until July 27, 2013.
2. To facilitate repairs a crane barge will reduce the available horizontal clearance in the navigable channel from 90 feet to 50 feet. A one hour advance notice is required to remove the barge from the channel for vessels requiring greater than 50 feet horizontal clearance to safely navigate through the bridge. The US 74/76 bascule bridge tender can be contacted on VHF-FM channels 13 or 16 to arrange removal of the barge from the channel.
3. Mariners are urged to transit the area with caution at slow no wake speeds.
4. For any comments or questions, contact the Coast Guard Sector North Carolina Waterways Management, (252) 247-4525, or at joseph.m.edge@uscg.mil

Click Here To View the Cruisers’ Net’s North Carolina Bridge Directory Listing For SR 74 Bridge

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Deep Creek - Click for Chartview

This dredging project will take place in the Dismal Swamp/AICW Alternate Route on the north side of Deep Creek Lock. Deep Creek departs westward from the Waterway immediately south of the high-rise bridge at I-64. Barge traffic in the narrow portions of Deep Creek should be your only concern.

VA – ELIZABETH RIVER – SOUTHERN BRANCH – NORFOLK TO ALBEMARLE SOUND (AICW)/DEEP CREEK – DREDGING
Norfolk Dredging will be conducting dredging operations in Deep Creek Yard (1 nm south of the I-64 bridge) from 17 April until 05 May, 2013. Dredge material will be transported by barge to the Norfolk Dredging facility at Great Bridge. The dredge will monitor VHF-FM channels 13 and 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. Mariners are cautioned to strictly comply with the Inland Rules of the Road when approaching, passing and leaving the area of operations, and remain a safe distance away from the dredge, booster, buoys, cables, pipeline, barges, derricks, wires and related equipment. Owners and lessees of fishnets, crabpots and other structures that may be in the vicinity and that may hinder the free navigation of attending vessels and equipment must be remove these from the area where tugs, tenderboats and other attendant equipment will be navigating. Dredging projects are
usually conducted twenty-four (24) hours a day seven (7) days a week, all fishnets, crabpots and structures in the general area must be removed prior to commencement of any work. A NO WAKE transit is requested of all vessels passing the dredge and if necessary to clarify a SAFE PASSAGE contact the dredge on the appropriate VHF-FM channels.
Chart: 12206.

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Muddy Cove - Click for Chartview

Muddy Cove is west of the St. Johns River channel just north of Lake George. This removal of derelict vessels is sure to please local residents.

FLORIDA-DUNNS CREEK TO LAKE DEXTER -ST JOHNS RIVER-LAKE GEORGE: Derelict Vessel Removals.
Southland development Inc will be removing 5 derelict vessels for Clay County from the area known as Muddy Cove in Lake George, Florida. There will be some temporary piling installed to secure the turbidity barrier around the derelict vessels being removed. All piling and turbidity curtains will be removed daily and caution buoys will be deployed at any area that depicts a temporary navigation hazard. There will be a crane barge with a lattice crane and a material barge onsite. The project is scheduled to begin April 9 and is expected to be completed by April 23, 2013. The Project POC is Mr. Wayne Konga (727) 237-1520. Mariners are advised to transit the area with caution. Chart 11495

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