Entrance Light -Click for Chartview

This missing light marks the entrance into Withlacoochee River via a narrow, multi-marker channel that departs the Cross Florida Greenway at Greenway marker #25.

FLORIDA-WEST COAST-CRYSTAL RIVER TO HORSESHOE POINT-WITHLACOOCHEE RIVER: Hazard to Navigation.
Withlacoochee River Entrance LT 1 (LLNR 29370) is destroyed with 1ft of the pile remaining above the waterline. A TRLB “WR1” with Fl Q G characteristics was set 5 yards channelward of the remains of the old structure in position 28-58-08.433N 082-49-43.134W. Mariners are advised to exercise extreme caution while transiting the area as the remains pose a hazard to navigation. Chart 11408

Click Here To Open A Chart View Window, Zoomed To A “Navigation Alert” Position at Light #1

Earlier in 2013, we have had consistent reports of shallower depths at the AICW/Shallotte Inlet intersection at St. M. 330. Well, it’s not a surprise that we are now hearing the same thing about the AICW/Lockwoods Folly intersection, as confirmed by the Local Notice to Mariners below. After all, we haven’t designated both these intersections as “AICW Problem Stretches” for nothing. And, with no dredging planned at either of the these spots in the near future, we can only conclude that things are going to get worse, until and if dredging occurs!

NC – AICW – MYRTLE GROVE SOUND TO LITTLE RIVER – CAPE FEAR RIVER TO LITTLE RIVER – SHOALING
Shoaling to a depth of 3.0 feet MLW has been reported between Cape Fear River to Little River Buoy 47A (LLNR 40230) and Cape Fear River to Little River Buoy 48 (LLNR 40235). Shoaling extends across the navigable channel. Chart : 11534.

I came through Lockwood Folly northbound on June 8, 2013, 1.5 hours after low tide, and was not as fortunate as I was at Shallotte earlier. About 200 yards before G47A, and dead center in the channel, I grounded hard. I draw 5.5 feet. I still had some forward motion and the boat was leaning to starboard, so I steered that way and immediately found 11 feet. This makes me think there is a hump. Now staying dead center between G47A and the adjacent red (I think it was R46A), I bumped again right between them, but rode over the high spot. I didn’t bump again, but saw a lot of 6.5 to 7 feet for another 100 yards or so.
Bill Raynor

Click Here To View the Cruisers’ Net’s “AICW Problem Stretches” Listing For the AICW/Lockwoods Folly Inlet Intersection

Click Here To Open A Chart View Window, Zoomed To This AICW Problem Stretch

Gilmerton Bridge - Click for Chartview

Gilmerton Highway Bridge crosses the AICW just south of Norfolk and has been the subject of much attention since the construction and resulting number of closures began last fall. The nighttime closures in effect since February are now ended. However, due to the ongoing construction, Cruisers’ Net will continue the Navigation Alert posted for this area until the work is completed.

UNCLAS //N16502//
SUBJ: SAFETY BROADCAST NOTICE TO MARINERS HRD BNM 227-13 VA – ELIZABETH RIVER SOUTHERN BRANCH – GILMERTON BRIDGE DEMOLITION WORK AT THE GILMERTON BRIDGE AT ICW MILE 5.8 IN CHESAPEAKE, VA, REQUIRES A 120-FOOT BY 65-FOOT BARGE AND CRANE IN THE NAVIGABLE CHANNEL, NEXT TO THE BRIDGE, FROM 6 PM TO 5 AM EACH DAY, FROM MONDAY NIGHT JUNE 10, 2013 TO SATURDAY MORNING JUNE 15, 2013. MARINERS REQUIRING LESS THAN 60 FEET HORIZONTAL CLEARANCE MAY PASS AND SHOULD USE CAUTION WHEN TRANSITING THE AREA. MARINERS REQUIRING MORE THAN 60 FEET HORIZONTAL CLEARANCE MUST PROVIDE AT LEAST ONE-HOUR ADVANCED NOTICE BY CALLING THE BRIDGE TENDER AT (757) 485-5488. MARINERS ARE REMINDED TO USE CAUTION WHEN TRANSITING THIS AREA. CANCEL AT TIME//152200Z JUN 13//

AICW – Elizabeth River Southern Branch – Gilmerton (vertical-lift) Bridge
The removal of the bascule pier on the east side of the former drawbridge requires the placement of an environmental containment cell around the pier and its fender system. The containment cell will reduce the horizontal clearance from 125 feet to approximately 124 feet for a period of approximately until 5 AUG 2013. During installation and removal phases, there will be a barge with a 60-feet beam in the channel. Contractor will move the barge to facilitate the safe transit of larger vessels with a 1-hour advanced notice.

New Gilmerton Lift Bridge

Click Here To View the Cruisers’ Net’s Bridge Directory Listing For Gilmerton Hwy Bridge

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

Plato Canal - Click for Chartview

Leading into a large condo development, Plato Canal channel lies northwest of Okeechobee Waterway marker #68 at mile 140.5 in Cape Coral.

FLORIDA-INTRACOASTAL WATERWAY-FORT MYERS TO CHARLOTTE HARBOR AND WIGGINS PASS-PLATO CANAL: Hazard to Navigation.
Private Aid Plato Canal DBN 5 (LLNR 53430) is destroyed and broken off above the waterline. Mariners are advised to exercise extreme caution while transiting the area. Chart 11427

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

Hazard - Click for Chartview

This Hazard to Navigation flanks the AICW channel, just south of the fixed bridge at mile 951.5 in Vero Beach, FL.

FLORIDA-INTRACOASTAL WATERWAY-PALM SHORES TO WEST PALM BEACH-INDIAN RIVER (SOUTH SECTION): Hazard to Navigation.
The Coast Guard observed a knocked down Manatee/No-Wake sign in Vero Beach Channel. The down sign is marked by an unlit Information/Regulatory buoy. The wreckage is just to the green side of center channel in approximate position 27-39-13.260N/080-22-23.844W as you make the approach from Indian River (South Section) LT 139 (LLNR 44180) to the first set of aids in Vero Beach Channel. Mariners are advised to exercise extreme caution when transiting the area. Chart 11472

I reported this to you two weeks ago, and as of today, it is still there. CG has put in a small floating marker to help you see it.
John Winter

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

Shoaling - Click for Chartview

We have a strange situation developing on the Eastern Florida section of the AICW, south of Fernandina Beach. Earlier this year, shoaling had become a major problem near marker #49, along the Waterway’s run through Sawpit Creek. But then, these waters were just dredged in March, 2013. All we can say is this dredging appears to have been particularly ineffective, as Fernandina Harbor Marina reports in late May, 2013, that Towboat/US has been making regular runs to the Sawpit Creek area due to groundings near marker #49. The extract below, cherry picked from the Local Notice to Mariners makes it official!
THE CRUISING COMMUNITY NEEDS LOTS MORE INFORMATION ABOUT THE AICW SHOALING NEAR MARKER #49 ON SAWPIT CREEK. CAN SOMEONE PLEASE GIVE US A FIRST HAND ACCOUNT OF THE AICW CHANNEL IN ITS PRESENT FORM NEAR MARKER #49. WHICH SIDE OF THE CHANNEL SHOULD BE FAVORED FOR BEST DEPTHS? DOES ANYONE KNOW WHY THE JUST COMPLETED SHOALING FAILED TO SOLVE THIS SHALLOW WATER PROBLEM?
Please send input directly to us at CruisersNet@triad.twcbc.com, or follow the “Click Here to Contribute Cruising News” link/button on the upper right of this, and all (except Chart View) SSECN pages.
YOUR FELLOW CRUISERS CAN’T WAIT TO HEAR FROM YOU!!!

LOCAL NOTICE TO MARINERS: Week 22/13
Severe shoaling has been reported at low tide in Sawpit Creek on the ICW in the vicinity of Sawpit Creek LT 49 (LLNR 38190). All mariners are advised to exercise extreme caution while transiting the area.

I came through here twice, in the fall and just this spring (4/10/13), there was no change in the shoaling. All that is necessary is to shift over to the extreme red side, following the shore 20 to 30 ft off for 15 ft plus MLW, as you make the turn and then gradually return to the center of the channel. When going north this spring, I passed R50 within 10 ft with 7 MLW and then quickly got to the extreme red as as described above.
You cannot follow the magenta line! The line is incorrect here – but there is plenty of water on the red side.
Robert Sherer
s/v Fleetwing, 42 ft with draft 4’ 9”

We have a 41 foot sailboat with a 5 foot draft. We just went through this area ten days ago. Heading north you can pass red 50 close, 50 feet and then start heading for the West Bank. There is a green can middle channel. Treat it like it is the east edge of the channel ignoring the green piling marker. This will set you close to the West Bank, fifty to seventy five feet, but that is where the water is. Now we had 1.5 feet of rising tide when we passed and we did see 7.5 feet just after we passed Red 50. The rest was 10 plus feet. But the fun has just begun. Further north favor R44, G41, R38 and R36. We have made it a policy that we only travel these waters on a rising tide and with at least 1.5 feet of tide already in place. Happy days.
Dave Bell

We came through here at high tide on May 26th. We draw 5.5 ft. We ignored the charts and plotter, and backed up by aerial photographs, we imagined the east half of the channel as solid land. This suggested long gliding turn about 100-150 feet off the western bank from R50 to R48. [By hugging here, a quick swing east gives deeper water, but don't swing much.] In the vicinity of the surfaced ramp, we tucked in even more tightly to the west. Our lowest DS reading was 7.5 feet at high tide (range 5.4 at that time). Because of the wicked side-set and swirling, we only go through here 2-1 hours before high tide. It’s not surprising dredging isn’t all that effective here. Sand bars from Nassau Sound are being eaten away and deposited here via the old natural swash channel to the east. The towboat captain we talked to said most of his tows were people who had been side set into shallows before they realized what was happening.
Chris and Janet

I sailed past marker 45 northbound on May 20 at mid/ rising tide and noticed no shoaling. But on the return on May 25 at a rising mid tide I encountered a section 200 yrds south of marker 45 with depths of 5 feet. This reading caused me to immediately go to dead slow so as to evaluate my course. It appeared that I was in the middle of the channel, but as I navigate by paper chart and eyeball, I can’t prove it.
Perhaps “Sandy” moved in some additional sand last year after the dredge did it’s work?
During the above mentioned trip we were surprised by the odd placement of Can #45 in Sawpit Creek. But as it sits in a natural right hand turn in the creek, I assumed it meant shoaling to be found on the inner part of the arc.
Standard operation calls for favoring the outside of the turn in most cases, so we had no problem, just a bit more turn to the left going northbound.
G. Grizzard

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

Shoaling - Click for Chartview

The developing shoal, reported below in this article cherry picked from the latest Local Notice to Mariners, lies directly along the path of the Okeechobee Waterway as it passes through the South Fork of the St. Lucie River, south and west of Stuart, Florida and a hop, skip and jump north of the St. Lucie Canal.

FLORIDA-INTRACOASTAL WATERWAY-ST LUCIE INLET TO FORT MYERS AND LAKE OKEECHOBEE-ST LUCIE RIVER SOUTH FORK: Shoaling.
The Coast Guard has observed significant shoaling in the vicinity of St Lucie River South Fork in the area between St Lucie River South Fork Buoy 30 (LLNR 51090) and the Palm City SR 714 Bridge at mile 9.5 of the Okeechobee waterway. Best water is near the green side of the channel depth as low as 4 feet were found center channel in position 27-10-33.630N/080-15-44.106W. St Lucie River South Fork Buoy 30 (LLNR 51090) has been relocated to position 27-10-42.626N 080-15-48.339W to mark shoaling. Mariners are advised to use extreme caution while transiting the
area. Chart 11428

Click Here To Open A Chart View Window, Zoomed To A “Navigation Alert” Position in St. Lucie River

Tarpon Springs - Click for Chartview

This sunken fishing vessel in the Anclote River lies 1/2 nautical mile west and downsteam of the Tarpon Springs City Marina.

FLORIDA-WEST COAST-TAMPA BAY TO PORT RICHEY-ANCLOTE RIVER: Hazard to Navigation.
The F/V “SKYE MARIE” is submerged in the vicinity of Anclote River DBN 49 (LLNR 26350) and Anclote River DBN 50 (LLNR 26355) near the edge of the channel. The vessels outriggers are extending up and outwards toward the center of the channel. A TRLB displaying Q R characteristics and a 4NM range has been established in position 28-09-23.229N/082-45-47.410W in the vicinity of Tarpon Springs Sponge Dock. Mariners are advised to exercise extreme caution while transiting the area. Chart 11411

Click Here To Open A Chart View Window, Zoomed To A “Navigation Alert” Position in Tarpon Springs

Niles Channel - Click for Chartview

Niles Channel makes into the northern flank of the Florida Key’s Hawk Channel between Summerland Key and Ramrod Key. The underwater debris reported below is found near a recommended anchorage along Niles Channel’s northern tip, just south of the fixed bridge.

FLORIDA-FLORIDA KEYS-BAHIA HONDA TO SUGARLOAF KEY-NILES CHANNEL: Hazard to Navigation – Niles Channel Fishing
Pier Deterioration.
Mariners are reminded of fallen debris from the old Niles Channel fishing bridge pier deteriorating. Parts of the fishing pier have fallen into the water in approximate position 24-39-36.0N/081-26-06.0W. Mariners are advised to remain clear of this structure and to use the main navigational channel when transiting the area. Chart 11445

Click Here To View the Florida Keys Cruisers’ Net Anchorage Directory Listing For Niles Channel Northern Anchorage

Click Here To Open A Chart View Window, Zoomed To A “Navigation Alert” Position at the Niles Channel Bridge

Marker #132 - Click for Chartview

Damaged marker #132 flanks the western side of the Waterway just north of Vero Beach, FL.

FLORIDA-INTRACOASTAL WATERWAY-PALM SHORES TO WEST PALM BEACH-INDIAN RIVER SOUTH SECTION: Hazard to Navigation.
Indian River (South Section) DBN 132 (LLNR 44150) is reported leaning so that only the top portion of the dayboard is visible. Mariners are advised to exercise extreme caution while transiting the area. Chart 11472

Click Here To Open A Chart View Window, Zoomed To A “Navigation Alert” Position at Marker #132

Broken Marker #86 - Click for Chartview

This broken daybeacon lies east of Merritt Island and south of Cocoa, FL, on the west side of the channel in a straight stretch of the Waterway.

FLORIDA-INTRACOASTAL WATERWAY-TOLOMATO RIVER TO PALM SHORES-INDIAN RIVER NORTH SECTION: Hazard to Navigation.
Indian River (North Section) DBN 86 (LLNR 42230) is reported broken in half; the wood piling is broken above the waterline. Mariners are advised to exercise extreme caution while transiting the area. Chart 11485

Click Here To Open A Chart View Window, Zoomed To A “Navigation Alert” Position at Daybeacon 86