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.

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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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Route 13 Bridge - Click for Chartview

Well off the familiar path of the AICW, the Chowan River is a deep, blackwater river that runs west and north from the westerly extreme of Albemarle Sound into remote Gates County, North Carolina.
This is a stream all too rarely visited by cruising craft, particularly as it hosts one of the finest anchorages you will ever find, anywhere, anytime, on Bennetts Creek. There is also another good anchor down spot behind Holiday Island.
Very, very few cruisers venture upstream on the Chowan as far as the Highway US 13-158 bridge, whose reconstruction is described below. HOWEVER, this work may indeed affect some local, year-round Albemarle Sound/Edenton, NC cruisers, so if this accurately describes you, take note!

NC —ALBERMARLE SOUND — CHOWAN RIVER – BRIDGE CONSTRUCTION
Mariners are advised that construction activity will commence on or about July 1, 2013 through August 1, 2014 at the US 13-158 Bridge across Chowan River, at mile 36.7, between Winton and Tarheel, NC. A new fixed bridge will be constructed adjacent to the existing fixed bridge. The purpose of the project is to reduce traffic congestion and improve travel time and safety along US 13-158. The new fixed bridge will provide a minimum vertical clearance of 34 feet, above mean high water, with a 66-foot wide horizontal clearance. The existing span is currently charted with a 35-foot vertical clearance, above mean high water, with the same 66-foot wide horizontal clearance in the navigational channel. To
facilitate the work, construction barges and tugboats will be in the area performing pile driving, concrete footing construction, erection of precast concrete girders and superstructure. We are also advising mariners use extreme caution when transiting the area. Construction tugboats will monitor VHF-FM Channel 13. Chart: 12205.

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Oregon Inlet - Click for Chartview

Recent Local Notices to Mariners and our own on-site observations have reported severe shoaling in Oregon Inlet passage, which is now confirmed by this new Corp of Engineers survey. This passage, which cuts North Carolina’s Outer Banks south of Nags Head, and north of Hatteras, is NOT recommended for ANY mariner without very specific, up to date, local knowledge, and, even then, only for those piloting shallow draft vessels of less than 4 ft. We have had a Navigational Alert set for this inlet since June of 2011.

NC –CURRITUCK BEACH LIGHT TO WIMBLE SHOALS – OREGON INLET CHANNEL/ROANOKE SOUND CHANNEL – SHOALING
An ACOE survey conducted 19 February, 2013 indicates shoaling to a depth of between 5.5 and 2.6 feet MLW in the vicinity of Oregon Inlet Light 54 (LLNR 28193) ) and Oregon Inlet Lighted Buoy 55 (LLNR 28195). Chart :12204.

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Oak Island – Fort Caswell Bridge has a fixed vertical clearance of 65ft and crosses the Waterway south of Southport, NC.

NC – MYRTLE GROVE SOUND TO CASINO CREEK(AICW) – OAK ISLAND – BRIDGE REPAIR
1. Bridge fender repairs on the NC 133 Fixed Bridge at mile 311.8 on the Atlantic Intracoastal Waterway in Oak Island, North Carolina have been extended until June 15, 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 work supervisor 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 Chart: 11541.

Click Here To View the Cruisers’ Net North Carolina Bridge Directory Listing For Oak Island Bridge

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SR 74 Bridge - Click for Chartview

This is a very advance notice of this 5-hour closure to navigation, so mark your calendar. The State Road 74 bridge has a closed vertical clearance of 20ft.

NC – ATLANTIC INTRACOASTAL WATERWAY – NEUSE RIVER TO MYRTLE GROVE SOUND – NEW RIVER-CAPE FEAR RIVER
To accommodate the Wrightsville Beach/Quintiles Marathon scheduled for Sunday, March 17 2013, mariners are advised that the S.R. 74 Bridge, across AIWW mile 283.1, at Wrightsville Beach, NC will remain in the closed position from 5 a.m. through 10 a.m. Mariners able to pass under the closed span (20 feet MHW) may do so, and should adjust their transits accordingly. Chart 11541

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

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Morehead City Railroad Bridge crosses the Waterway at Statute Mile 204, immediately south of the Newport River Bridge. As the closure period, described below in this article cherry picked from the latest Local Notice to Mariner’s indicates, most AICW mariners will not be inconvenienced by the strictly nighttime closure of this low level span.
However, should you planning to navigate the Waterway through the Beaufort – Morehead City area after 8:30 pm and before 5:00 am. then it will be necessary to use the far more complicated Russell Slue to Gallant Channel, to Taylor Creek, to Beaufort Inlet route.

NC – ATLANTIC INTRACOASTAL WATERWAY (AIWW)
Mariners are advised that effective October 17, 2012 through October 1, 2013; the Coast Guard is temporarily changing the operating schedule that governs the Carolina Coastal Railroad Bridge across Newport River, at AIWW mile 203.8, in Morehead City, NC. To facilitate needed repairs, the drawbridge shall operate as follows: (1) During the day, from 5 a.m. to 8:30 p.m., the draw shall be maintained in the open position to vessels and would only be closed for the passage of trains and to perform periodic maintenance; and (2) At night, the draw need not open from 8:30 p.m. to 5 a.m., except an opening would be provided at 12 a.m. (midnight) if advance notice is given before 4 p.m. on the afternoon before the requested opening by calling (954) 658-4661 or via marine radio channels 13 or 16 VHF-FM. Mariners should use extreme caution when transiting the area. Chart 11541

Click Here To View the North Carolina Cruisers’ Net Marina Directory Listing For Morehead City Railroad Bridge

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These firing schedules appear regularly in the weekly Local Notice to Mariners, but if this is your first time through the Camp LeJeune area, you may be unaware of the possible delays. Normally, if firing is underway, you will stopped by very courteous, but armed, Marines aboard small vessels, Range Control Boats. We hope you aren’t delayed, but, if so, log it as another of the many wonderful experiences of traveling the ICW!

NC – NEW RIVER – FIRING EXERCISES
1. The Commanding General, Marine Corps Installations East-Marine Corps Base Camp Lejeune (MCIE-MCB CamLej), North Carolina, has advised that the area in the Atlantic Ocean between a point approximately 4.5 miles east of Bogue Inlet to a point approximately 10 miles southwest of New River Inlet, North Carolina, within the existing danger zone (depicted as 334.440) as shown on National Ocean Service Chart 11543, will be hazardous to navigation because of field firing exercises during the periods and times stated below. Firing will be up to 15 nautical miles seaward.
Vessels are urged to avoid the above area during the periods stated except for the Atlantic Intracoastal Waterway, where mariners traveling through this area can expect a delay of about one to four hours during the below times. Range Control Boats, MCIE-MCB CamLej North Carolina monitor Channel 16 VHF-FM (156.8 MHz) and the working Channel 82 VHF-FM (161.725 MHz). Range Control can be reached by phone at 910-451-3064 or 4449.

5. Atlantic Intracoastal Waterway, Inland Waters in the Browns Island Inlet area between Bear Creek and Onslow Beach, may be closed for firing exercises during the following periods:
Live Fire Operations:
8:00 a.m. to 5:00 pm Daily (USS Ship-Naval Gunfire)
8:00 a.m. to 10:00 pm Daily (Ranges)
Non-Live Fire Operations:
12:01 a.m. to Midnight Daily (Boat-Maneuvering)

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Because one of the bridges affected by these fender repairs is a fixed span, because the opening schedule of the bascule bridge is unchanged, and because very few cruising vessels require greater than 50ft HORIZONTAL clearance, most cruising vessels will be be unaffected by these fender repairs.

NC – NEUSE RIVER TO MYRTLE GROVE SOUND/NEW RIVER TO CAPE FEAR RIVER (AIWW) – BRIDGE FENDER REPAIRS
Bridge fender repairs are being conducted on the following bridges:
A. NC 210 Fixed Bridge at Mile 253.3 AIWW at North Topsail Inlet from 12 September until 12 December, 2012.
B. U.S. 74/76 Bascule Bridge at Mile 283.1 AIWW at Wrightsville Beach from 01 September until 01 May, 2013.
To facilitate repairs, a crane barge will reduce the available horizontal clearance in the navigable channel from 90 feet to 50 feet. Vessels requiring greater than 50 feet horizontal clearance to safely navigate through the bridge may contact the work supervisor on VHF-FM channels 13 or 16 to arrange for removal the barge. A one hour prior notice of transit is requested. A NO WAKE transit is requested of all vessels. Charts: 11541, 11534

Click Here To View the Cruisers’ Net’s North Carolina Bridge Directory Listing For Top Sail Island Bridge

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

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Only the tallest sailing vessels will be affected by the 4-hour, temporary closing (described below) of the Hwy 74 Bridge, as it has a CLOSED vertical clearance of 65ft, but the 40-foot closed vertical clearance of the Isabel S. Holmes Bridge near downtown Wilmington, NC, will be a problem for many sailcraft. Fortunately, we are only talking about a 4-hour closure on 10/20/12!

NC – CAPE FEAR RIVER AND THE NORTHEAST CAPE FEAR RIVER – BRIDGE INFORMATION
Mariners are advised that the S.R. 74 Bridge and the Isabel S. Holmes Bridge over the Northeast Cape Fear River in
Wilmington, NC. will deviate from the regulation and be maintained in the closed position for runners during the annual Beach2Battleship Iron and Half–Triathlon. On Saturday October 20, 2012 the S.R. 74 Bridge will be closed from 7:30 a.m. to 11:30 a.m. and the Isabel S. Holmes Bridge will be closed from10:30 a.m. to 6 p.m. After this deviation from the regulation concludes, the drawbridge will operate in accordance with the operating regulations, 33 CFR 117.821 and Parts 117.829. Chart: 11537.

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The proposed closure of this RR bridge from 8:30PM to 5:00AM would not affect most (sensible!) cruisers, but would have to be kept in mind if you were running behind schedule or planned to get a before-day start. The bridge has a closed vertical clearance of only 4ft and crosses the path of the AICW immediately north of the Morehead City Turning Basin/Commercial Port.

SUBJECT: PROPOSED MODIFICATIONS TO THE REGULATIONS GOVERNING THE OPERATION OF THE CAROLINA COASTAL RAILROAD BRIDGE
ACROSS NEWPORT RIVER AT ATLANTIC INTRACOASTAL WATERWAY (AIWW) IN MOREHEAD CITY NC.
The Coast Guard proposes to temporarily change the operating schedule that governs the Carolina Coastal Railroad Bridge, at AIWW mile 203.8, across Newport River in Morehead City, NC. To facilitate repair work and to minimize the impact on navigation, from October 1, 2012 to October 1, 2013 the drawbridge would operate as follows: 1) during the day, from 5 a.m. to 8:30 p.m., shall be maintained in the open position to vessels and would only be closed for the passage of trains and to perform periodic maintenance; and at night, from 8:30 p.m. to 5 a.m., need not open, except an opening would be provided at 12 a.m. (midnight) if advance notice is given before 4 p.m., on the afternoon before the requested opening. A copy of the Docket USCG-2012-0628 published in the Federal Register on August 10, 2012, as a proposed rule, is included as enclosure (1) to this notice.
Interested parties are requested to express their views, in writing, on the proposed changes to the operating regulations. Comments will be received for the record at the office of the Commander (dpb), Fifth Coast Guard District, 431 Crawford Street, Suite 103, Portsmouth, VA 23704-5004. Written comments on this proposal must be submitted on or before September 10, 2012.
It is requested that this information be brought to the attention of any person having a possible interest in the proposed changes to the regulations who may not have received a copy of this Public Notice.
WAVERLY W. GREGORY, JR.
Bridge Program Manager
By direction of the Commander
Fifth Coast Guard District

Click Here To View the North Carolina Bridge Directory Listing For Morehead City RR Bridge

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