This notice is for cruisers approaching or departing Mile Zero in Norfolk. The Naval Station Piers are approximately 8.5 miles north of Mile Zero.

LOCAL NOTICE TO MARINERS: Week 29/11
The dredge RICHMOND will be conducting dredging operations at the Norfolk Naval Station Piers 1 through 8 from 19 July to 15 November, 2011. 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: 12245

Click Here To Open A Chart View Window, Zoomed To the Location of Naval Station Piers

This Notice to Mariners further clarifies the opening restrictions already in place as stated in our bridge directory for Gilmerton Bridge. With these increased “temporary – until 2013″ restrictions on openings of the Gilmerton Highway Bridge, careful planning will be required to end or begin your Waterway voyage with a minimum of delay.

LOCAL NOTICE TO MARINERS 20 June, 2011
News Release
Date: Jun 20, 2011
Contact: 5th District Public Affairs (757) 398-6222
Coast Guard extends temporary change to Gilmerton Bridge lift schedule
PORTSMOUTH, Va. — The Coast Guard is temporarily changing the regulations that govern the operation of the Gilmerton Bridge in Chesapeake Monday. These are the same rules, with minimal changes, that have been tested since Dec. 20, 2010 that will remain in effect until Dec. 20, 2013. The regulations are proposed to alleviate increased delays to vehicular traffic due to the construction of the Gilmerton Highway Bridge while still allowing passage to maritime traffic.
“Due to the construction of the Gilmerton Highway Bridge, the existing drawbridge has experienced increased delays to vehicular traffic from unscheduled vessel openings,” said Waverly Gregory, Coast Guard 5th District bridge administrator. “This schedule will provide adjustments and set opening periods for the bridge, relieving vehicular traffic congestion during the weekday and weekend daylight hours while still providing for the reasonable needs of navigation.”
Effective 6:30 a.m. June 19, 2011 through 6:30 p.m. December 20, 2013, the temporary regulations will allow the drawbridge to operate as follows:
(1) The drawbridge shall open on signal at anytime for commercial vessels carrying liquefied flammable gas or other hazardous materials;
(2) From 6:30 a.m. to 9:30 a.m. and from 3:30 p.m. to 6:30 p.m., Monday through Friday, the drawbridge need not open for the passage of recreational or commercial vessels except for Federal holidays; the draw shall open anytime for commercial cargo vessels, including tugs, and tugs with tows, if two hours advance notice is given to the Gilmerton Bridge operators at 757-545-1512;
(3) From 9:30 a.m. to 3:30 p.m. Monday through Friday and from 6:30 a.m. to 6:30 p.m. Saturdays, Sundays and Federal holidays, the draw shall open on signal hourly on the half hour; except the draw shall open anytime for commercial cargo vessels, including tugs, and tugs with tows, if two hours advance notice is given to the Gilmerton Bridge operators at 757-545-1512;
(4) If any vessel is approaching the bridge and cannot reach the draw exactly on the half hour, the draw tender may delay the opening up to 10 minutes past the half hour for passage of the approaching vessel and any other vessels that are waiting to pass;
(5) If the Norfolk and Southern Railroad Bridge #7, at mile 5.8, is not opened during a particular scheduled opening for the Gilmerton Bridge and vessels were delayed, the draw tender at the Gilmerton Bridge may provide a single opening for waiting vessels, once the Norfolk and Southern Railroad Bridge #7 reopens for vessels.
(6) At all other times, the draw shall open on signal.
Copies of Public Notice 5-1229, which describes the temporary changes in detail can be obtained by writing the office of the Commander (dpb), Fifth Coast Guard District, Federal Building, 431 Crawford Street, Portsmouth, VA 23704-5004, by calling 757-398-6222 or at http://www.navcen.uscg.gov/?pagename=pnBridges
Comments and related materials received from the public are part of docket USCG-2010-0879 and are available online by going to http://www.regulations.gov, inserting USCG-2010-0879 in the “Keyword” box, and clicking “Search.”

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 the Location of Gilmerton Hwy Bridge

This portion of the Elizabeth River is between Lambert Point and Craney Island just north of Mile Zero in Norfolk.

LOCAL NOTICE TO MARINERS: Week 16/11
Mariners are advised that a 15 foot by 6 inch metal bar has been lost approximately 300 yards east of Craney Island Pier D at 36-53-01N, 076-20-11W. Mariners are urges to use caution when transiting the area. Chart: 12245.

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

This dredging will be in the area from Lambert’s Point (Flashing Green marker #25 through Mile 0 to the Jordan Bridge.

SAFETY BROADCAST NOTICE TO MARINERS
VA – CHESAPEAKE BAY – ELIZABETH RIVER – NORFOLK HARBOR REACH MARINERS ARE ADVISED THAT THE DREDGE PULLEN WILL BE CONDUCTING DREDGE OPERATIONS ON THE ELIZABETH RIVER AND NORFOLK HARBOR CHANNEL FROM LAMBERTS POINT TO THE OLD JORDAN BRIDGE. OPERATIONS WILL OCCUR 24 HOURS A DAY FROM APRIL 15, 2011 THROUGH OCTOBER 31, 2011. MARINERS SHOULD STAY CLEAR OF THE DREDGE AND ON-SCENE EQUIPMENT. THE DREDGE WILL MONITOR VHF-FM CHANNELS 13 AND 16. MARINERS ARE REQUESTED TO USE CAUTION AND BARE STEERAGE WHILE TRANSITING THE AREA.
Gregory Waverly, Director of Bridge Operations

Click Here To Open A Chart View Window, Zoomed To the Location of Mile 0

This very high bascule bridge has a closed vertical clearance of 65ft and, except for the presence of the construction barges, should not present a problem to most cruisers.

SAFETY BROADCAST NOTICE TO MARINERS//A//HRD BNM 109-11
VA – CHESAPEAKE BAY – ATLANTIC INTRACOASTAL WATERWAY (AIWW) – ELIZABETH RIVER – SOUTHERN BRANCH
UNTIL FURTHER NOTICE, MARINERS ARE ADVISED THAT THE I-64/HIGH RISE BRIDGE ACROSS THE SOUTHERN BRANCH OF THE ELIZABETH RIVER, AIWW MILE 7.1, AT CHESAPEAKE, VA, IS UNABLE TO OPEN TO VESSEL TRAFFIC DUE TO ELECTRICAL PROBLEMS. THE AVAILABLE VERTICAL CLEARANCE IN THE CLOSED POSITION TO VESSELS IS APPROX 65 FEET ABOVE MEAN HIGH WATER. MARINERS SHOULD ADJUST THEIR TRANSITS ACCORDINGLY. Chart 12253
Gregory Waverly, Bridge Administrator

Click Here To View the Cruisers’ Net’s Va to NC Bridge Directory Listing For I-64 Bridge

Click Here To Open A Chart View Window, Zoomed To the Location of I-64 Bridge

This former lift bridge just south of Norfolk will be remembered fondly (??) by southbound cruisers as one of the series of bridges necessary to transit at the beginning of the ICW.

LOCAL NOTICE TO MARINERS: WEEK 07/11
Removal activity continues at the site of the former Carl B. Jordan Bridge and fender system, at AIWW mile 2.8, along the Southern Branch of the Elizabeth River, in Chesapeake, VA. To facilitate removal, the horizontal clearance between Elizabeth River Southern Branch Lighted Buoy 2A (LLNR 9957/36807) and Elizabeth River Southern Branch Lighted Buoy 3A (LLNR 9963/36813) has been increased to approximately 210 feet for the Federal Navigation Project area at the former bridge location. Mariners should use exercise extreme caution when transiting the area. Chart: 12253.

Click Here To View the Cruisers’ Net’s Va to NC Bridge Directory Listing For Jordan Highway Bridge

Click Here To Open A Chart View Window, Zoomed To the Location of Jordan Highway Bridge

Salt Ponds lies on the western shore of the lower Chesapeake and is the southern-most protected water on the western shore outside Hampton Roads. The entrance is a narrow, perpendicular-to-the shore channel and appears quite daunting on first approach, but once inside the waters are very protected from all directions.

Dredging started today January 16, 2011 on the channel for The Salt Ponds and Long Creek in Hampton, VA. The channel is now passable at all tides for vessels with 5′6″ draft or less. Yet when the dredging is completed by mid February the controlling depth will be 8′ at MLW.
Nonnie Minga
LOCAL NOTICE TO MARINERS:
The dredge JENNI LEA will be conducting dredging operations in Salt Ponds Channel from 12 January until 12 February, 2011. The dredge and assisting vessels DANNY JOE and MISS LEANNE will monitor VHF-FM Channels 13, 16 and 78. A floating and submerged pipeline will traverse the channel and deposit dredge material on the south side of the inlet. 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 by all transiting vessels. Chart : 12222.
The

Click Here To Open A Chart View Window, Zoomed To the Location of Salt Ponds