Southern Shores, NC is north of Kitty Hawk and the waters are north of the Wright Memorial Bridge and used primarily by shallow draft vessels. Daymarker # 7 is part of the entrance channel into the Southern Shores Harbor.

NC – PAMLICO SOUND – SOUTHERN SHORES – SHOALING
Shoaling to a depth of 1-2 feet MLW has been reported in the vicinity of Southern Shores Daybeacon 7 (LLNR 31300). Chart: 12205.

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

Captain Jones passes along a warning of obstacles along the AICW’s trek down Alligator River at Statute Mile 99.5, north of the Alligator/Pungo Canal .

Came through here [Green 33 and 35] on 11/3/11 and saw a huge stump to the right of the channel. Stay close to Green and then go straight and you will avoid this snag.
Ken Christian

The only other item was many stumps in the Alligator River between 33 and 35 green. I did not see any but most other boats either hit one or saw one. I hit one last year and bent a blade. It was announced on 22 by CG. We have 59 x 46 5 bladed Rolla props so what we hit was significant. I never saw anything and we were watching.
Captain Ted Jones

If anyone can answer Captains Mark and Emily’s question below, please click the “Comment on This Posting/Marina/Anchorage/Bridge” link below, and share your information.

I was just wondering if any of the reporting captains had any guidance on how to avoid the stumps? If they are submerged, it would seem the only way to avoid them would be a better description of where they are. Or, did I miss a post somewhere?
Thanks,
Mark & Emily Little
M/V Grand Adventure

Click Here To Open A Chart View Window, Zoomed To A “Navigation Alert” Position on the AICW/Alligator River Where Underwater Stumps Have Been Reported

Oregon Inlet is the northern-most inlet in North Carolina and is an important passage for the Outer Banks’ famed charter fishing fleets and commercial fishing vessels between Pamlico Sound and the briny blue.The shoaling is found astride the center span of the Herbert C. Bonner Bridge. It should be noted that the presence of STRONG tidal currents and constantly shifting shoals over the years have prompted Cruisers’ Net to recommend that this inlet NEVER be used by cruising craft.

The Coast Guard is reporting severe shoaling to 3ft. under the center span of the Oregon Inlet bridge. Both power and sail boaters should take notice!
http://coastguardnews.com/coast-guard-warns-mariners-of-shoaling-at-oregon-inlet-nc/2011/02/25/
Captain George Barr, Manteo Waterfront Marina

More from Captain Barr:
The USACE just completed the survey on the 23rd. I help out at the Manteo Waterfront Marina and heard the security call on the VHF and checked it out. Also note that there is a pdf of the survey available here :
http://www.saw.usace.army.mil/nav/MANTEO-OREGON/Oregon_Inlet/oi_bridge.pdf
which shows just how bad it is if you just zoom in on the center span of the Bonner bridge.

LOCAL NOTICE TO MARINERS: Week 09/11
An Army Corps. of Engineers survey conducted 15 February, 2011 indicates shoaling to a depth of 5.0 feet MLW on the west side of the Bonner Bridge. Mariners are advised to transit the area with extreme caution. Chart: 12204.

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

Hatteras Inlet lies well off the Waterway, on the eastern edge of Pamlico Sound. This narrow, unstable seaward passage cuts the southern reaches of Hatteras Island and the northern strands of Ocracoke Island. For years and years, we’ve been advising that no-one attempt to make use of this inlet channel without very specific local knowledge!

NC – CAPE HATTERAS – HATTERAS INLET – SHOALING
Shoaling has been reported in the vicinity of Hatteras Inlet Channel Buoy 12B (LLNR 28732.2) and Hatteras Inlet Channel Buoy 12C (LLNR 28732.3). Shoaling may be restricting the channel width. Strong winds and falling tides may make safe navigation critical. Chart: 11555.

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

Big Foot Slough, the primary conduit from Pamlico Sound to Ocracoke, one of the North Carolina coastline’s most popular ports of call, was last dredged in June of 2011. Shoaling is slowly beginning to reappear.

NC – OCRACOKE INLET – BIG FOOT SLOUGH – SHOALING
Shoaling to a depth of 5.0 ft MLW has been reported in the vicinity of Big Foot Slough Channel Daybeacon 10B (LLNR 29070.1). Chart: 11555.

Click Here To Open A Chart View Window, Zoomed To A “Navigation Alert” Position on Big Foot Slough Channel Near Marker #10B

This stretch of the Waterway is noted for “deadheads” and other floaters which hang around for days and weeks, sometimes causing considerable damage if hit at high speed. Thanks to Capt. Mustad, you have a specific zone in which to be extra cautious! Hopefully, the object will have drifted or been towed away before you arrive.

Cruising News:
Hit submerged tree just north of mile marker 120 with keel of 5-ft draft. Tide was near zero. The impact was about 15-20 feet green side of center. Advise staying red side of center through this area.
Arnstein Mustad

Click Here To Open A Chart View Window, Zoomed To A “Navigation Alert” Position at Mile 120

We do not know the tide stage as the Pipers approached the Morehead City/Newport River bridge, but we have to assume they were at or near an extreme high tide. Where even a few inches matter, Captain Piper made exactly the right decision by trusting the clearance board and taking an alternate route. The Morehead City/Newport River Bridge crosses the ICW at Statute Mile 204, immediately north of the Morehead City Turning Basin and south of unlighted can buoy #39.
Note that southbound sailing vessels wishing to skirt the fixed bridge in question must enter the Gallants Channel through the Russell Slue Channel departing the AICW between markers #29 and 30.

Submitted on 2010/12/07 at 11:11pm
According to the height board on this bridge on 11/27/2010 clearance can be much less than the charted 65 feet. We witnessed a reading of approximately 63 feet as we approached this bridge. Having a mast height of 63′ 6″ we backtracked to Gallants Channel and went through the bascule bridge. Depth of water must be influenced by wind as well as tides.
Captain Charles Piper

It seemed to us that there were fewer clearance boards/gauges on our southbound trip this fall than on our northbound trip this spring.
Captain Larry Shick

Click Here To View the Cruisers’ Net’s North Carolina Bridge Directory Listing For Morehead City Newport River Bridge

Click Here To Open A Chart View Window, Zoomed To Gallants Channel

Click Here To Open A Chart View Window, Zoomed To A “Navigation Alert” Position at the Morehead City/Newport River Bridge

Atlantic Beach Bridge (SR 58) crosses the ICW at Statute Mile 206.5, west of unlighted daybeacon #3A.

SAFETY BROADCAST NOTICE TO MARINERS
NC – ATLANTIC INTRACOASTAL WATERWAY (AIWW) – BRIDGE REPAIRS
1. FENDER REPAIRS ARE IN PROGRESS THROUGH JULY 11, 2012 AT SR 58 BRIDGE, ACROSS AIWW MILE 206.7, IN ATLANTIC BEACH NC.
2. TO FACILITATE REPAIRS, A CRANE BARGE REDUCES THE AVAILABLE HORIZONTAL CLEARANCE IN THE NAVIGABLE CHANNEL FROM 90 FEET TO 60 FEET. FOR VESSELS REQUIRING THE FULL CLEARANCE, A 30-MINUTE ADVANCE NOTICE IS REQUESTED TO REMOVE THE BARGE FROM THE CHANNEL TO SAFELY NAVIGATE THROUGH THE BRIDGE. THE CONSTRUCTION SUPERVISOR CAN BE CONTACTED ON VHF-FM CHANNELS 13 OR 16.
3. MARINERS ARE URGED TO TRANSIT THE AREA WITH CAUTION AT SLOW NO WAKE SPEEDS.

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

Click Here To View the Cruisers’ Net’s North Carolina Bridge Directory Listing For Atlantic Beach Bridge

Emerald Isle Bridge crosses the Waterway north of Bogue Inlet at statute mile 226, west of unlighted daybeacon #42.

NC – AIWW – NEUSE RIVER TO MYRTLE GROVE SOUND– NC SR 58 BRIDGE (CEDAR POINT TO BOGUE BANK) – BRIDGE FENDER REPAIR
Mariners are advised that Marine Contracting Corporation will be replacing the fender system at the Emerald Isle Bridge on SR 58 Bridge over the AIWW mile 226.0 between NC 24 and Emerald Isle, NC beginning the week of 14 MAY 2012 through 31 OCT 2012. There will be a tug, a crane barge, and a deck barge moored in the area, will periodically cross the channel, and will obstruct a portion of the channel while operating below the bridge. During periods of severe weather and/or sea conditions the floating equipment will be relocated elsewhere out of the waterway and display all required navigational lights. The crane barge and tug will monitor VHF channels 16 and 13. Mariners are requested to stay clear of the equipment, exercise extreme caution, and produce no wake when approaching, passing, and leaving the area. Chart: 11541.

Click Here To View the Cruisers’ Net’s North Carolina Bridge Directory Listing For Emerald Isle Bridge

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

Skipper Jim’s grounding occurred just north of the fixed Topsail Island Bridge in a long straight stretch south of the New River Inlet. Even though this is the first report of shoaling in this area we’ve had, use caution!

Wednesday April 20 at 4PM we were transiting south near MM 253 (Alligator Bay) when we hit bottom within 50 feet of Green 23 (draft just under 5′). A spoil area just to the right is shown, but it appears the spoil materials have migrated back into the channel. Be aware of this spot in your travels.
Skipper Jim aboard MV “Still in the Mood”

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

Masonboro Inlet at Wrightsville Beach intersects the AICW at Green Marker # 129, where Shinn Creek makes into the Waterway. Over the years, there has often been a bit of shoaling here.

Just north of green can 129 we found 8.5 feet at 1:14 PM, approx 3 feet above MLW.
Captain Jane Tigar

I can confirm 4′ MLW depths in the stretch between 128 and 129. 10/21/2011
Capt. Larry Shick

Click Here To Open A Chart View Window, Zoomed To A “Navigation Alert” Position at the intersection of the AICW and Shinn Creek/Masonboro Inlet

The “channel” described in the message below leads from Cape Rear River marker #41, south and southeast until it rejoins the path of the AICW at marker #162A, just west of Snows Cut’s westerly mouth. In years past, this passage was navigable, but shoaling on its southernmost leg, northwest of #162A, has changed the status of this cut to “dinghies only.”
Coming south from Wilmington, Manfred is not the first cruiser to be tempted to try this shortcut channel to avoid going the extra 5 miles south and then northeast to rejoin the Waterway just west of Snows Cut. The three legs of the channel are charted at 11ft, 10.5ft, then 2ft!! Manfred is absolutely correct when he recommends this shortcut only to “zero” draft vessels.
We are declaring a Salty Southeast Cruisers’ Net Navigational Alert for this so-called channel!

Cruising News:
Cape Fear River Shoal
Following the ICW from south to north, between St M 300/ St M 295 in the Cape Fear river. An excursion to Wilmington NC was made. Coming back to the ICW, from Wilmington, a small channel is marked from G41“ to ICW R 162A“ leading to the ICW, east of the main river channel.
At marker „1“ we were on ground, showing 3 ½ feet, 2 hours after high water. Calculating back to high water at this day, the depth would be only 5 ½ feet. This passage can not be recommended at any time, only boats with “no” draft may use it with excessive care.
Manfred Rausch
SV Balimara, Bonn Germany

Click Here To Open A Chart View Window, Zoomed To A “Navigation Alert” Position on the Channel Running from Cape Fear River Marker #41 to AICW Markers #162A

This is the first we’ve heard about Waterway shoaling a the three way intersection of the AICW, Little River Inlet and Calabash Creek. Even though Captain Garrus’ note below refers to “transiting inlet,” the markers he mentions make clear that the he is really speaking about the AICW channel. Follow the link below for a look at this juncture of waters on chart 11534!

Subject: Little River Inlet [AICW Intersection]
Cruising News: Transited inlet northbound on 4/6/10 approx 40 min before low tide. R2-G119-G117. Stay middle to R2 then favor green quarter at G119-G117. . Lowest waters seen were 9′. Be aware of mud flats on north side of G117/G119.
Jim Garrus

Claiborne,
We found the following on April 8, 2010 at approximately 10:40 AM EDT:
With 0.8 above MLW at six minutes before low tide the lowest we found was 7.2 feet near Red 2. Depths were mostly in the 9 foot and better. We did favor green side so can’t provide soundings for mid channel.
Jane Tigar

Subject: ICW at Little River Inlet Intersection
Cruising News: We were heading S. on the ICW on 3/26/2010. Around 12:15, we arrived at marker 119, the north side of the intersection. Upon heading to ICW marker red 2 w/yellow triangle, we contacted the ground. As we had little way, we simply eased off and tried to find a path through, but, could not. A marine officer happened by and said we should have no problem. We eased in behind him at minimum way and grounded in rock. While this is not the point of the posting, he did not lend any assistance. In fact, after he cleared the shallow area we were following him through, he hit full throttle. Nice. The actual point is why in the world could we not pass? I am not a new captain and our boat drafts 39″. No one reported any issues. It is my understanding shrimpers, etc. go through there without issue. Had I been traveling at speed….Please provide insight as this has me troubled.
Robert McCoy

We attempted to enter the Calabash Creek anchorage in the fall of ’09. Only room for one or two boats. Unable to be comfortable with our 4 1/2′ draft anywhere outside the channel.
Nils Pearson aboard Fairwinds

Click Here To Open A Chart View Window, Zoomed To A “Navigation Alert” Section of the AICW/Little River Inlet/Calabash Creek Intersection