Question re Anchor Light Requirement, Snead Island Anchorage, Manatee River, off Tampa Bay
Here’s a situation for you nautical lawyers. Is this a “better safe than sorry” case? Brian asks your input. Snead Island Anchorage, NOT a Special Anchorage, lies along the broad band of deep water northeast of marker #11 in the Manatee River. McKay Point to the east is a Special Anchorage.
Is an Anchor light required while in ‘Safe Anchorage’ at Snead Island on the Manatee River? I have a 57 foot boat that is kept in the water. It is pulled not motor operated. I have been told it is not required but have received a ticket.
Brian
NOTE: Sean adds this comment and he is absolutely correct: the Special Anchorage is McKay Point Anchorage to the east. Therefore, Snead Island Anchorage would require an anchor light. Thank you Sean! Brian has his answer.
The anchorage NE of marker 11 is NOT a designated special anchorage. It is merely an anchorage, plain and simple, and therefore anchor lights and day shapes are required.
There is a designated special anchorage a little further east. It extends across the small cove between Snead Island Boat Works and the Bradenton Yacht Club. This anchorage is very small and shallows quickly and is thus nearly unusable by larger cruising vessels. We’ve stayed there and we had the whole place to ourselves; most cruisers prefer the anchorage you mentioned (the one with the abandoned fishing trawler in it. Again, that anchorage is *not* designated and does not enjoy any special exemption for lights and day shapes.
Sean
CLICK HERE for Federal Register Regulations
Click Here To Open A Chart View Window, Zoomed To the Location of Snead Island Anchorage
Comments from Cruisers (5)
In reply to Brian.
First the proper term is “Special Anchorage” and according to the law an anchor light isn’t required. From looking at the chart the actual area is a bit on the small side and if you were outside the designated limits a light would be required. One other point, the Cruisers Net chart for this area shows three anchorages – only the one next to the canal is a “Special Anchorage”.
My own thought regarding this anchorage is that I would use an anchor light any way just to be safe.
§ 110.1 General.
(a) The areas described in subpart A of this part are designated as special anchorage areas for the purposes of rule 30 (33 CFR 83.30) and rule 35 (33 CFR 83.35) of the Inland Navigation Rules, 33 CFR Chapter I, Subchapter E. Vessels of less than 20 meters in length; and barges, canal boats, scows, or other nondescript craft, are not required to sound signals required by rule 35 of the Inland Navigation Rules. Vessels of less than 20 meters are not required to exhibit anchor lights or shapes required by rule 30 of the Inland Navigation Rules.
(b) The anchorage grounds for vessels described in Subpart B of this part are established, and the rules and regulations in relation thereto adopted, pursuant to the authority contained in section 7 of the act of March 4, 1915, as amended (38 Stat. 1053; 33 U.S.C. 471).
(c) All bearings in the part are referred to true meridian.
(d) Geographic coordinates expressed in terms of latitude or longitude, or both, are not intended for plotting on maps or charts whose reference horizontal datum is the North American Datum of 1983 (NAD 83), unless such geographic coordinates are expressly labeled NAD 83. Geographic coordinates without the NAD 83 reference may be plotted on maps or charts referenced to NAD 83 only after application of the appropriate corrections that are published on the particular map or chart being used.
Jim Davis
Thank you very much! Your assistance is appreciated. Stay safe!
The anchorage NE of marker 11 is NOT a designated special anchorage. It is merely an anchorage, plain and simple, and there for anchor lights and day shapes are required.
There is a designated special anchorage a little further east. It extends across the small cove between Snead Island Boat Works and the Bradenton Yacht Club. This anchorage is very small and shallows quickly and is thus nearly unusable by larger cruising vessels. We’ve stayed there and we had the whole place to ourselves; most cruisers prefer the anchorage you mentioned (the one with the abandoned fishing trawler in it. Again, that anchorage is *not* designated and does not enjoy any special exemption for lights and day shapes.
Thank you Sean! I appreciate your help! Stay safe!
Better to err on the side of safety. Use the anchor light