Live-fire exercises have been going on since May of 2019. Let these Local Notices serve as reminders to avoid these waters northwest of the Waterway. ICW cruisers should be especially mindful for firing exercises north of Onslow Beach Bridge at Statute Mile 240.

SAFETY/NORTH CAROLINA – NEW RIVER – FIRING EXERCISES FROM 13 JAN 2020 TO 19 JAN 2020 /RESTRICTED/SEC NC BNM 016-20
1. THE RESTRICTED AREAS IN THE NEW RIVER, AS SHOWN ON NATIONAL
OCEAN SERVICE CHART 11542, THAT WILL BE CLOSED TO NAVIGATION BECAUSE
OF STONE BAY RIFLE RANGE FIRING EXERCISES DURING THE FOLLOWING
PERIODS:
STONE CREEK SECTOR 12:01 A.M. TO MIDNIGHT DAILY
STONE BAY SECTOR 12:01 A.M. TO MIDNIGHT DAILY
WEST OF THE 77 (DEG) 26 (MIN) LONGITUDE LINE.
THE RESTRICTED AREAS THAT MAY BE CLOSED TO NAVIGATION BECAUSE OF
FIRING EXERCISES DURING THE FOLLOWING PERIODS:
TRAPS BAY SECTOR 12:01 A.M. TO MIDNIGHT DAILY
COURTHOUSE BAY SECTOR 12:01 A.M. TO MIDNIGHT DAILY
STONE BAY SECTOR 12:01 A.M. TO MIDNIGHT DAILY
EAST OF THE 77 (DEG) 26 (MIN) LONGITUDE LINE.
GREY POINT SECTOR 12:01 A.M. TO MIDNIGHT DAILY
FARNELL BAY SECTOR SUNRISE TO SUNSET DAILY
MORGANS BAY SECTOR SUNRISE TO SUNSET DAILY
JACKSONVILLE SECTOR SUNRISE TO SUNSET DAILY
2. SHIP OPERATIONS CONSISTING OF LANDING CRAFT, AMPHIBIOUS
VEHICLES, AND HELICOPTERS MAY BE CONDUCTED IN THE ONSLOW BEACH
OPERATING AREA AND ALL SECTORS OF NEW RIVER TO INCLUDE DIVE
OPERATIONS.
3. DUE TO UNEXPLODED ORDNANCE ON BROWNS ISLAND AND IN THE ADJACENT
WATERWAYS AND MARSH AREAS, BROWNS ISLAND IS OFF LIMITS TO ALL
UNAUTHORIZED PERSONNEL. VESSELS MAY TRANSIT THE SURROUNDING WATERS,
HOWEVER NO VESSEL SHALL BOTTOM FISH OR ANCHOR.
4. MARINERS TRAVELING ON THE WESTERN SIDE OF THE NEW RIVER BETWEEN
STONE BAY AND FARNELL BAY SHOULD BE AWARE THAT THERE ARE NUMEROUS
SIGN POLES WITHOUT WORKING LIGHTS AND ARE LEANING OR SUBMERGED AS A
RESULT OF HURRICANE FLORENCE AND PRESENT HAZARDS TO NAVIGATION.
THESE POLES ONCE HAD SIGNS DENOTING AREAS OF CAUTION AROUND THE
STONE BAY RIFLE RANGE AND VERONA LOOP FIRING RANGES.
5. SIGNS ARE LOCATED ALONG THE STONE BAY, GREY POINT AND FARNELL
BAY SECTORS OF THE NEW RIVER. MARINE CORPS BASE CAMP LEJEUNE IS
WORKING TO REPLACE THESE SIGNS.
6. 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.