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Dec 23, 2015by: Larry Dorminy No Comments

Shoaling Conditions in NC AICW Miles 237, 271, 280 and 321, December 23, 2015

This valuable Marine Safety Information Bulletin is sent to us from Officer Burrill of the NC Sector USCG. And Officer Burrill also wishes us all Happy Holidays!

This bulletin is to notify mariners about several areas on the AICW where a shoaling hazard to navigation exists and to provide the mariner with valuable information to transit these areas safely.

Mariners are advised that shoaling conditions exist 6at AICW Mile Markers 237, 271, 280 and 321 in North Carolina. Severe shoaling has restricted the federal channel depths and horizontal clearances of the AICW in the following locations:

AICW MM 237 – Browns Inlet Intersection in the vicinity of Bogue Sound – New River Buoy 61A (LLNR 39223 [34°35.8562N / 077°14.5297W, 34.597604 / -77.242161]) – 200 yard shoal extending into the federal channel with depths varying from <1′ to 5′ at mean low water – Approximate position is 34Âº35’49.20”N, 077Âº14’30.80”W to 34Âº35’52.70”N, 077Âº14’26.90”W

AICW MM 271 – Howards Creek Intersection in the vicinity of New River – Cape Fear River Buoy 99A (LLNR 39548) – 350 yard shoal extending into the federal channel with depths varying from <2′ to 5′ at mean low water – Approximate position is 34Âº21’18.00”N, 077Âº40’53.00”W to 34Âº21’13.00”N, 077Âº41’02.00”W

AICW MM 280 – Masons Inlet Intersection in the vicinity of New River – Cape Fear River Buoy 121 (LLNR 39597) – 250 yard shoal extending into the federal channel with depths varying from <1′ to 4′ at mean low water – Approximate position is 34Âº14’52.70”N, 077Âº46’58.40”W to 34Âº15’00.00”N, 077Âº46’51.60”W

AICW MM 321 – Lockwoods Folly Inlet Intersection in the vicinity of Cape Fear River – Little River Buoy 47 (LLNR 40225) – 250 yard shoal extending into the federal channel with depths varying from <1′ to 5′ at mean low water – Approximate position is 33Âº55’14.80”N, 078Âº14’10.60”W to 34Âº55’15.50”N, 078Âº13’58.80”W

Mariners are urged to transit at their slowest safe speed and proceed with caution when navigating in these areas. Shoaling conditions increase the potential for groundings. Any grounding of a vessel poses a significant risk to injury to those onboard and a risk of substantial damage to a vessel. There have been and continue to be groundings in these identified locations.

It is highly recommended that all mariners conduct proper pre-voyage planning when intending to transit these areas and do so at the high tide, in daylight hours, ensure vessel drafts are adequate to transit the AICW and do not attempt to overtake or meet other vessels in these hazardous areas.

These areas are subject to continual and sometimes rapid environmental changes. Mariners are highly encouraged to obtain the most recent U.S. Army Corps of Engineers Wilmington, North Carolina District hydrographic survey information, centerline waypoints and controlling depth at: http://www.saw.usace.army.mil/Missions/Navigation/HydrographicSurveys/AIWW.aspx

Some aids to navigation on the AICW may not be charted and may be marking best water outside of the federal channel due to continually shifting shoals. Consult Local Notice to Mariners, 5th Coast Guard District for the latest positions and status of aids to navigation at: http://www.navcen.uscg.gov/?pageName=lnmDistrict®ion=5

The U.S. Coast Guard will continue to monitor the conditions of AICW and update mariners as necessary. To report any aids to navigation discrepancies or hazards to navigation, please contact the Sector North Carolina Command Center at (910) 343-2200.

LCDR Derek J. Burrill
USCG Sector North Carolina
Chief, Waterways Management Division
(910) 772-2230

Statute Mile 237
Click Here To View the Cruisers’ Net’s “AICW Problem Stretches” Listing For the AICW/Browns Inlet Intersection