At the intersection of the Atlantic Intracoastal Waterway and the Okeechobee Waterway, Martin County, A SALTY SOUTHEAST CRUISERS’ NET SPONSOR, is a hub of boating activity and of events of interest to boaters.
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Explorer Chartbooks, A SALTY SOUTHEAST CRUISERS’ NET PARTNER, has long been the standard navigational supplement for enjoyable, informative, and safe cruising through the beautiful Bahamian waters and island visits.
Bahamas Chatter: Waypoint Correction
Waypoint Correction
Posted: 18 Apr 2017 04:08 AM PDT
Correct the Emerald Bay waypoint on Chart EX29A, page 47, Exumas and Ragged Island Chartbook, to read 23° 38.29′ N/75° 54.75′ W. The waypoint is correct on page 46,Chart EX 29, and page 17, Chart EX 7.
“Lake Okeechobee south rim, early morning, shortly after passing through the Moore Haven lock.” Greg Allard
Our thanks to Robert Sherer for his update on the Waterway/Matanzas Inlet intersection which was been the site of recent groundings in the past and was dredged in February of this year, resulting in the relocation of the buoys as outlined by Bob’s report.
The buoy layout has been changed and the depths are now at least 12 MLW all the way through.
R82 is a floating buoy and has been moved closer to shore. Going north I aimed at it but moved back into the charted channel until abreast of the buoy before turning, slightly toward shore.
G81D and G81C have been removed. They are no longer needed (the channel is that wide!) The first green buoy is G81B and it appears to be too far out in the middle but that’s where the new, dredged channel is located.
G81A and the two reds are still there, just honor them.
Bob
ICW Blog: http://fleetwing.blogspot.com/
Click Here To Open A Chart View Window, Zoomed To This AICW Problem Stretch
Explorer Chartbooks, A SALTY SOUTHEAST CRUISERS’ NET PARTNER, has long been the standard navigational supplement for enjoyable, informative, and safe cruising through the beautiful Bahamian waters and island visits.
Bahamas Chatter: “Cable Near Anchor on Great Inagua Chart” plus 1 more
Cable Near Anchor on Great Inagua Chart
Posted: 14 Apr 2017 01:51 PM PDT
Thanks to a cruiser for alerting us to the danger of an anchor near a submarine cable on the Great Inagua GI 3 . He reported that he anchored at 20° 58.308’N / 73° 40.840W.
We have studied several satellite photos of the area near the position of the anchor on Chart GI 3 at the very top of the chart. One of the photos appears to show traces of three possible cable trenches just east of this position. They lead to a track through the brush inland. A search world submarine cables and shows three cables terminating at Matthew Town, Great Inagua. From there the cables run to Mayaguana, Ragged Island, and Port-au-Prince, Haiti. The world cable map is not of a large enough scale to be specific as to the exact position of where the cables land. US NGA charts, used as a reference, don’t show any cables landing on Great Inagua.
We will immediately remove the anchor from the data base and all future charts and post an update on the Explorer Charts web site.
Buried cable off Great Inagua
Posted: 14 Apr 2017 03:52 AM PDT
Tuesday we were anchored off Matthew Town on Great Inagua near the airport and when we went to raise our anchor we found it caught on a thick cable. I dove on it and found it to be about 3″ so it is probably a communications cable because when we were on shore we noticed a BTC facility near where we were anchored. The cable is not on charts and there is no warning sign visible. When I dove on the anchor when setting it there was no sign of the cable or that we were hooking to it. The cable must be new.
That cable is the FibreOptic cable which comes from Nassau, and next surfaces at Northwest Point on Provo in the Turks and Caicos.
Our thanks to Hank Pomeranz of Carolina Yacht Care at SALTY SOUTHEAST CRUISERS’ NET SPONSOR, Southport Marina, for this updated survey of Lockwoods Folly. Hank is responding to Bob Sherer’s Major Update to Inlet Status and is typical of the information shared with cruisers at Carolina Yacht Care’s and Southport Marina’s daily Weather and Navigation Briefs.
Hi folks,
To follow up on Bob’s email, Lockwoods Folly buoys are properly placed. The attached has the latest survey AND the latest Light List position (4/6/17) of the marks. These have been verified by passing cruisers.
Best wishes
Hank
Lockwoods Folly/AICW Intersection
The lat/lons of the Lockwoods Folly buoys:
Cape Fear River – Little River Light 44 33-55-19.070N 078-13-44.561W
Cape Fear River – Little River Daybeacon 46 33-55-18.314N 078-13-53.951W
Cape Fear River – Little River Buoy 46A 33-55-16.891N 078-14-03.544W
Cape Fear River – Little River Buoy 46B 33-55-16.457N 078-14-08.111W
Cape Fear River – Little River Buoy 47 33-55-14.952N 078-14-02.364W
Cape Fear River – Little River Buoy 47A 33-55-12.542N 078-14-19.056W
Cape Fear River – Little River Buoy 48 33-55-15.702N 078-14-14.888W
Cape Fear River – Little River Light 48A 33-55-13.061N 078-14-33.679W
Cape Fear River – Little River Light 50 33-55-07.458N 078-15-19.617W
Click Here To Open A Chart View Window, Zoomed To This AICW Problem Stretch
This dredging is in the intersection of the southern branch of Longboat Pass and the Gulf Waterway. Our thanks to SSECN Team Member, Winston Fowler, for this photo.
Dredging on GICW just SE of Jewish Fish Key coming out of Sarasota Bay between Red 38 and Red 40 at GICW Miles Marker 85.
Winston Fowler
USACE “Currituck”
Click Here To Open A Chart View Window, Zoomed To the Location of Longboat Key Club Moorings
Click Here To Open A Chart View Window, Zoomed To the Location of GIWW Mile 85
Our thanks to experienced cruiser and long-time Cruisers’ Net contributor, Gregory Yount, for this Federal Register posting requesting comments on proposed changes to the opening schedule at the Bridge of Lions. See our earlier postings Changes Possible to Bridge of Lions? and Request for Further Comment for more information.
Here is the notice regarding bridge opening restrictions:
Drawbridge Operation Regulation; Atlantic Intracoastal Waterway, St. Augustine, FL
This Proposed Rule document was issued by the Coast Guard (USCG)
For related information, Open Docket Folder
Action
Advance notice of proposed rulemaking.
Summary
The Coast Guard is seeking comments and information concerning a proposal to change the operating schedule for the Bridge of Lions across the Atlantic Intracoastal Waterway, St. Augustine, Florida. The City of St. Augustine is concerned that vehicle traffic is becoming exponentially worse with each passing season and that on-demand bridge openings are contributing to vehicle traffic backups. The proposed modification would extend the twice an hour draw opening period from 7 a.m. to 9 p.m. daily, and preclude the bridge draw from opening at 3:30 p.m. on weekends and Federal holidays.
Dates
Comments and related material must reach the Coast Guard on or before May 15, 2017.
Addresses
You may submit comments identified by docket number USCG-2016-0723 using the Federal eRulemaking Portal at http://www.regulations.gov. See the “Public Participation and Request for Comments” portion of the SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION section for further instructions on submitting comments.
For Further Information Contact
If you have questions about this notice, call or email MST1 Timothy Fosdick, Sector Jacksonville, Waterways Management Division, U.S. Coast Guard; telephone 904-714-7623, email Timothy.P.Fosdick@uscg.mil.
Supplementary Information
Table of Abbreviations
CFR Code of Federal Regulations
DHS Department of Homeland Security
FR Federal Register
NPRM Notice of Proposed Rulemaking
ANPRM Advance Notice of Proposed Rulemaking
§ Section Symbol
U.S.C. United States Code
A. Public Participation and Request for Comments
We view public participation as essential to effective rulemaking, and will consider all comments and material received during the comment period. Your comment can help shape the outcome of this rulemaking. If you submit a comment, please include the docket number for this rulemaking, indicate the specific section of this document to which each comment applies, and provide a reason for each suggestion or recommendation.
We encourage you to submit comments through the Federal eRulemaking Portal at http://www.regulations.gov. If your material cannot be submitted using http://www.regulations.gov, contact the person in the FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT section of this document for alternate instructions.
We accept anonymous comments. All comments received will be posted without change to http://www.regulations.gov and will include any personal information you have provided. For more about privacy and the docket, you may review a Privacy Act notice regarding the Federal Docket Management System in the March 24, 2005, issue of the Federal Register (70 FR 15086).
Documents mentioned in this ANPRM as being available in the docket, and all public comments, will be in our online docket at http://www.regulations.gov and can be viewed by following that Web site’s instructions. Additionally, if you go to the online docket and sign up for email alerts, you will be notified when comments are posted or a final rule is published.
B. Regulatory History and Information
In 2015, the City of St. Augustine approached the Coast Guard with a recommendation to amend the Bridge of Lions operating schedule. Shortly thereafter, a meeting was held with the City of St. Augustine, the Florida Department of Transportation (FDOT), bridge owner, and the U.S. Coast Guard to seek improvements to reduce the vehicle traffic backups at the intersection of A1A, the Bridge of Lions, and Avenida Menendez. During the meeting, FDOT agreed to work with the City traffic engineers to develop better traffic signaling techniques to reduce the vehicle traffic backups. In May 2016, the City of St. Augustine proposed an amendment to the bridge operating schedule to reduce vehicle traffic backups in the affected area. The City would like to extend the 7 a.m. to 6 p.m. twice an hour opening schedule to 9 p.m., daily and preclude the bridge draw from opening at 3:30 p.m. on weekends and Federal holidays.
The current operating schedule, as published in 33 CFR 117.261(d), reads as follows: Bridge of Lions (SR A1A) bridge, mile 777.9 at St. Augustine. The draw shall open on signal; except that, from 7 a.m. to 6 p.m. the draw need open only on the hour and half-hour; however, the draw need not open at 8 a.m., 12 noon, and 5 p.m. Monday through Friday except Federal holidays. From 7 a.m. to 6 p.m. on Saturdays, Sundays and Federal holidays the draw need only open on the hour and half-hour.
In accordance with Nautical Chart 11485, 37th Ed., Nov. 2014, the Bridge of Lions has a vertical clearance of 18 feet in the closed (down) position at mean high water and a horizontal clearance of 79 feet. Additionally, there is a note on the chart stating “Strong tidal currents run perpendicular to the Bridge of Lions opening. Vessels engaged in towing and pushing operations are advised to transit the bridge opening during slack tide and, if necessary, breakdown the tow in small units or use adequate tugs.” In regards to the Bridge of Lions, the U.S. Coast Pilot 4, Chapter 12, Edition 47, 2015 also states “Caution is advised because the tidal currents, particularly ebb, run at right angles to the bridge. It is advisable to drift large tows through this opening at slack water. Normal flood currents of 1 knot and ebb currents of 1.5 knots may be expected. Several mishaps involving the bridge being hit by vessels, which have lost maneuvering control during periods of ebb currents, have occurred. Caution is advised when transiting the area.”
The original Bridge of Lions was built in 1927 and replaced in 2010. The new bridge was completed with no modifications to the vertical or horizontal clearances; therefore, there was no impact to the number of bridge openings due to vessel traffic.
C. Basis and Purpose
The legal basis and authorities for this ANPRM are found in 33 U.S.C. 499, 33 CFR 1.05-1, and Department of Homeland Security Delegation No. 0170.1. The Coast Guard is considering a change to the operating schedule for the Bridge of Lions across the Atlantic Intracoastal Waterway, St. Augustine, Florida. The Coast Guard received a request from the City of St. Augustine to modify the operating schedule for the Bridge of Lions in an effort to decrease vehicle traffic backups caused by the significant increase in vehicle traffic combined with the on-demand bridge openings. The purpose of this ANPRM is to solicit comments on a potential proposed rulemaking concerning a request to change the operating schedule for the Bridge of Lions.
D. Discussion of Proposed Rule
Amending the twice an hour opening schedule to a 7 a.m. to 9 p.m. period should not have an unreasonable impact on navigation. However, amending the bridge operating schedule to exclude a 3:30 p.m. opening on weekends and Federal holidays may have a negative impact to the public, as there are many tourists in vehicles and vessels in St. Augustine during these periods. Additional input will be required from the City of St. Augustine to understand why this particular time was selected. It will also be essential to determine whether any commercial vessel operators would be directly impacted by amending the bridge operating schedule.
E. Information Requested
To aid the Coast Guard in developing a proposed rule, we seek any comments, whether positive or negative, including but not limited to: The impact on vessel traffic and/or marine businesses in the area when extending the twice an hour opening; any potential negative impact to vessel traffic or marine businesses of not opening the bridge between 3 p.m. and 4 p.m.; whether the extension to 9 p.m. of the Bridge of Lions twice an hour opening schedule would reduce traffic congestion and; if traffic congestion would be reduced if the bridge did not open between 3 p.m. and 4 p.m. on weekends and Federal holidays.
Dated: March 9, 2017.
S.A. Buschman,
Rear Admiral, U.S. Coast Guard, Commander, Seventh Coast Guard District.
[FR Doc. 2017-05071 Filed 3-14-17; 8:45 am]
Click Here To View the Cruisers’ Net’s Eastern Florida Bridge Directory Listing For Bridge of Lions
Click Here To Open A Chart View Window, Zoomed To the Location of Bridge of Lions
Explorer Chartbooks, A SALTY SOUTHEAST CRUISERS’ NET PARTNER, has long been the standard navigational supplement for enjoyable, informative, and safe cruising through the beautiful Bahamian waters and island visits.
Bahamas Chatter: “Bahamas Cruising with 6 1/2-foot Draft” plus 1 more
Bahamas Cruising with 6 1/2-foot Draft
Posted: 10 Apr 2017 10:44 AM PDT
Thanks to our partner cruisersnet.net for forwarding this good report to us:
We spent 8 weeks sailing our boat in the Bahamas; have a 6 1/2? draft. Did not have a problem. Pay close attention to tides when you plan on entering “skinny water”, study the charts closely and don’t fixate on your chart plotter – learn to read the water (color changes).
Don’t let the shallow water keep you from going. People run their sailboats up and down the ICW with little more that a foot of water under their keel and can’t see the bottom., but they worry about the depths in the Bahamas. You can see the bottom there and it’s gorgeous! Go! Enjoy the trip. Wish I were there right now instead of northern Michigan!
David
West End Indian Rock Channel
Posted: 09 Apr 2017 06:02 AM PDT
We went thru indian cut yesterday westbound at dead low tide. the least that we saw between the first waypoint and the reef was 6′. however, There are 2 low spots before the first way point. One is about 3 miles before the waypoint and was 5.5′. The second , about 1.5 miles before was 5.25′.
john (duetto)
As they have in the past, the Sherers graciously share their research on Atlantic Waterway inlet intersections with SSECN readers. Robert and Ann Sherer published their 2015 ICW Cruising Guide, which has received 5 star ratings, and have recently published their 2016 edition of their excellent guide. The surveys in their research will be great valuable to Spring Migrators. Thank you Robert and Ann.
CLICK HERE FOR THE SHERER’S RESEARCH NOTE: Clicking each survey will enlarge for great detail.
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