The Dismal Swamp Canal’s locks are open and accessed southbound at MM 7.2 south of Norfolk or northbound from Albemarle Sound and the Pasquatank River.
The Dismal Swamp Canal is OPEN and locks are operating on their normal schedule.
Thanks,
Sarah
Sarah Hill, TMP Director, Dismal Swamp Canal Welcome CenterChairperson, Camden County Tourism Development Authority2356 US Hwy 17 North, South Mills, NC 27976
We transited the Dismal Swamp Canal northbound May 16 and 17. Saw one boat and hecwas tied up at Rest Center headed south. Canal is great place for photography. My wife was a happy camper taking lots of photos. Lockmasters at both ends were helpful and friendly. Locks easy to transition. Hardly any turbulence atvall. Rest Center on VA NC border convenient stop overnight if you need one. Well maintained. Space for three or four boats. Bathrooms and water available. I never heard road traffic at night. We have a 5’ draft. We clunked 4 or 5 times in the 22 mile canal. Probably sunken logs/branches bseveral felled trees along the way. No issue. Lots of high trees with overhanging branches. We tried to avoid them but one broke off wind vane at top of the mast. All in all, I liked no traffic, beautiful photography, easy overnight. Overhanging trees are a problem for sailboats.
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Gulfport Municipal Marina, A CRUISERS NET SPONSOR, is located in the heart of downtown Gulfport. The marina and harbor, found on the northern shores of Boca Ciega Bay, are easily accessible from the Western Florida ICW, just north of Tampa Bay.
Weekly news & updates
April 3, 2023 | City of Gulfport, FL – Gateway to the Gulf Newsletter
Gulfport Community Update: March 26 – April 1, 2023
Free Smoke detectors are available for elderly and low income households within Gulfport City limits. Call 893-1059 for more information.
Alert Pinellas Emergency and Community Notification Service for Pinellas County enables the City to provide residents with critical information quickly in a variety of delivery methods. Visit https://mygulfport.us/alertpinellas/ for more information and to sign up for this FREE service.
City of Gulfport residential water customers are eligible for a rebate of up to $100 after the purchase and installation of a high efficiency water-saving toilet. Restrictions apply. Application & guidelines available at https://mygulfport.us/toilet-rebate-program/. For information call 893-1016.
Join us weekly at our open-air fresh market for the region’s freshest produce, arts & crafts from local creators and a fresh array of locally sourced botanicals along the shops and restaurants of scenic Beach Boulevard.
Gulfport’s First Friday Art Walk occurs each month from 5pm – 9pm. The streets of this creative town come to life with artists, musicians and art appreciators. Come join us each First Friday of the month and get inspired!The Gulfport First Friday Art Walk is free to attend with free parking on all streets.
Cruisers Net publishes Loose Cannon articles with Captain Swanson’s permission in hopes mariners with salt water in their veins will subscribe.. $5 a month or $42 for the year and you may cancel at anytime.
Cruisers Net publishes Loose Cannon articles with Captain Swanson’s permission in hopes mariners with salt water in their veins will subscribe. $7 a month or $56 for the year and you may cancel at anytime.
This montage shows Utopia IV running at speed, while at left a camera shows the results of the impact to those sitting in her lounge.
Motoryacht Utopia IV raming a Bahamian tanker and sinking her two days before Christmas 2021 was the first Loose Cannon story published on Substack, and it was an exclusive—probably due to short staffing at traditional news outlets.
Let it be known then that the story has played out to its logical conclusion: A $2.89 million court-ordered payout to three Utopia crew injured in the ramming. In its report, the National Transportation Safety Board had referred to their injuries as “minor.”
According to the NTSB, one of the causes of the accident was the fact that the captain had left his post for 12 minutes, leaving an unqualified watchstander on the bridge alone.
Tropic Breeze settles into waters off New Providence Island after being hit from behind by the motoryacht Utopia IV.
Both Utopia and tanker Tropic Breeze had departed from New Providence island in the evening. Around 10 p.m. The 207-foot Rossinavi motoryacht slammed into Tropic Breeze’s stern at 20 knots, causing the latter’s engine room to flood. As Tropic Breeze sank, her seven crewmembers abandoned ship and were rescued by a another passing yacht. Utopia had 20 people on board, 13 crew and seven charter guests.
One of the three injured was Electro-Technical Officer Eric Ward, who recently told Superyacht News that the voyage had been set up as a nominal bareboat charter but had not been insured as such, so the owner of the boat was responsible for medical expenses directly.
The three crew sued Utopia’s owner, alleging that they were owed money for medical expenses, unpaid wages and other monetary damages.
Utopia was built for J.R. and Loren Ridinger of North Carolina, he being president and CEO of the online retail giant Market America (frequently compared to a “pyramid scheme”). Ridinger died in August 2022, leaving his widow as defendant.
Earlier this month, a jury in federal court awarded Ward $805,000. Deckhand Samuel Parrot was awarded $591,000. Engineer Fred Wennberg was allowed to piggyback other, unrelated injuries onto the crash claim and was awarded $1.49 million. Each award included substantial punitive damages.
Apparently, Ward was unhappy with his sum, telling Superyacht News, “The decision is called a ‘defense victory.’ It’s when we technically win, but win almost nothing for a judgement from the jury.”
A snapshot of some of Utopia’s crew after the accident. Electro-Technical Officer Eric Ward is at right.
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The Association of Bahamas Marinas has created a new mobile app available for both IOS and Android to complement our existing website. The App provides users of Android and Apple devices with real time updates about all member marinas, allied service members, as well as view current information on travel protocols, fishing rules and entry requirements.
Come see us in Palm Beach!
Many of your favorite Bahamas Marinas and Boating Destinations will be represented at this year’s Palm Beach Boat Show. The ABM will be manning The Bahamas booth in the Clematis Tent at Booth M-12.
Attending representatives from ABM member marinas include:
Comments from Cruisers (1)
We transited the Dismal Swamp Canal northbound May 16 and 17. Saw one boat and hecwas tied up at Rest Center headed south. Canal is great place for photography. My wife was a happy camper taking lots of photos. Lockmasters at both ends were helpful and friendly. Locks easy to transition. Hardly any turbulence atvall. Rest Center on VA NC border convenient stop overnight if you need one. Well maintained. Space for three or four boats. Bathrooms and water available. I never heard road traffic at night. We have a 5’ draft. We clunked 4 or 5 times in the 22 mile canal. Probably sunken logs/branches bseveral felled trees along the way. No issue. Lots of high trees with overhanging branches. We tried to avoid them but one broke off wind vane at top of the mast. All in all, I liked no traffic, beautiful photography, easy overnight. Overhanging trees are a problem for sailboats.