Philadelphia to Trenton Dredging, Upper Delaware River

All mariners be advised the Dredge Lexington is conducting dredging operations on the Upper Delaware River from October 2, 2025, through December 31, 2025. The Dredge Lexington will begin in Florence Range in the vicinity of Upper Delaware River Lighted Buoy 65 (Light List Number 4095) and then continue upriver to the Fairless Turning Basin, and finish in Whitehill Range just north of Upper Delaware River Channel Buoy 83 (Light List Number 4200). All mariners are requested to notify the Dredge Lexington a minimum of 1 hour prior to transiting the area to make passing arrangements. The Dredge Lexington can be contacted via VHF radio channels 13 and 16 or via phone at (757) 635-2578. Mariners are requested to transit the area with caution at the slowest safe speed to maintain navigation and minimize wake.

The Captain of the Port (COTP), Sector Delaware Bay, is notifying mariners that the local sector has updated some of the unit`s phone numbers, listed below.

Sector Delaware Bay Command Center: 833-453-1007
Sector Delaware Bay Prevention Office 8:00am-4:00pm: 206-815-6688
Vessel Scheduling Duty Officer Phone 8:00am-4:00pm: 215-908-9827
Duty Marine Inspector 24/7: 215-908-9999
Port State Control Duty Officer 24/7: 267-707-3245
Waterways Management Duty Officer 24/7: 267-515-7294
Facilities and Containers Duty Officer 24/7: 445-888-0930

*Please see the attachment for the full text.

MSIB 17-25 Use of Engine Shut-Down Override of Automatic Fire Extinguishing System When Operating in Constrained Waters

While conducting investigations into recent inadvertent engine shutdowns initiated by a pre-engineered fire extinguishing
system, US Coast Guard Sector Delaware Bay has recognized an additional navigational safety concern should a pre
engineered fire extinguishing system automatically shuts down the engine(s) while transiting constrained, high-traffic, or
otherwise hazardous waterways.

*Please see the attachment for the full text.

Coast Guard Marine Safety Alert 15-25: THE IMPORTANCE OF EFFECTIVE COMMUNICATION WHEN COMPLETING A DECLARATION OF INSPECTION

A recent oil spill on the Delaware River starkly underscored the critical need for effective communication when completing the required Declaration of Inspection (DOI) prior to an oil transfer in accordance with Title 33, Code of Federal Regulations (CFR), §156.120 (33 CFR 156.120). Prior to the incident, the facility person in charge (PIC) filled out their section of the DOI and sent the checklist in a bucket hoist to the barge PIC who subsequently completed their portion. Notably, the two PICs never met in person nor exchanged any words throughout the DOI preparation process. The investigation revealed that a significant causative factor to the cargo tank overfill and subsequent discharge of at least 100 barrels (4,200 gallons) of oil into the Delaware River was the lack of direct communication between the PICs.

*Please see the attachment for the full text.

MSIB 08-25 CH.1 Use of Engine/Shaft Power Limiters in Pilotage Waters

The U.S. Coast Guard Sector Delaware Bay has observed an increase in vessels entering the COTP Zone with Engine Power
Limiters (EPLs) or Shaft Power Limiters (ShaPoLis). This MSIB clarifies requirements for their safe and compliant use and aligns with pre-arrival pilot questionnaires.

*Please read the attachment for the full text.

MSIB 14-25 Hurricane Seasonal Alert

The Captain of the Port, Sector Delaware Bay, is setting Hurricane Seasonal Alert on June 1, 2025. Seasonal Alert will remain in effect through November 30, 2025, unless otherwise established. All vessels, facilities, and marinas are asked to take adequate precautions and review the U.S. Coast Guard Sector Delaware Bay Port Hurricane Contingency Plan, and their individual Heavy Weather Plans.

*Please see the attachment for the full text.

CHESAPEAKE AND DELAWARE CANAL, SHOALING

U.S. COAST GUARD SECTOR DELAWARE BAY IS NOTIFYING MARINERS OF SHOALING ON THE CHESAPEAKE & DELAWARE CANAL IN THE VICINITY OF CHESAPEAKE CITY, MD. ARMY CORP IS IMPOSING A DRAFT RESTRICTION OF 28’6”. MARINERS ARE ADVISED TO REVIEW THE LATEST US ARMY CORPS OF ENGINEERS SURVEY FOR CHESAPEAKE & DELAWARE CANAL PRIOR TO TRANSITING AND USE EXTREME CAUTION WHEN TRANSITING THE AREA.

Submerged Object, Salem River Entrance Channel

A SUBMERGED OBJECT HAS BEEN REPORTED IN THE SALEM RIVER ENTRANCE CHANNEL IN APPROXIMATE POSITION LATITUDE 39°34.148’N, LONGITUDE 075°31.129’W, IN THE VINICTY OF THE SALEM RIVER ENTRANCE CHANNEL LIGHT 7 (LIGHT LIST NUMBER 2680). THE SUBMERGED OBJECT IS APPROXIMATELY 15 FEET INSIDE THE GREEN TOE OF THE CHANNEL AT A DEPTH OF 12 FEET 3 INCHES AT MEAN LOW LOW WATER. MARINERS ARE ADVISED TO USE CAUTION WHEN TRANSITING THE AREA.

*Please see the attached chart that details the location of the submerged object.

MSIB 10-25 Ship to Ship Transfer and Lightering Operations

MSIB 06-16, titled Advance Notice / Request for Lightering is here by cancelled.

Applicable vessels can reference 33 Code of Federal Regulations (CFR) Part 156, Subpart A for requirements for Oil and Hazardous Material Transfer Operations.

*Please see the attachment for the full text.

MSIB 12-24 Changes to the USCG Local Notice to Mariners (LNM) and Light Lists

This bulletin announces upcoming changes to the Local Notice to Mariners (LNM) and Light Lists as part of the U.S. Coast Guard Navigation Center efforts to modernize and improve the accessibility, accuracy, and overall user experience for mariners and other stakeholders beginning on Tuesday, October 1, 2024, at the CG Navigation Center’s LNM site.

Sector Delaware Bay Coast Guard has updated the foreign vessel arrivals (VDO) number to (445)-444-1535. This number is utilized Monday thru Friday from 0730 till 1600. Continue to contact the Command Center after hours or for emergency purposes.

Coast Guard Investigative Service

MSIB 1-23

Reporting Sexual Misconduct on U.S. Vessels

***See attachment for full text***

Sexual misconduct that occurs onboard U.S. flagged vessels harms mariners, interrupts safe operations, and often leads to accidents, lost careers, and a lifetime of trauma for the survivors who endure the abuse. The Coast Guard is committed to investigating and pursuing appropriate enforcement actions for all reports of sexual misconduct on U.S. flagged vessels. This MSIB supersedes the Assistant Commandant for Prevention Policy’s MSIB 11-21 “Reporting Sexual Assaults on U.S. Vessels” issued on December 16, 2021.

NEW ESTABLISHED ANCHORAGE GROUNDS,
DELAWARE BAY


The Captain of the Port (COTP), Delaware Bay, is notifying mariners of the amended anchorage regulations, specifically 33 CFR 110.157, paragraphs (a)(18)-(20) for the Delaware Bay and River, and adjacent waters, which established two offshore deep-water anchorages. The establishment of these two anchorages is to improve navigation safety by accommodating recent and anticipated future growth in vessel size and the volume of vessel traffic entering the Delaware Bay and River, and to preserve areas traditionally used or needed for anchoring.