Marcus Hook Anchorage Vessel Reservation List

Starting today, Sector Delaware Bay will be posting a list of vessel reservations for Marcus Hook Anchorage (Anchorage 7) for the next 72 hours, under the Sector Delaware Bay - Philadelphia, PA section on the MAC website. This list of reservations for the next 72 hours will be posted by noon each day, Monday through Friday.

***See the attachment for the list***

MSIB 15-25 PHILADELPHIA TO SEA MAINTENANCE DREDGING

The Captain of the Port (COTP), Sector Delaware Bay, is notifying mariners that the Coast Guard is enforcing three safety zones to facilitate the Philadelphia to Sea Maintenance Dredging. Maintenance dredging will be conducted in Marcus Hook Range and Marcus Hook Anchorage (No. 7) on the Delaware River on July 3, 2025, through approximately October 31, 2025.

*Please see the attachment for the full text.

Barge-based Fireworks Display, Delaware River, Adjacent to Penn`s Landing, Safety Zone

A barge-based fireworks display is scheduled to occur on the Delaware River adjacent to Penn’s Landing near Camden, NJ, from 9:15 p.m. to 10 p.m. on July 4, 2025. A safety zone will be in effect for the duration of the fireworks display to include all navigable waters within a 500-yard radius of the fireworks barge located at approximate position latitude 39°56`37.1"N, longitude 75°08`09.0"W. Vessels may not enter, remain in, or transit through the safety zone during the enforcement period unless authorized by the Captain of the Port or official on-scene patrol. Mariners may contact official patrol on-scene via marine band radio VHF-FM channel 13 or 16.

*Please see the attached chart that details the safety zone.

Barge-based Fireworks Display, Upper Delaware River, Safety Zone

A barge-based fireworks display is scheduled to occur on the Delaware River adjacent to Pleasant Hill Park in Philadelphia, PA, from 9 p.m. to 10 p.m. on July 4, 2025. A safety zone will be in effect for the duration of the fireworks display to include all navigable waters within 300 yards of a fireworks barge located at approximate position latitude 40°02’22” N longitude 074°59’22.67” W. Vessels may not enter, remain in, or transit through the safety zone during the enforcement period unless authorized by the Captain of the Port or official on-scene patrol. Mariners may contact official patrol on-scene via VHF radio channel 16.

*Please see the attached chart that details the safety zone.

Summit Bridge, over the C&D Canal, Bridge Maintenance

Mariners are advised that contractors on behalf of the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers will be performing bridge painting operations of the Summit Bridge, at mile 9.7, over the C&D Canal in Middletown, DE. The painting operations will be performed from 7 a.m. to 5 p.m. starting on June 23, 2025, and ending September 23, 2025. To facilitate the work, a decking platform will be installed under the southern half of the span and then transitioning to the northern half of the span as work is completed, reducing the available vertical clearance in the center of the channel by approximately 5 feet to 133 feet above mean high water. One half of the navigation channel will always be completely open during this project. The decking platforms will be marked by quick flashing white lights. Mariners should check for future notices on this project and should use extreme caution when transiting the area.

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.

Burlington-Bristol Bridge, Bridge Maintenance

Mariners are advised that the SR 413 (Burlington-Bristol) Bridge, across the Delaware River at mile 117.8 between Burlington, New Jersey, and Bristol, Pennsylvania, will be undergoing maintenance from June 1, 2025, through September 30, 2025. To facilitate maintenance during work hours, Monday through Friday between 7 a.m. and 4 p.m., the bridge will require a minimum of two hours’ notice to secure the work site and ensure the lift span is structurally clear for openings. A five-foot-wide movable work platform will be suspended beneath the bridge, temporarily reducing the vertical clearance by no more than six feet, leaving approximately 55 feet of vertical clearance. During non-working hours, all work areas will be secured, and there will be no restrictions affecting vessel traffic or bridge openings. Vessels that can safely navigate under the bridge in the closed-to-navigation position may do so at any time. A safety boat will be on site and will monitor VHF-FM channels 13 and 16 during operations. The bridge will not be able to open for emergencies during work hours. At all other times, the drawbridge will operate in accordance with the regulations outlined in Title 33, Code of Federal Regulations, Part 117.716(a). Vessels may contact the bridge tender on VHF-FM channel 13 or 16. Mariners are advised to adjust their transits accordingly and use 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.

Delaware River, Deepwater Range, Dredging Operations

All mariners be advised the Dredge Lexington will be conducting dredging operations in Deepwater Range on the Delaware River beginning on or about April 11, 2025, through June 1, 2025. All mariners are requested to give 1 hour notification prior to transiting Deepwater Range to make passing arrangements with the Dredge Lexington. The Dredge Lexington can be reached via VHF radio channels 13 or 16 or via phone at (757) 635-2578. Mariners are reminded to transit the area with caution at the slowest safe speed to maintain navigation and minimize wake.

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 08-25 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 Captain of the Port (COTP)
Zone with Engine Power Limiters (EPLs) or Shaft Power Limiters (ShaPoLis). Inspections have revealed inconsistencies
in their implementation under international standards, necessitating clarification.

*Please read 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.