MSIB 07-26 Sector Delaware Bay Ice Precautions

This bulletin addresses significant ice formation being reported throughout the entire U.S. Coast Guard Sector Delaware Bay area of responsibility, including but not limited to the Port of Philadelphia, New Jersey, and the entirety of the Delaware River. Severe cold temperatures are forecasted to continue, which will lead to further ice accumulation and increasingly hazardous conditions for navigation for the foreseeable future.

Mariners should prepare now to either operate cautiously in waters where ice is present or avoid navigating in those waters altogether. For mariners who must operate during this extended period of cold weather and ice.

Requests for ice breaking assistance by the Coast Guard should be made to the Sector Delaware Bay Command Center via VHF channel 16, or by phone at (833) 453-1007. Such requests will be reviewed and prioritized based on the safety of life, movement of critical commodities, and commerce facilitation. However, due to the potential severity of ice conditions and limited ice breaking resources, all mariners should plan and be prepared for delays.

For maritime emergencies during this severe weather period, or to report ice conditions affecting navigation, contact to the Sector Delaware Bay Command Center via VHF channel 16, or by phone at (833) 453-1007.

Questions regarding this Bulletin may be forwarded to the Waterways Department at U.S. Coast Guard Sector Delaware Bay, 206-815-6688, option 3, or secdelbaywwm@uscg.mil.

*Please see the attachment for the full text.