DIVE AND PIPE-REMOVAL OPERATIONS BILLINGSPORT RANGE

The Captain of the Port, Delaware Bay, is notifying mariners that the Coast Guard is establishing a temporary safety zone from August 8, 2017 until October 31, 2017 in the waters of Billingsport Range, on the Delaware River, within 150 yards of diving and pipe-removal operations.

To facilitate the widening and deepening of the Delaware River main navigational channel, the U.S. Army Corp of Engineers (ACOE) has requested Paulsboro Natural Gas Pipeline Company, LLC (PBF) and Buckeye Partners, L.P. (BPL) remove their existing pipelines across the river that could cause hazards to mariners in the expanded shipping channel. This specifically pertains to PBF’s 8” natural gas pipeline and BPL’s 10” and 12” pipelines that run from the area adjacent to Philadelphia International Airport to the Paulsboro Refinery. Diving and removal operations for the 425 foot sections of pipe will be conducted in close proximity to the main navigational channel and at times may impede one side of the channel. At least one side of the main navigational channel will be kept clear for safe passage of vessels in the vicinity of the safety zone.

The safety zones will be established for the duration of the pipe-removal operation. Entry into, transiting, or anchoring within the safety zone is prohibited unless vessels obtain permission from the Captain of the Port or make satisfactory passing arrangements with the working vessels on scene per this rule and the Rules of the Road (33 CFR subchapter E). Vessels that desire to enter or transit through the safety zone shall contact working vessels on VHF-FM marine band channel 13 or 16, at least one hour prior to arrival.

The Captain of the Port will terminate the safety zone once all pipelines have been recovered and removal operations are completed, which may be sooner than October 31, 2017. Notice of the implementation and the termination of the safety zone will be made in accordance with 33 CFR 165.7.




S. E. ANDERSON
Captain, U.S. Coast Guard
Captain of the Port, Delaware Bay