MAIN CHANNEL DEEPENING PROJECT DREDGING

The Captain of the Port, Delaware Bay, is notifying mariners that the Coast Guard is establishing two safety zones to facilitate the deepening of the main navigational channel in the Delaware River on or about August 30, 2017 through March 15, 2018. During this time, the dredges ESSEX and CHARLESTON will be dredging in Marcus Hook Range and Anchorage, Bellevue Range, Chester Range, and Eddystone Range.

Safety zone one includes all the waters within a 250 yard radius of the dredge ESSEX and CHARLESTON, including all related dredge equipment. Vessels are advised to ensure safe passage by contacting the dredge ESSEX and CHARLESTON, on VHF channel 13 or 16, 1 hour, as well as 30 minutes, prior to arrival. At least one side of the main navigational channel will be kept clear for safe passage of vessels in the vicinity of the safety zones. At no time will the main navigational channel be closed to vessel traffic. Vessels should approach meetings in these areas, where one side of the main navigational channel is open, and proceed per this MSIB and the Rules of the Road (33 C.F.R. Subchapter E). This safety zone will be in place for the duration of the dredging project.

Safety zone two includes all the waters of Marcus Hook Anchorage No. 7 found in 33 CFR 110.157 (a) (8). Safety zone two will be in place only during the time the dredge ESSEX and/or CHARLESTON is conducting dredging operations in Marcus Hook Anchorage. Vessels desiring to anchor within Marcus Hook Anchorage during the enforcement of safety zone two must obtain permission from the Captain of the Port at least 24 hours in advance, at (215) 271-4807. The COTP will permit two vessels at a time in Marcus Hook Anchorage on a "first-come, first-served" basis. Normally, this is a 48 hour anchorage; however, vessels will not be permitted to occupy the anchorage beyond 12 hours during this time. Vessels that require an examination by the Public Health Service, Customs, or Immigration authorities will be directed to an anchorage for the required inspection by the COTP. Vessels are encouraged to use Mantua Creek Anchorage (anchorage #9), Naval Base, Philadelphia Anchorage (anchorage #10), and Deepwater Point Anchorage (anchorage #6) as alternatives.

All mariners are requested to stay clear of the dredge, booster, floating pipe, pontoon pipes and submerged pipelines, barges, derricks and operating wires about the dredge. Operators of vessels of all types should be aware that the dredge and floating pipelines are held in place by cables, attached to anchors some distance away from the equipment. Buoys are attached to the anchors so that the anchors may be moved as the dredge advances and the location of the submerged pipelines are marked by buoys on each side of the channel.

Owners and lessees of fishnets, crabpots and other structures that may be in the vicinity and that may hinder the free navigation of attending vessels and equipment must remove these from the area where tugs, tenderboats and other attendant equipment will be navigating. Since the project will be conducted twenty -four (24) hours per day seven (7) days a week, all fishnets, crabpots and structures in the general area must be removed prior to the commencement of the work.

If you have any questions regarding the content of this bulletin, please contact the Waterways Management staff at (215) 271-4889 or the Command Center at (215) 271-4807.


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