PHILADELPHIA TO TRENTON MAINTENANCE PROJECT

The Captain of the Port, Delaware Bay, is notifying mariners that the dredge CHARLESTON will begin maintenance dredging operation for the upper Delaware River on or about October 21, 2017 through December 15, 2017, in between Keystone Range and the Fairless Hills turning basin. The dredge will begin north of the turning basin and then continue dredging south.

The dredge CHARLESTON will have pipeline outside the main navigational channel running to the Money Island Disposal Site, located on the PA side of the Delaware River.

Vessels are requested to contact the dredge CHARLESTON 30 minutes prior to expected time of passage to make safe passing arrangements. The dredge operator can be contacted on VHF-FM Channel 13.

All mariners are requested to stay clear of the dredge, booster, floating 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. Mariners are cautioned to strictly comply with the Inland Rules of the Road when approaching, passing and leaving the area of operations, and remain a safe distance away from the dredge, booster, buoys, cables, pipelines, barges, derricks, wires, and related equipment.

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.

Any questions should be directed to the Coast Guard Command Center at (215) 271-4807 or VHF-FM channel 16.



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