DELAIR RAILROAD BRIDGE SECOND REMOTE OPERTAIONS TEST DEVIATION

The Captain of the Port, Delaware Bay, is notifying mariners that the Coast Guard has issued a temporary deviation authorizing the DELAIR Memorial Railroad Bridge over the Delaware River, mile 104.6, in Delair, NJ, to be remotely operated from the Conrail South Jersey dispatch center in Mount Laurel, NJ, from 8 a.m. on October 21, 2017, to 7:59 a.m. on April 19, 2018. This deviation will test the remote operation capability of the drawbridge to determine whether the bridge can be safely operated from a remote location. During the temporary deviation, a bridge tender will be stationed on-site at the bridge and will be able to immediately take local control of the bridge, as required.

The remote operation system of the bridge incorporates a dedicated telephone line (856) 231-2301 for bridge operations, a push-to-talk (PTT) opening signal of 5 clicks on VHF-FM channel 13, and an automated identification system (AIS) transmitter to provide real-time bridge status. AIS bridge status is provided via the name transmitted by the private aids to navigation as: DELAIR BRG-OPEN (fully open and locked position, channel light green), DELAIR BRG-CLOSED (other than fully open, not inoperative), or DELAIR BRG-INOP (other than fully open, inoperative). The AIS transmitter is assigned maritime mobile service identity (MMSI) number 993663001 and has been installed on the New Jersey side of the bridge at the bridge and land intersection in approximate position 39 degrees, 58 minutes, 50.52 seconds North (39.9807 N), 75 degrees, 03 minutes, 58.75 seconds West (-75.06632 W).

The Coast Guard is encouraging public participation and requesting comments concerning this temporary (test) deviation. Comments and related material must reach the Coast Guard on or before January 15, 2018. Please access the Federal eRulemaking Portal at http://www.regulations.gov to view docket number USCG-2016-0257 for additional details and to provide comments concerning this temporary (test) deviation.

If you have any questions or concerns regarding this notice please contact the Sector Delaware Bay, Waterways Management Division at 215-271-4889 or the 24 hour command center at 215-271-4807.


K. A. Clarke
Captain, U.S. Coast Guard
Acting Captain of the Port, Delaware Bay