MSIB 06-18 Ice Conditions Definition

The Captain of the Port (COTP), Delaware Bay is notifying mariners of regulatory changes to the definitions of ice conditions. Title 33 of the Code of Federal Regulations (CFR) part 165.550 has established four safety zones in the Delaware Bay COTP Zone and also defined the ice condition thresholds and provided restrictions for each ice condition.

The safety zones are defined as follows:

Northern Delaware River
• The Delaware River and its tributaries north of the Betsy Ross Bridge.
Delaware River
• South of the Betsy Ross Bridge to a line drawn from Liston Point to Hope Creek Jetty. Includes all tributaries, most notably the Salem, Schuylkill, and Christina Rivers.
Delaware Bay
• South of a line drawn from Liston Point to Hope Creek Jetty to a line drawn from Cape May Light to the tip of Cape Henlopen. Includes all tributaries.
NJ and DE Coast and ICW
• Along the coast, including the ICW, tributaries, rivers and bays, south from Long Branch, New Jersey to the Maryland/Delaware State Border.

Ice Conditions are defined as follows:

Vessels not equipped with steel hulls are prohibited from entering or transiting within the above safety zones without permission from the COTP or District Commander if they encounter ice with a thickness of ½ inch or greater.

Ice Condition One
• Greater than or equal to 30% of a safety zone is covered with ice whose thickness is approximately 1 to 3 inches.
• Steel hull construction is required.
Ice Condition Two
• Between 30% and 90% of a safety zone is covered with ice whose thickness is approximately 3-9 inches
• Steel hull construction and 1,500 shaft horse power required.
• Engine cooling system that prevents blockage from ice is required.
Ice Condition Three
• 90% or more of a safety zone is covered with ice whose thickness is approximately 9 inches or thicker.
• Steel hull construction and 1,500 shaft horse power required.
• Engine cooling system that prevents blockage from ice is required.
• Vessel convoys required.
• Daylight only transit.


Supplementary Information:
• Each zone will be assessed individually and there may be different ice conditions in effect for each zone.
• Vessels prohibited from entering a zone due to ice conditions may request permission from the COTP in writing. Requests can be submitted via email to secdelbaycc@uscg.mil and secdelbaywwm@uscg.mil.
• The COTP may modify the waterway restrictions listed above, for the entirety or a portion of an individual zone, in order to maintain the safety of navigation within the waterway.
• Unless otherwise specified, vessels meeting the requirements for each ice condition may transit within a zone without requesting permission from the COTP.
• When the COTP sets ice conditions for a particular zone, an announcement will be made via Broadcast Notice to Mariners and Marine Safety Information Bulletin.
• Vessels working to facilitate ice breaking operations and protect infrastructure and property are exempt from these requirements.

To report the presence of ice, use the “Ice Reports Form” located on the Sector Delaware Bay website at: http://www.atlanticarea.uscg.mil/Our-Organization/District-5/District-Units/Sector-Delaware-Bay/. Mariners can also contact the CG Sector Delaware Bay Command Center on VHF Channel 16 or call (215) 271-4807 to report ice.

Please refer to our internet website for current ice condition information by visit https://homeport.uscg.mil/ and choosing Delaware Bay from the Port Directory drop down. Ice condition updates will be located in the Safety Notifications section under Safety Alerts.

If you have any questions regarding the contents of this bulletin or the expectations of the COTP, please contact the Waterways Management staff at (215) 271-4889 or the Situation Unit Controller at (215) 271-4807.



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