Daily Update

Philadelphia / Delaware River & Bay

April 05, 2024

Notices

Port MARSEC Level 1
 
Local Time – GMT -4
 
 
Please note below updates as of 0800 hrs April 5th, 2024:
 
  • U.S. Army Corps Of Engineers (USACE) commanding general, Lt. Gen. Scott A. Spellmon, stated, “Thanks to the exhaustive work of the Unified Command during the last two weeks, including underwater surveys and detailed structural analysis of the wreckage, we’ve developed a better understanding of the immense and complex work that lies ahead… A fully opened federal channel remains our primary goal, and we will carry out this work with care and precision, with safety as our chief priority.” USACE expects to open a limited access channel 280 feet wide and 35 feet deep, to the Port of Baltimore within the next four weeks – by the end of April. This channel would support one-way traffic in and out of the Port of Baltimore for barge container service and some roll on/roll off vessels that move automobiles and farm equipment to and from the port. USACE engineers are aiming to reopen the permanent, 700-foot-wide by 50-foot-deep federal navigation channel by the end of May, restoring port access to normal capacity. Lt. Gen. Scott A. Spellmon added, “These are ambitious timelines that may still be impacted by significant adverse weather conditions or changes in the complexity of the wreckage… We are working quickly and safely to clear the channel and restore full service at this port that is so vital to the nation. At the same time, we continue to keep faith with the families of the missing and are working with our partners to help locate and recover their loved ones.” – USACE
 
  • The Captain of the Port (COTP) has established two temporary alternate channels for commercially essential vessels: the Sollers Point Temporary Alternate Channel is located on the northeast side of the main ship channel and the Hawkins Point Temporary Alternate Channel is located on the southwest side of the main ship channel. Both are in the vicinity of the Francis Scott Key Bridge. This action was part of a phased approach to opening the main federal channel. These temporary channels are marked with government lighted aids to navigation and will be limited to transit at the discretion of the COTP and during daylight hours only.
    • Due to updated surveys and waterway user feedback, these channels have had aids repositioned to facilitate transits through best water. The updated approximate locations of aids to navigation can be found in Broadcast Notice to Mariners, and in the near future found in the USCG Light List/Local Notice to Mariners.
    • The Sollers Point Temporary Channel has a controlling depth of 11 feet, a 264-foot horizontal clearance, and vertical clearance of 95 feet.
    • The Hawkins Point Temporary Channel has a controlling depth of 14 feet, a 280-foot horizontal clearance, and vertical clearance of 124 feet.
    • You may not enter the safety zone described above unless authorized by the COTP or the COTP’s designated representative. To obtain permission to enter the safety zone and transit through the temporary alternate channel, you must, as early as possible but no less than 4 hours prior to getting underway. All movements are subject to response and recovery efforts.
  • “Highly trained demolition crews are cutting the top portion of the north side of the collapsed bridge truss. Two crane barges, a 650-ton crane and a 330-ton crane, are actively working on scene. The removed wreckage is scheduled to be lifted and transferred to a barge this evening as daylight allows. A 230-ton land-based crane will offload and process the wreckage at Tradepoint Atlantic and will then be taken to a disposal site” – KBR2024
    • “BGE has reduced pressure of the underwater natural gas pipeline to 35psi. The pipeline spans the width of the channel and runs under the incident site. The Unified Command is continuing to coordinate with BGE to inert the pipeline to free it from hazards and risk.” – KBR2024
    • “Three dive teams with the Unified Command are surveying sections of the bridge and the M/V Dali for future removal operations.” – KBR2024
    • “Trained crews, in conjunction with the Unified Command, are taking steps forward with operations and are conducting routine salvage assessments, while evaluating the safest and most effective routes. Divers are on scene to conduct underwater surveys along with mapping out plans for future wreckage removal” – KBR2024
  • Currently, it is uncertain how long port movements will be suspended. Prolonged delays are expected due to the magnitude of the situation.
  • Local Pilots have advised that vessels currently anchored at Annapolis are not movement restricted and are able to sail, provided that USCG and USCBP formalities are completed with each respective agency.
  • Local Pilots have advised that Tradepoint Atlantic Terminal is currently not movement restricted. The channel to TPA berth(s) is outside of the USCG Safety Zone presently in effect, subject to change.
 
We will pass on information concerning resumption of vessel movements as soon as it’s provided to us by the Maryland Pilots and port authorities. 
In the meantime, please find the attached/below current Sector Maryland NCR port condition update:
 
Sector Maryland NCR: Port Condition: Closed [Please see attached MSIB 036-24]
 
Effective immediately a safety zone is established for all navigable waters of the Chesapeake Bay within a 2000-yard radius of the Francis Scott Key Bridge. The 948-foot Singapore-flagged vessel DALI struck the Francis Scott Key Bridge on March 26, 2024.
 
Please also reference the below website with up-to-date information regarding the response efforts of the Key Bridge Incident:
 
As advised, the timeline for resuming regular port operations uncertain and determined basis the information available by local authorities, and we expect this incident will affect port traffic for some time. Therefore, prospective berthing for future vessels is very unclear.
Our team is closely monitoring this situation and are actively communicating with local authorities and port officials to ensure we are as updated as possible.
 
We will continue to provide updates as new information becomes available.
Please do not hesitate to reach out to us if you have any questions concerning the situation and we will assist as best as possible.

Draft information
37’ - 40’ outbound from Packer Avenue including Beckett Street
- Use reference station Philadelphia.
- Vessels may sail 3 hours before low water and up until 1.5 hours after low water at Philadelphia.
37’ - 40’ outbound from Paulsboro
- Please use reference station Marcus Hook.
- Vessels may sail from Paulsboro 1 hour before low water up until 3 hours after low water at Marcus Hook.
37’ - 40’ outbound from Marcus Hook (anchorage or berth)
- Please use reference station Marcus Hook.

Weather / Marine Zone Forecast

Philadelphia weather
Small Craft Advisory
URGENT - MARINE WEATHER MESSAGE
National Weather Service Mount Holly NJ
341 AM EDT Fri Apr 5 2024
 
ANZ452>455-052000-
/O.CON.KPHI.SC.Y.0036.000000T0000Z-240405T2000Z/
Coastal waters from Little Egg Inlet to Great Egg Inlet NJ out
20 nm-
Coastal waters from Great Egg Inlet to Cape May NJ out 20 nm-
Coastal waters from Cape May NJ to Cape Henlopen DE out 20 nm-
Coastal waters from Cape Henlopen to Fenwick Island DE out 20 nm-
341 AM EDT Fri Apr 5 2024
 
...SMALL CRAFT ADVISORY REMAINS IN EFFECT UNTIL 4 PM EDT THIS
AFTERNOON...
 
* WHAT...West winds 15 to 20 kt with gusts up to 25 kt and seas
  3 to 5 ft.
 
* WHERE...Coastal waters from Little Egg Inlet to Great Egg
  Inlet NJ out 20 nm, Coastal waters from Great Egg Inlet to
  Cape May NJ out 20 nm, Coastal waters from Cape May NJ to Cape
  Henlopen DE out 20 nm and Coastal waters from Cape Henlopen to
  Fenwick Island DE out 20 nm.
 
* WHEN...Until 4 PM EDT this afternoon.
 
* IMPACTS...Conditions will be hazardous to small craft.
 
PRECAUTIONARY/PREPAREDNESS ACTIONS...
 
Inexperienced mariners, especially those operating smaller
vessels, should avoid navigating in hazardous conditions.
 
 
 
Marine Weather
 
 
ANZ400-060300-
1002 AM EDT Fri Apr 5 2024

 
 .SYNOPSIS FOR THE COASTAL WATERS FROM SANDY HOOK NJ TO FENWICK
ISLAND DE AND FOR DELAWARE BAY...
Low pressure to our northeast will continue to weaken and
meander through Saturday before moving out to sea. High
pressure builds in Saturday night and Sunday, holds influence
over the region into Tuesday. A warm front may cross through
later Tuesday into the Thursday time frame with a cold front
possible by the end of the week.

 $$
 
 
 

 ANZ454-060300-
Coastal waters from Cape May NJ to Cape Henlopen DE out 20 nm-
1002 AM EDT Fri Apr 5 2024

 SMALL CRAFT ADVISORY IN EFFECT UNTIL 4 PM EDT THIS AFTERNOON

 
REST OF TODAY
W winds 15 to 20 kt with gusts up to 25 kt. Seas
4 to 5 ft. S swell 2 to 4 ft at 5 seconds. A slight chance of
showers late this morning, then a chance of showers with isolated
tstms this afternoon.
 
TONIGHT
NW winds 15 to 20 kt with gusts up to 25 kt. Seas 3 to
4 ft. W swell 3 to 4 ft at 5 seconds, becoming NW at 5 seconds
after midnight. A chance of showers in the evening.
 
SAT
NW winds around 20 kt with gusts up to 30 kt. Seas 3 to
4 ft. NW swell 2 to 4 ft at 4 seconds.
 
SAT NIGHT
NW winds 15 to 20 kt, diminishing to 10 to 15 kt
after midnight. Seas around 3 ft. NW swell 2 to 3 ft at
3 seconds.
 
SUN
N winds 10 to 15 kt with gusts up to 20 kt, diminishing to
5 to 10 kt in the afternoon. Seas 2 to 3 ft. N swell around 2 ft
at 4 seconds in the morning, becoming light.
 
SUN NIGHT
E winds 5 to 10 kt, becoming SW after midnight. Seas
around 2 ft. SE swell around 2 ft at 5 seconds.
 
MON
W winds around 5 kt, becoming S. Seas 2 to 3 ft.
 
TUE
SW winds 5 to 10 kt, becoming S. Seas 2 to 3 ft. A chance
of showers after midnight.

 Winds and seas higher in and near tstms.

Attachments

  • MSIB 039-24 Alternate Channels Establishment Update FSK (SIGNED).pdf(369 KB )

Disclaimer: For quality assurance purposes please note well that while the information contained in this website is regularly vetted for accuracy it is not intended to replace the local knowledge or expertise pertaining to port conditions of our marine operations personnel.

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