Daily Update
Philadelphia / Delaware River & Bay
April 15, 2024
Notices
Port MARSEC Level 1
Local Time – GMT -4
Good day,
Please note below Baltimore Key Bridge Incident updates as of 0915 hrs April 15th, 2024:
- Salvage and container removal operations are still in progress. Container transfer will continue in the coming days, weather permitting.
- As of April 11, approximately 38 containers have been removed. Salvors continue to remove containers from the M/V Dali as part of the effort to gain access to the portion of the Key Bridge that lies atop the ship.
- USACE expects to open a limited access channel 280 feet wide and 35 feet deep, to the Port of Baltimore by the end of April
- USCG has advised that the transit consideration process will be the same for all vessels.
- USACE engineers are aiming to reopen the permanent, 700-foot-wide by 50-foot-deep federal navigation channel by the end of May
- 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.
- 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 U.S. Coast Guard, Maryland Pilots and port authorities.
In the meantime, please find the below current Sector Maryland NCR port condition update:
Sector Maryland NCR: Port Condition: Closed
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.
2024 Ozone Action Days begin May 1, 2024
Just a reminder that during the following summer months DNREC measures the air quality forecast for pollution and may deem certain days Code Orange or Code Red.
“Ozone Action Day” as defined by the Delaware Reg 1124: a day that is predicted, based on forecasted weather conditions, to reach unhealthy ozone concentrations. Frequently called a Code Red Day, an Ozone Action Day is declared prior to 1430 hours (local time) for the following day.
Below are the Operations Standards regarding Ozone Action Days from the DNREC Title V Permit:
Condition 3 – Table 1(a)(1)(iii)(L)
Uncontrolled lightering operations shall not be carried out from 0230 hours until 1630 hours (local time) on any day that the Department declares an Ozone Action Day. However, if uncontrolled lightering operations have begun prior to the declaration of the Ozone Action Day, those lightering operations may continue until 0230 hours (local time) or until the service vessel is fully loaded, whichever is later.
Condition 3 – Table 1(a)(1)(iii)(M)
If the Department declares consecutive Ozone Action Days, the owner or operator of a lightering service shall, to the greatest extent practicable, minimize uncontrolled lightering operations on the second and subsequent consecutively declared Ozone Actions Days as follows:
1) Carrying out controlled lightering operations, if vapor balancing compatible service vessels and
ships to be lightered are available.
2) Rescheduling the uncontrolled lightering operations to the periods of 1630 hours to 0230 hours
(local time) of the second and subsequent consecutively declared Ozone Action Days.
With all of that being said, all of our Charterers have made great efforts to charter in vapor balance capable vessels and I don’t foresee any issues with lightering in the event there is a Code Red Day this summer.
Below received from DNREC:
With Spring just beginning, the Delaware Department of Natural Resources and Environmental Control (DNREC) is preparing for its annual air quality forecasting season, which runs from May 1 - September 30.
Starting on May 1, you'll receive an email from this address if an air quality "action day” is anticipated the next day. An action day is declared when the levels of ozone and/or particulate matter are predicted to be high and could therefore be unhealthy to sensitive groups and/or the general public.
For more information about the air quality alerts and what you can do to reduce air pollution, check out the following website: https://dnrec.alpha.delaware.gov/air/quality/forecast/
To SUBSCRIBE to this listserv, send a blank email to dnrec_ozone_alerts@lists.state.de.us
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
Marine Weather
ANZ400-160000-
702 AM EDT Mon Apr 15 2024
.SYNOPSIS FOR THE COASTAL WATERS FROM SANDY HOOK NJ TO FENWICK
ISLAND DE AND FOR DELAWARE BAY...
A slow moving cold front will drop south across the area through the
course of the day today. High pressure builds back in tonight
through Tuesday, before a series of frontal boundaries and low
pressure systems affect the east coast Wednesday through early next
weekend.
$$
ANZ454-160000-
Coastal waters from Cape May NJ to Cape Henlopen DE out 20 nm-
702 AM EDT Mon Apr 15 2024
TODAY
SW winds 10 to 15 kt with gusts up to 20 kt, becoming W
5 to 10 kt early this afternoon, then becoming SW late. Seas 3 to
5 ft. S swell 2 to 4 ft at 5 seconds. Isolated showers and tstms
late.
TONIGHT
SW winds 10 to 15 kt, becoming N 5 to 10 kt after
midnight. Seas 2 to 3 ft. W swell 2 to 3 ft at 5 seconds,
becoming NW at 5 seconds after midnight.
TUE
NE winds 5 to 10 kt, becoming SE in the afternoon. Seas
2 to 3 ft. NW swell 2 to 3 ft at 4 seconds.
TUE NIGHT
S winds 5 to 10 kt. Seas 2 to 3 ft. NW swell 2 to
3 ft at 3 seconds.
WED
SE winds 5 to 10 kt. Seas 2 to 3 ft. N swell around 2 ft
at 3 seconds in the morning, becoming light. A chance of showers.
WED NIGHT
SE winds around 10 kt. Seas 2 to 3 ft. SE swell 2 to
3 ft at 3 seconds. Showers likely. A chance of tstms after
midnight.
THU
SE winds around 10 kt, becoming NE. Seas 3 to 5 ft.
Showers likely in the morning. A chance of showers through the
night.
FRI
NE winds 10 to 15 kt, becoming NW 5 to 10 kt after
midnight. Seas 3 to 4 ft. A chance of showers after midnight.
Winds and seas higher in and near tstms.
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