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EXCERPTS FROM USCG LOCAL NOTICES TO MARINERS (5th USCG District) and other Local Sources

NOTE: The items presented here are only a partial listing, and only those items considered major by the webmaster.
The prudent sailor should check the USCG LNM, 5th District, notices on a regular basis. The reports, in .pdf, can be found through a link on the LINKS page.
If you are planning a cruise out of area, definitely check the latest USCG Local Notice to Mariners for the USCG Districts involved.

MD - UPPER CHESAPEAKE BAY - MIDDLE RIVER - FROG MORTAR CREEK - MAST HEIGHT WARNING
FAA requires small craft operators with mast heights of 37 feet or greater to observe caution while transiting Frog Mortar Creek in the vicinity of Martin State Airport. Operators of such vessels shall contact Martin State Airport via telephone at 410-238-1008 prior to entering and when departing the safety area.
Chart: 12278. (2006)

Wayne Miskiewicz (Maryland Marina) and another member of Marine Trade Association met with several airport officials recently, and here is the outcome.

1. The rule about calling the tower is a FAA rule that is imposed on all airstrips that have a landing pattern over waterways. It is the same rule that is in force for example at Philadelphia Airport that has commercial vessels transiting the waterway. Just because there are no super tankers or freighters using Frog Mortar Creek, at the present time, it does not matter.
2. The state has been fighting with the FAA for going on 2 years about the rule but, the FAA will make no exceptions. Therefore the airport has to accept the rule or close.
3. In addition the airport must now have the tower manned 24 hours a day 360 days a year
4. When asked if there is there a penalty if boaters do not call the tower they indicated that there is no penalty.

There are two documents of interest provided by the airport personal. One illustrates the "Sailboat Safety Area," which is the area of concern Click HERE. The other illustrates the TERPS Departure Surface Analysis which illustrates a "waterway worst case" line. Click HERE.
(For a greater explanation of TERPS see the following web site; http://www.airspaceusa.com/Terps%20Departure.htm.)
According to Wayne in that illustration the 37' height requirement is along the "waterway worst case" line and is very close to the shore line. You will also notice another vertical line on the illustration. That line represents the approximate mid channel point and at that point if you plot the height you will find it to be about 61 feet.

USCG Notice to Mariners 2007 - - - MD-UPPER CHESAPEAKE BAY - CHESTER RIVER/KENT ISLAND NARROWS -DREDGING
The DREDGE RICHMOND will be conducting dredging operations in the channel from the Chester River to Kent Narrows from 03 May through 08 June, 2007. The dredge can be contacted on VHF-FN channels 13 and 16. Mariners are requested to review the DREDGING AND MARINE CONSTRUCTION CAUTIONS notice at the beginning of this section. Mariners are requested to stay clear of the dredge and exercise extreme caution and no wake when approaching, passing and leaving a dredge operation location and to strictly comply with the Inland Rules of the Road. Chart: 12272.

MD - CHESAPEAKE CHANNEL (COVE POINT TO SANDY POINT) - CHESAPEAKE BAY
Mariners are advised that deck replacement work will commence on or about November 13, 2006, at the William Preston Lane, Jr. Memorial/Chesapeake Bay Bridge (West Suspension), at mile 138.0, between Sandy Point and Kent Island MD. To facilitate the work, a temporary marine access platform will be moored outside the navigable channel (at Pier 34) throughout the deck replacement. This operation is expected to be completed by November 2008. Mariners should use caution when transiting the area. Chart: 12263.

NOAA ANNOUNCES A NEW, NAUTICAL CHART SERVICE
NOAA has posted all 1,000-plus of its U.S. nautical charts on the Internet at www.nauticalcharts.noaa.gov/mcd/NOAAChartViewer.html. They can be viewed using any Internet browser. Each chart is up-to-date with the most recent Notices to Mariners. Use these on-line charts as a ready reference or planning tool-.. then use one of NOAA-s printed or digital charts for actual navigation. (2006)