Continuing until approximately April 30, 2013, construction will be conducted in the GIWW approximate Mile 6.0, WHL to approximate Mile 8.0,

WHL. Barges and support vessels will be in the vicinity. Construction will be performed 24-hours a day, 6-days a week. For up-to-information,

mariners can contact the project manager at (504) 941-7400. Mariners are urged to transit the area with extreme caution.

8th District GC Notice to Mariners 09/11

The Commander, Eighth Coast Guard District issued a temporary deviation from the regulation in 33 CFR 117 governing the operation of the Judge Seeber Bridge (Claiborne Ave. Bridge) on SR 39 across the Inner Harbor Navigation Canal, Mile 0.9 (GIWW, Mile 6.7 EHL) in New Orleans, Orleans Parish, Louisiana, allowing the bridge to remain closed to navigation on an alternate schedule. The scheduled closure will be from April 2, 2011 through May 21, 2011. During this time frame, The bridge will be closed to navigation from 6:30 a.m. until 5:45 p.m., with scheduled openings at 10:00 a.m. and 2:00 p.m. From 5:45 p.m. until 6:30 a.m., the bridge will be in the open-to-navigation position or will open on signal. Vessels that do not require an opening of the bridge can pass at any time. All mariners should use caution when transiting the area.

Ed Note: The charted vertical clearance is 40 feet.

Work has begun on the first phase of construction of a cofferdam in the GIWW at mile 15.5 EHL. The work is on the northside of the site and will be performed 24/7. The M/V Jennifer B. Settoon is on site and will monitor VHF channels 16 or 18.

The construction zone begins at mile 15.5 EHL and extends to the FL”2” at the Michcoud Canal (just before mile 15.0 EHL. There is tight 24/7 traffic control around the construction site and, at time GIWW traffic can be held up for several hours at a time. Traffic control monitors VHF channels 16 and 18, if you contact them on 16 you will be asked to switch to 18.

Red Walkabout

The Flood Gate accross the GIWW at Mile 15.5 EHL is still under construction. There is a “No Wake” zone and traffic control through the construction site. All vessels are to contact traffic control on VHF 18 1 mile before reaching the construction area. On 11 Nov. 2011 a Coast Guard boat was on site to enforce the No Wake zone.

Red Walkabout

 

The following is from the CG 8th District (Gulf) NTM 03/12.

Continuing until approximately June 30, 2012, a Safety Zone is in effect from approximate Mile 35.2, WHL to Mile 35.5, WHL, on the GIWW. This
Safety Zone is for the installation of rip-rap adjacent to the new floodwall, along the southeast bank of the GIWW. Mariners are urged to transit
at the slowest safe speed to minimize wake. For up-to-date information, mariners can contact the M/V YAYA on VHF-FM Channel 69.

The Bayou Blue Pontoon Bridge on State Route 316 across the GIWW, Mile 49.8, WHL, near Bourg, Louisiana, has been severely damaged as the result of a vessel allision. The pontoon barge has been secured along the north side of the waterway and protrudes approximately 30 feet into the navigation channel. Most of the fender system has been destroyed or has been seriously damaged.
In order to facilitate repairs, the following waterway closure schedule will be implemented Monday through Friday, beginning on Monday, November 1, 2010 and continuing through the end of February 2011.
6:00 a.m. until 10:30 a.m. - Complete closure with the exception of small tows less than 40 feet wide and small boats
10:30 a.m. until 1:30 p.m. - Open to all tows with eastbound traffic allowed to transit first, followed by westbound traffic
1:30 p.m. until 6:00 p.m. - Complete closure with the exception of small tows less than 40 feet wide and small boats
Outside of the above closure times and on weekends, mariners will be able to transit through the work zone unrestricted. Additionally, no waterway restrictions will occur during the following holidays: Thanksgiving holidays (November 25-28, 2010); Christmas Holidays (December 24-
26, 2010) and New Year’s Holidays (December 31, 2010 through January 2, 2011).
UPDATE: Diving operations will be conducted throughout the repair operation. All mariners are to contact the bridge on VHF-FM Channel 13 or (985) 857-3666, in advance of arriving at the bridge for clearance and passing instructions. Mariners may also contact the Attendant Tug, M/V BRIDGE BUILDER I on VHF-FM Channel 13. Once cleared for passage, mariners are urged to exercise extreme caution when transiting through the bridge at their slowest safe speed.

The following is from the CG 8th District (Gulf) NTM 43/11.

Possible pilings from the closure of the old Pacific Railroad Bridge in the GIWW in the vicinity of Mile 58.5, WHL, have been reported, on October 19, 2011. The pilings are reportedly not marked. Mariners are urged to use caution in the area and report any findings to their nearest U.S. Coast Guard unit.

Ted Stehle, editor

Painting operations on the State Route 30 (US 98) fixed span bridge (Brooks Bridge) across the GIWW, Mile 223.0, EHL, at Fort Walton Beach, Florida, have been completed over the west span and over the navigation channel span. Work continues on the east span and the collection nets and steel cables remain suspended below the east span of the bridge, reducing the vertical clearance by approximately 2 feet. For up-to-date information, mariners can contact Seminole Equipment Company at (727) 946-3620 or the Florida Department of Transportation at (850) 469-9077.

The following is from the CG 8th District (Gulf) NTM 02/12.

The Black Bayou Pontoon Bridge across the GIWW will be removed from service and the barge will be taken to a dry dock for inspection and
repairs. Mariners are urged to exercise caution when transiting through the bridge site as all other portions of the bridge structure will remain. It
is anticipated that the repairs will take 3 months to complete. During this time period, the Grand Lake Pontoon Bridge across the GIWW, Mile
231.4, WHL, at Grand Lake, Louisiana, will be closed to navigation from 6:30 a.m. until 8:00 a.m. and from 3:00 p.m. until 5:00 p.m., Monday
through Friday, from Monday, January 9, 2012 through Friday, March 30, 2012. During the closure period, the bridge can open for navigation in
the case of an emergency. Mariners are urged to transit the area with extreme caution.

Ed Note: The hours of operation for the Grand Lake Bridge are a change from those currently published.

The following is from the CG 8th District LNM 28/11>

Continuing until further notice, the Dredge E. STROUD will be in the GIWW, about 11 miles east of High Island Bridge. Dredged material is being placed in Placement Area 17. Also, the Dredge MIKE HOOKS is dredging in the GIWW; about 8 miles west of Hwy. 87 Bridge. Dredging is being performed 24-hours a day, 7-days a week. The dredges will be monitoring VHF-FM Channels 13 or 16. Mariners are urged to transit the area at their slowest safe speed to minimize wake and proceed with caution after passing arrangements have been made.

The Coast Guard has received a report of severe shoaling between Entrance Lighted Buoy 14 to Buoy 16, rounding St. Joe Point. The shoaling extends approximately 30 yards into the channel and is an immediate danger to traffic. 29 49.042N 85 10.094W

The following is from the CG 8th District NTM 41/11.

A burned, grounded, partially submerged oyster boat has been reported in the GIWW, off the south bank in the vicinity of Mile 509.0, WHL, in approximate position 28-09-28.8N 096-53-17.4W. The wreck is reportedly not marked. Mariners are urged to use caution in the area.

The following is from the CG 8th District Notice to Mariners 13/11

Shoaling has been reported in the GIWW, near Mile 513.0, WHL, in the vicinity of Aransas Bay Buoy 9 (LLNR-38680) in approximate position 28-06-40.8N 096-55-50.2W. The shoal is reportedly not marked. Mariners are urged to use caution in this area and report any findings to their nearest U.S. Coast Guard unit.

Ted Stehle

The Inner Harbor Navigation Canal is still closed and it will not open for some time. As the attached photo shows, the flood gate at the Lake Ponchartrain end of the Inner Harbor Navigation Canal, which was supposed to be completed in the late spring of this year (2011) is still under construction. The current official estimate is that the work will be completed in the spring of 2012. A couple of pesimistic types at the Seabrook Marina think the end of next year is more likely.

Red Walkabout

Effective immediately, the Inner Harbor Navigation Canal at the Seabrook Bridge will be closed to navigation due to construction of a cofferdam for the Seabrook floodgate structure. The channel will remain closed until approximately the Fall 2011. To ensure public safety during construction, all mariner traffic should avoid the area beginning at the north end Slip No. 6 to the Ted Hickey Bridge. For up-to-date information, mariners are urged to call the construction impact hotline at (877) 427-0345.

Ed Note: This closure only impacts access to or from Lake Pontchartrain and the GIWW via the canal. Vessels on the GIWW may still access Seabrook Harbor/Seabrook Marine for dockage and fuel.

5 years ago this morning I had to tell my children that their dad had died. It seems like yesterday but still like forever ago. 5 years ago today I lost the best friend I ever had.

Elaine Reib

Exactly five years ago today, I got out of bed and checked my email and saw
there was one from Skipper Bob. The evening before, I had sent him my
latest batch of updates for the New York Canals book. The email was a
short thank you note from Bob, time-stamped exactly 8 AM that morning. I
could picture Bob sitting at his desk, probably looking forward to doing
some editing on the books that morning.

It turned out sending me that email was the last thing Bob did … and then
he slumped to the floor and died. The email remained on his screen
afterwards.

Bob is a great guy. He wrote the Skipper Bob books to asist the long
distance cruisers, and with the help of his wife Elaine Reib, he did a
mighty fine job.

I first saw a copy of the New York Canals book, on my first visit up here
in 2003. I was amazed how it contained absolutely everything I needed to
know for my cruise, and I got my own copy the first chance I had. Kathy
and I spend many days planning our future trips with the Skipper Bob book
open as the ultimate reference. It wasn’t very wordy, but it was concise
and to the point, the perfect cruiser’s helm reference. I loved the book,
so I contacted Bob and started helping with it.

Since about 2004, I had been sending Bob all kinds of updates and
corrections, so that the book might be correct and complete and benefit
future boaters, as it had done for me. The books are now continued by Ted
Stehle, who continues Bob’s excellent work, and I continue to send Ted
updates for it. Bob is often in my mind as I gather info for the next
updates.

When Bob died, he left a big gap, but I always talk about Bob in the
present tense as he will always be around. He will live on in the memory
of those who knew him, those who worked with him, and his family. Skipper
Bob is out there on the canals and waterways somewhere even now. You may
not see him on your cruises, but he’s out there with you.

Skipper Bob, December 11th, 2006. May he cruise with us forever.

Fred Wehner

Ted,

 It was a pleasure meeting you at the Miami Boat Show last week.  Again, I wanted to tell you what a great resource Skipper Bob’s  ”Cruising the Gulf Coast” was for our travels.  My wife and I, along with two friends traveled from Destin, Florida to League City, Texas the first week of November.  Our cruise was great and I give a lot of credit to your publication.  My friend was next to me at the helm using “Cruising the Gulf Coast” as our guide.  The information was timely and extremely valuable.  The recommendations on where to stay, what to avoid, and how to travel was great.  After leaving Destin we stayed at Home Port Marina (Lulu’s) in Gulf Shores for the first night.  From there we went to Seabrook Marina in New Orleans and then on to the City Marina in Houma, which was my wife, Sherri’s, favorite.  The next day it was on to Shell Morgan Landing in Intracoastal City for the night and then Lake Charles where we stayed at L”Aburge Du Luc. The next morning it was homeward bound. 

Going through New Orleans, the Locks, and the Mississippi River is pretty intimidating, not to mention all the different people and organizations you need to communicate with just to travel through the area.  At one time I was communicating on three different radios.  Again, Cruising the Gulf Coast made it easy, as I knew who to contact and on what channel to contact them.

Thanks for providing a great publication to assist us in making cruising enjoyable.  Otherwise, I’m afraid our cruise might have been titled “Cursing the Gulf Coast.”

 Thanks again,

 Gary and Sherri Romer
League City, Texas

p.55 Bahia Mar Marina boasts excellent Oar House restaurant. For info, see www.the-oar-house.com/ p.56 Market on the Island, recommended in (2) closed down in 2010, alas.

Many thanks to the cruiser who submitted the above report.

Ted Stehle, editor
Skipper Bob Publications

The following is from the CG 8th District (Gulf) NTM 43/11.

The U.S. Coast Guard has received a report that Tiger Pass Temporary Buoy 52A, has been set to mark shoaling in approximate position 29-13-05N 089-21-02W. Mariners are urged to transit the area with extreme caution.

Ted Stehle, editor

The following is from the CG 8th District (Gulf) NTM 43/11.

A 21-foot air boat has reportedly sunk in The Rigolets in the vicinity of Fort Pike. Recent searches for the wreck have failed to locate it. Mariners are urged to use caution in the area and report any findings to their nearest U.S. Coast Guard unit.

Ted Stehle, editor

The U.S. Coast Guard has become aware that the information used to chart range structures may not be of sufficient accuracy and as such may depict a range line inaccurately on an electronic navigation chart (ENC). Mariners are advised to use extreme caution and not rely solely on ranges or any other aid to navigation as an exclusive means of navigation.