September 20, 2023
Week 38
❔Did you know all bearings in the Notice to Mariners are in degrees true? All times are local times unless otherwise noted.
Aids to Navigation Updates
Brayton Point Channel Lighted Buoy 3 reported sinking August 8, 2023
Braga Bridge Sound Signal Inoperable. First reported January 15,2023
Barrington River Buoy relocated to 41-4437.620N and 071-18-28.220W
Barrington River Lighted Buoy 7A relocated to 41-44-27.73N and 071-17-58.310W
Bristol Harbor West Channel Buoy 3 Off station July 5,2023
Mt Hope Bay Bridge Radar inoperable. First reported May 15,2023
Point Judith Harbor of Refuge West Entrance Light 2 Extinguished September 4,2023
Wicopesset Passage Rock Buoy1 Hazard to Navigation, sinking as of September 4,2023
Pawcatuck River Channel 16 Hazard to Navigation Sinking September 4,2023
Pawcatuck River Channel Daybeacon discontinued for Dredging in 2015
Block Island Wind Farm WTG-3 Horn Inoperable as of September 4,2023
Block Island Old Harbor Channel Breakwater Light 3 light extinguished September 20,2023
Chart Terminations and Corrections
NOAA has started ending production and maintenance of paper nautical charts.
- Chart 13205 “Block Island Sound and Approaches” cancelled August 30,2023
- Chart 13209 “Block Island Sound and Gardiners Bay” cancelled on July 5,2023
- Chart 13218 “Martha’s Vineyard to Block Island” cancelled August 30,2023
- Chart 13221 “Narragansett Bay RI-MA, cancelled and no longer available in print
- Chart 13223 “Narragansett Bay, including Newport Harbor RI” cancelled August 30,2023
- Chart 13224 “Providence River and Head of Narragansett Bay RI”. Will cancel March 6,2024
- Chart 13225 “Providence Harbor” Will be cancelled March 6, 2024
- Chart 13226 “Mt. Hope Bay RI-MA” Will be cancelled March 6, 2024
- Chart 13227 Fall River Harbor MA” Will be cancelled March 6,2024
SECTION V – ADVANCED NOTICES
RI- NARRAGANSETT BAY (CHART 13221) – MOUNT HOPE BAY- KICKAMUIT RIVER
The U.S. Coast Guard is considering making the following changes to Aids to Navigation to this waterway: Change the seasonal statue of the following aids in the Kickamuit River from Permanently maintained to Remove for the winter season from November 15 to May 1st. Steel hulls will be permanently changed to foam hulls to compensate for shoaling in the river.
- Kickamuit River Buoy 1
- Kickamuit River Buoy 2
- Kickamuit River Buoy 4
- Kickamuit River Buoy 6
- Kickamuit River Buoy 7
RI-SEACOAST-NARRAGANSETT BAY (Chart 13221) EASTERN APPROACH
- The Narragansett Bay Entrance Lighted Whistle Buoy “NB” converting to an AIS signal
RHODE ISLAND GENERAL NOTICE
Shoaling Notices in Rhode Island Waters
Chart 13221 “Greenwich Bay-Warwick Cove”- Shoaling has been observed within the federal navigation channel to at least depth of 3 ft mean low water. Shoaling is encroaching from the west and has impacted the western part of the channel, reducing the authorized width from 150 feet to approximately 90’ between Warwick Cove Buoy 3 and Warewick Cove Buoy 7.
Chart 13205 “Point Judith Pond”- Shoaling has bee observed within the channel to a least depth of 5.5 ft mean low water in approximate position 41.22’48N and 071.33’55W between Point Judith Pond Channel Buoy 2 and Point Judith Channel Buoy 4. Shoal is encroaching from the East side of the channel protruding west.
Chart 13221 “Mount Hope Bay-Kickamuit River” – Shoaling has been reported in the Kickamuit River in the vicinity of Kickamuit River Buoy 2. Mariners are advised to proceed with caution.
Summary of Onging Dredging and Marine Construction Projects
RI- NEWPORT- GOULD ISLAND
Cavanagh Marine Inc. – will be conducting surface pile jacket repairs and anode installation and underdeck repairs, at Building 35, Gould Island, Newport, Rhode Island, un position, 41.32.373N, 071.20.715W from July 12,2023 to October 30,2023. Operations will run Monday through Friday, between, 6 AM, to 6 PM. Equipment on scene will be a Floating barge work platform, Push Boat and Support Vessel, monitoring VHF CH 16 for any concerned traffic. Barge/work platform on site not impeding navigation. Requesting vessel in the vicinity keep their wake down so we can have safe diving operations underneath the pier.
RI- Newport – Gould Island Vicinity
Naval Undersea Warfare Center will be conducting continued testing using surface and subsurface devices north and east of Gould Island in the vicinity of the torpedo test range restricted area marked on NOAA chart 13223 and the Newport Bridge Monday-Friday from January 2023 through December 2023. Mariners are requested to cooperate with participating vessels for the safety of all. Any concerned traffic can contact Navy support craft on VHF channels 13 and 16.
PROVIDENCE RIVER- HEAD OF NARRAGANSETT BAY – Bridge Demolition– Demolition of the Bike Path Bridge over the Barrington River will start on August 14,2023 and continue until October 1,2023. Work hours are from 6 AM to 3 PM, Monday through Friday. No explosives will be used. Mariners should proceed through the channel with navigation lighting. Work boats will monitor VHF Channels 13/16. Questions may be addressed to Andres Aveledo, Project Manager for the Aetna Bridge Company at 401 378-6368. Mariners are advised to proceed at slow speed and exercise caution.
PROVIDENCE RIVER- HEAD OF NARRAGANSETT BAY – Bridge Demolition– Demolition of the Bike Path Bridge over the Palmer River will start on September 1,2023 and continue until October 15,2023. Work hours are from 6 AM to 3 PM, Monday through Friday. No explosives will be used. Mariners should proceed through the channel with navigation lighting. Work boats will monitor VHF Channels 13/16. Questions may be addressed to Andres Aveledo, Project Manager for the Aetna Bridge Company at 401 378-6368. Mariners are advised to proceed at slow speed and exercise caution.
REPORTED UNEXPLODED ORDANCES (UXO)
The Coast Guard advertises this information through local, Sector Broadcast Notice to Mariners (BNMs) and through the weekly, First Coast Guard District LNM. BNMs are additionally available directly to mariners by email sign-up at the CG Navigation Center Web Site (Subscribe to Our RSS Feeds | Navigation Center (uscg.gov). Once identified NOAA will then chart the UXO location so they are available on electronic navigation chart updates. Information on proper reporting and safety procedures for UXOs can be found at the following link: Home – DENIX (osd.mil)
RI- NARRANGANSETT BAY – WEST PASSAGE – UNEXPLODED ORDNANCE- UPDATE 9/2/2022
Sixteen (16) unexploded ordnances have been located via survey in Narragansett Bay – West Passage in positions:
(1.) 41-27-7.68N 071-24-35.64W; (2.) 41-27-25.74N 071-24-38.94W; (3.) 41-27-33.60N 071-24-38.34W (4.) 41-24-49.80N 071-22-58.14W (5.) 41-26-40.32N 071-24-42.54W (6.) 41-26-34.44N 071-24-8.22W; (7.) 41-26-00.18N 071-24-30.48W; (8.) 41-28-00.96N 071-24-28.68W; (9.) 41-24-43.74N 071-214.44W; (10.) 41-24-56.52N 071-21-59.64W; (11.) 41-24-52.62N 071-23-43.62W; (12.) 41-27-38.880N 071-24-6.978W; (13.) 41-26-4.324N 071-24-30.591W; (14.) 41-27-36.236N 071-24-37.026N; (15.)41-26-44.709N 071-24-38.974W; (16.) 41-24-45.927N 071-21-39.508W. Mariners are urged to avoid the ordnances and transit the area with caution.
OFFSHORE WIND ENERGY/ONGOING WORK
RHODE ISLAND WIND FARM
ORSTED, will be conducting offshore wind operations at the Block Island Wind Farm (BIWF), in position 41-06.882N, 071-31.269W and 41-06.380N, 071-32.257W, from September 5,2023 to October 15,2023, between 7:00 am and 4:00 pm. Equipment on scene will be BIWF Roped access maintenance blades and platform work is occurring on BIWF B3 and B5: the public should not transit or linger under this work. Wokring vessels will be monitoring VHF-FM CH 13 and 16, for any concerned traffic.
REVOLUTION Wind will commence its construction, pending permit issuanxe, at its cable landfall near Quonset, RI in early October 2023. Construction activity will run for several months and will include dredging work and the tow and install of tow conduit pipes in a process known as horizontal directional drilling. The center point of work will be: 41-34055.2N and 071-2048.7W approximately1000 feet SSE of Quonset Point, .6NM east of the Wickford North Jetty. Work is anticipated to start October 6,2023. Vessels on scene will be broadcasting on AIS and may be reached on VHF-FM CH 13 and 16. As divers and other sensitive underwater work is being performed, mariners are required to provide a wide berth and no wake in the vicinity.
Recurring Events
2023 Ida Lewis Yacht Club Shields Wednesday Night Series – Race/Regatta held from May 17, 2023 – September 20,2023 from 5:30 to 7:30 PM. Event to be held in the vicinity of Gould Island to Rose Island. Expect up to 30 vessels 30 ft in length. Mariners may contact person in charge by cellphone at 401 486-5318.
Shields Class Aloha Series- Race/Regatta– scheduled to be held June 4, July 16, August 20 and September 23,2023 from Gould Island to Goat Island from 1:30 to 6 PM. Mariners may contact person in charge by cellphone at 401 486-5318.
M32 Catamaran MIDTOWN SERIES- Race/Regatta scheduled to be held between Halfway Rock and the Pell Newport Bridge weekly starting June 2 to October 1, 2023 from 12 noon to 4:30 PM. Expect up to 12 vessels, 32 feet in length capable of sailing at over 20 knots. Mariners are advised to use extreme caution. Mariners may contact person in charge by cellphone at 413 364-0067.
Jamestown Yacht Club Weekly Race Series, Race/Regatta every Tuesday from May 9 to August 29,2023. Expect up to 55 vessels, 20-66’ in length racing between Prudence Island and Beavertail Light. Mariners may contact person in charge by cellphone at 401 782-7271.
ONE TIME EVENTS
Narragansett Bay- New England Laser Masters Regatta-RACE/REGATTA
Mariners are advised that the New England Laser Masters Regatta is scheduled to occur in the East Passage of Narragansett Bay. The event will take place on September 22 through September 24,2023 from 10:00 am to 4:30 pm. Expect up to 100 sailing vessels, 14 ft in length. Mariners are advised to transit the area with extreme caution. Mariners may contact the person in charge at 401 845 9633.
