The U.S. Coast Guard’s Local Notice to Mariners
Guess how many times I’ve been on a boat? Three: When I graduated from elementary school (back then it was grade 6), and my best friend Jane’s dad took us on Long Island Sound; when I went to the Statue of Liberty, before it was closed for renovations; and this past July, when I took a media tour of the bridge replacement project.
I have zilch boating experience, and know maybe a few nautical terms; however, the U.S. Coast Guard’s weekly Local Notice to Mariners is easy to read, even for me. Here’s a map of the Districts (New York State is in District 1):
When you click it, you’ll see this page. The most recent month is listed first, and each next week in that month is listed in order:
If you subscribe (you can do that from the Receive Free LNM Updates under Services & Reporting: in the left side menu), you’ll get an email like the one I received this morning (below). Notices open with Adobe Acrobat Reader.
Click the link to open this week’s Notice (written 13 November 2013 in each right-hand corner). Notices are numbered in sequence — for example, this is Week 46/13 (the 46th week of year 2013), and each Notice includes information from previous ones.
You can find also find the most recent Notice, excerpted and in its entirety, listed under Boater Safety Information on the New NY Bridge website.
I search Tappan Zee (no quotes needed) for the latest updates about the bridge project, water encumbrances, channel restrictions, etc. A search for Regulated Navigation Area includes all such restrictions in District 1.
The Regulated Navigation Area (RNA) — established September 15 by the U.S. Coast Guard for the navigable Hudson River waters surrounding the Tappan Zee Bridge — will be enforced until December 31, 2018. Comments and related material pertaining to the RNA will be accepted and reviewed by the Coast Guard through December 31, 2018.
Activity in the river means BE EXTRA CAREFUL.
The following was highlighted:
“When transiting the area mariners should stay clear of these locations by a minimum of 1000 feet. Mariners are advised to transit the main channel, reduce wake and use extreme caution while transiting the area in the vicinity of the Tappan Zee Bridge, paying particular attention to vessel movement and future notices.”
I’d like to know what you think.
Copyright © Janie Rosman and Kaleidoscope Eyes 2013
Kaleidoscope Eyes 
As a licensed mariner, I used NTM extensively before any domestic trip I take, whether doing a yacht delivery or sailing my own boat just for recreation. Construction sites like the new TPZ Bridge are huge projects with water boundaries that extend way beyond the the hulls of the work barges. There are very long cables extending out laterally to anchor those barges. (The anchors are marked by large yellow mooring ball buoys often with lights.)
I think the USCG regulations are adequate IF one takes the time to learn them and obey them. I also think, as you have indicated, that the NTM publication is readily available and easy to read. Despite publicized c claims to the contrary, I am certain the construction zone is well and adequately marked and information on its boundaries are readily and easily available.
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I appreciate your comments and insight, Capt. Chichester. Project officials have been advising all boaters for months that the area will become more populated with construction equipment. The first of several EarthCam® construction cameras was installed last month, as was navigational lighting in the channel (http://wp.me/p3ncNt-I9). Additional cameras were recently added; the channel can be seen from several angles at the New NY Bridge website (http://www.newnybridge.com/) under Construction Cameras.
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[…] Details — including the Coast Guard’s weekly Local Notice to Mariners, excerpted and in its entirety — are listed under Boater Safety Information on the New NY Bridge website. A LNM primer is here. […]
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[…] Safe boating, everyone. Though it’s nearly Halloween, folks are on the water; heed restrictions. Check out the Coast Guard’s weekly Local Notice to Mariners, excerpted and in its entirety, listed under Boater Safety Information on the project’s website. A LNM primer is here. […]
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[…] Check out the Coast Guard’s weekly Local Notice to Mariners, excerpted and in its entirety, listed under Boater Safety Information on the project’s website. A LNM primer is here. […]
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[…] its entirety, listed under Boater Safety Information on the New NY Bridge website. A LNM primer is here. Details about ongoing work are […]
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