FLEET CAPTAIN’S REPORT

As this is an election year the politicians in Washington have realized that they had better do something about the state of our bridges and waterways.  Accordingly considerable work is being done on the bridges and waterways in our area.

Bridges in the area that are included are:

MD 213 bridge over the C&D Canal at Chesapeake City.

US 50/301 bridge over the Severn River at Annapolis.

US 50/301 bridge over the Chesapeake Bay at Annapolis.

Route 2/4 and MD 231 bridges over the Patuxent River at Solomons.

The work is scheduled to continue through the summer and into fall of 2008.  Be aware of barges, work boats and scaffolding in the work areas.

Dredging is scheduled to occur in the:

Approaches to Baltimore Harbor by Great Lakes Dredges 54 and 55.

The Ferry Bar Channel approach to Baltimore Harbor by Weeks Dredges 550 and 551.

Baltimore Harbor by the dredge Curtis Bay.

A cofferdam is being constructed in the Patapsco River, Middle Branch at Masonville.  The coordinates are 39-15-12.97 N, 076-34-56.29 W.  Work on the above projects is scheduled to last until Fall.

Review your day symbols and lights for dredges. Also be aware that cables may be attached to buoys that are placed in the area of the dredges.  The dredge operators may be contacted on channel 13 if there are any concerns about a specific situation.

Good news for our Snow Birds.  As of 22 February the Dismal Swamp Canal is open and has resumed normal lock and bridge operations.

National Ocean Service’s –critcorr- website has been combined with the new –Nautical Chart Updates- at http://chartmaker.ncd.noaa.gov/. Click on –Chart Updates-.

P/C Jim Friedrichs AP