West Channel News

The Coast Guard Sector Sault Sainte Marie is seeking input for a Waterways Analysis and Management System (WAMS) study of the Les Cheneaux Islands.The WAMS study will review the short range Aids to Navigation system that covers the waters surrounding the Les Cheneaux Islands, including: Cedarville East Channel, Les Cheneaux Islands Middle Entrance, Les Cheneaux Islands West Entrance, Mackinac Bay Passage, Muscallonge Bay, and Cedarville West Channel.The purpose of the WAMS is to ensure that surrounding waters of the Les Cheneaux Islands are the safest…

U.S. Coast Guard crewmembers are scheduled to enforce security zones on the East River near the United Nations Headquarters beginning Friday. The security zones scheduled to begin Sept. 16, and continue until Sept. 25, 2016, include all waters of the East River between East 35th Street and the Queensboro/59th Street Bridge. Zone (1): This zone is always in effect. No Vessels within 175 yards of Manhattan between East 35th Street and the Queensboro/59th Street Bridge in the West Channel of the East River.

The Coast Guard will enforce security zones on the East River during the United Nations General Assembly, periodically restricting vessel traffic in the upper harbor near the United Nations Headquarters, New York, starting at 7 a.m. Monday. The Coast Guard will be enforcing security zones, from Sept. 21-29, on the East River between East 35th Street and the Queensboro/59th Street Bridge. Zone 1: This zone is always in effect. No Vessels within 175 yards of Manhattan between East 35th Street and the Queensboro/59th Street Bridge in the West Channel of the East River.

The U.S. Coast Guard expanded the advisory notice issued Saturday to include all waters within 100 yards of the southern Manhattan Pierhead Line between the North Cove Yacht Harbor and the Brooklyn Bridge. Recreational vessels are not authorized to operate within this area, except for those requiring access to the North Cove Yacht Harbor. Ferries and charter boats that normally operate in this area and recreational vessels requiring access to the yacht harbor must contact the USCG. The East River Deepwater Range remains open to transiting commercial traffic. In addition, the security level for the security zone in the west channel of the East River at the United Nations Headquarters has been raised to MARSEC 2.

U.S. public ports applauded passage on of H.R. 1480 by the U.S. House of Representatives to enact Water Resources Development Act (WRDA) legislation. WRDA legislation, among other things, authorizes deepening and modification of federal navigation projects at the nation's ports. Improving navigation infrastructure generates significant economic returns at the local, regional and national levels. The Senate also passed its version of WRDA, S. 507. Major port projects in WRDA'99 include those along the Columbia River in Oregon and Washington; at the ports of Baltimore; Oakland; Savannah and Brunswick, GA; Jacksonville and Tampa. The Port Authority of New York and New Jersey also has a project modification in the bill. Project details are listed below.

The USCG Captain of the Port for New York issued a Notice stating that, effective through February 1, 2005, Maritime Security (MARSEC) Level 2 has been designated for selected maritime locations adjacent to the New York City Financial District and the United Nations Headquarters. The regulated navigation area in which MARSEC 2 applies includes all waters of the East and Hudson Rivers extending 100 yards out from the Pierhead Line from and including the northernmost side of the North Cove Yacht Harbor extending around the southern tip of Manhattan Island to and including the Brooklyn Bridge. Commercial vessels transiting the west channel…