Daily Update

Philadelphia / Delaware River & Bay

May 23, 2024

Notices

Port MARSEC Level 1
 
Local Time – GMT -4
 
 
Good day,
 
 
Please see below updates on Key Bridge Incident as of 0830 hrs May 23rd, 2024:
 
Fort McHenry Limited Access Channel
  • Following the successful refloat and removal of the M/V DALI, the Captain of the Port (COTP) opened the Fort McHenry Limited Access Channel to commercial vessel traffic for 24-hour availability. This channel now has a depth of 50 feet, 400-foot horizontal clearance, and vertical clearance of 214 feet due to the adjacent BG&E powerlines.
  • Deep draft vessels still require a Maryland State Pilot and two escort tugs. The Maryland Pilots will impose a 3 ft under keel clearance (UKC) requirement. For container ships greater than a 1,000 ft in length and over 125 ft in beam, transits will be limited to winds being less than 15 knots; all other vessel transits will be limited to winds being less than 20 knots
  • Deep draft traffic has priority use of this channel. Tug and barge traffic should make maximum use of the three Temporary Alternate Channels.
  • For McHenry L.A.C. Operational Restraints/Limiting Factors:
    • All traffic must be one-way, restricted to less than 10 knots, and require two escort tugs.
    • Limited availability of harbor assist tugs during heavy traffic times due, in part, to current escort requirements.
    • Outbound/inbound vessels must clear the Fort McHenry Limited Access Channel before any inbound vessel comes above the Chesapeake Bay Bridge.
    • Westbound vessels cannot enter the Brewerton Eastern Extension Channel until the outbound/inbound vessel clears the Fort McHenry Limited Access Channel.
 
Francis Scott Key Bridge Safety Zone
  • The safety zone identified in 33 CFR §165.89 established for all navigable waters of the Chesapeake Bay within a 2,000-yard radius of the Francis Scott Key Bridge remains in effect and is intended to protect personnel, vessels, and the marine environment. Except for vessels transiting in one of the four marked channels, no vessel or person will be permitted to enter the safety zone without first obtaining permission from the Captain of the Port (COTP)
  • The Maryland Pilots will resume their regular coordination of deep draft traffic
  • Within the safety zone, recreational vessels must transit at a no wake speed; commercial vessels must transit under 10 knots. All vessels transiting the safety zone must remain within the marked channels and well clear of vessels engaged in salvage and safety operations
  • All commercial vessels not associated with salvage operations shall make a Sécurité broadcast on VHF channel 16 at 30-minutes prior to passing the remaining structure of the Key Bridge
 
Temporary Alternate Channels
  • Fort Carroll Temporary Alternate Channel is open 24-hours daily to non-deep draft commercial vessels with a controlling depth of 20 ft, a 300-ft horizontal clearance, and vertical clearance of 135 ft.
  • Hawkins Point Temporary Alternate Channel is open 24-hours daily to non-deep draft commercial vessels with a controlling depth of 14 ft, a 280-ft horizontal clearance, and vertical clearance of 124 ft.
  • Sollers Point Temporary Alternate Channel is open 24-hours daily to all traffic, to include recreational vessels, with a controlling depth of 11 ft, a 264-ft horizontal clearance, and vertical clearance of 95 ft.
 
Current Captain of the Port Order Constraints/Limitations
  1. Pilot and tug scheduling will generally be coordinated on a first-come-first serve basis
  2. Outbound and shifting vessels must sail within 15 minutes of their ordered sailing time or the assigned tugs will depart for the next scheduled movement. The movement may be rescheduled when traffic permits and necessary tug assets are available
  3. The below matrix establishes the times between all vessel movements within the Port of Baltimore for each direction combination to most efficiently use available tug assets.
  • Outbound - Outbound: 2 hours (1 hour if separate tugs)
  • Inbound - Outbound: 2 hours (1 hour if separate tugs)
  • Inbound - Inbound: 2 hours
  • Outbound - Inbound: 2 hours
 
We will pass on information concerning resumption of vessel movements as soon as it’s provided to us by the U.S. Coast Guard, Maryland Pilots and port authorities. 
In the meantime, please find the below current Sector Maryland NCR port condition update:
 
Sector Maryland NCR: Port Condition: Partially Closed
 
Effective immediately a safety zone is established for all navigable waters of the Chesapeake Bay within a 2000-yard radius of the Francis Scott Key Bridge. The 948-foot Singapore-flagged vessel DALI struck the Francis Scott Key Bridge on March 26, 2024.
 
Please also reference the below website with up-to-date information regarding the response efforts of the Key Bridge Incident:
 
Our team is closely monitoring this situation and are actively communicating with local authorities and port officials to ensure we are as updated as possible.
 
We will continue to provide updates as new information becomes available.
Please do not hesitate to reach out to us if you have any questions concerning the situation and we will assist as best as possible.
 
 
2024 Ozone Action Days begin May 1, 2024
 
Just a reminder that during the following summer months DNREC measures the air quality forecast for pollution and may deem certain days Code Orange or Code Red. 
 
“Ozone Action Day” as defined by the Delaware Reg 1124: a day that is predicted, based on forecasted weather conditions, to reach unhealthy ozone concentrations.  Frequently called a Code Red Day, an Ozone Action Day is declared prior to 1430 hours (local time) for the following day.
 
Below are the Operations Standards regarding Ozone Action Days from the DNREC Title V Permit:
 
Condition 3 – Table 1(a)(1)(iii)(L)
Uncontrolled lightering operations shall not be carried out from 0230 hours until 1630 hours (local time) on any day that the Department declares an Ozone Action Day.  However, if uncontrolled lightering operations have begun prior to the declaration of the Ozone Action Day, those lightering operations may continue until 0230 hours (local time) or until the service vessel is fully loaded, whichever is later.
 
Condition 3 – Table 1(a)(1)(iii)(M)
If the Department declares consecutive Ozone Action Days, the owner or operator of a lightering service shall, to the greatest extent practicable, minimize uncontrolled lightering operations on the second and subsequent consecutively declared Ozone Actions Days as follows:
1) Carrying out controlled lightering operations, if vapor balancing compatible service vessels and   
     ships to be lightered are available.
2) Rescheduling the uncontrolled lightering operations to the periods of 1630 hours to 0230 hours
     (local time) of the second and subsequent consecutively declared Ozone Action Days.
 
With all of that being said, all of our Charterers have made great efforts to charter in vapor balance capable vessels and I don’t foresee any issues with lightering in the event there is a Code Red Day this summer.
 
Below received from DNREC:
 
With Spring just beginning, the Delaware Department of Natural Resources and Environmental Control (DNREC) is preparing for its annual air quality forecasting season, which runs from May 1 - September 30.
 
Starting on May 1, you'll receive an email from this address if an air quality "action day” is anticipated the next day.  An action day is declared when the levels of ozone and/or particulate matter are predicted to be high and could therefore be unhealthy to sensitive groups and/or the general public.

Draft information
37’ - 40’ outbound from Packer Avenue including Beckett Street
- Use reference station Philadelphia.
- Vessels may sail 3 hours before low water and up until 1.5 hours after low water at Philadelphia.
37’ - 40’ outbound from Paulsboro
- Please use reference station Marcus Hook.
- Vessels may sail from Paulsboro 1 hour before low water up until 3 hours after low water at Marcus Hook.
37’ - 40’ outbound from Marcus Hook (anchorage or berth)
- Please use reference station Marcus Hook.

Weather / Marine Zone Forecast

For more information about the air quality alerts and what you can do to reduce air pollution, check out the following website: https://dnrec.alpha.delaware.gov/air/quality/forecast/ 
 
 
 
Philadelphia weather
 
Marine Weather
 
ANZ400-240200-
924 AM EDT Thu May 23 2024

 
 .SYNOPSIS FOR THE COASTAL WATERS FROM SANDY HOOK NJ TO FENWICK
ISLAND DE AND FOR DELAWARE BAY...
A cold front will approach the area today before crossing
through the area this evening. The front will stall to our
south on Friday before lifting back north on Saturday as a warm
front. Another cold front moves through on Sunday, with a
stronger system impacting the area on Monday into Tuesday. High
pressure returns on Wednesday.

 $$
 
 
 

 ANZ454-240200-
Coastal waters from Cape May NJ to Cape Henlopen DE out 20 nm-
924 AM EDT Thu May 23 2024

 
REST OF TODAY
S winds 5 to 10 kt. Seas 2 to 3 ft. Wave Detail:
S 2 ft at 5 seconds and E 2 ft at 8 seconds. A slight chance of
showers and tstms late this morning, then a chance of showers and
tstms this afternoon.
 
TONIGHT
SW winds 5 to 10 kt. Seas 2 to 3 ft. Wave Detail: S
2 ft at 5 seconds and E 2 ft at 8 seconds. A chance of tstms in
the evening. A chance of showers.
 
FRI
SW winds 5 to 10 kt. Seas around 2 ft. Wave Detail: S 2 ft
at 5 seconds and E 1 foot at 8 seconds. A chance of showers.
 
FRI NIGHT
S winds 5 to 10 kt. Seas around 2 ft. Wave Detail: S
2 ft at 5 seconds and SE 1 foot at 8 seconds.
 
SAT
SE winds 5 to 10 kt. Seas around 2 ft. Wave Detail: S
1 foot at 4 seconds and SE 1 foot at 9 seconds.
 
SAT NIGHT
S winds 5 to 10 kt. Seas around 2 ft. Wave Detail:
SE 1 foot at 4 seconds and SE 1 foot at 9 seconds. A chance of
showers.
 
SUN
SE winds 5 to 10 kt. Seas around 2 ft.
 
SUN NIGHT
S winds around 10 kt. Seas 2 to 3 ft. A chance of
showers after midnight.
 
MON
S winds 10 to 15 kt. Seas 2 to 4 ft. A chance of showers.
A chance of tstms in the afternoon.
 
MON NIGHT
S winds around 15 kt. Seas 3 to 4 ft. Showers likely
with a chance of tstms.

 Winds and seas higher in and near tstms.

 
If you would like updates for all USA ports, the easiest method for reviewing our daily port updates is by visiting: http://ports.moranshipping.com/default.aspx

Disclaimer: For quality assurance purposes please note well that while the information contained in this website is regularly vetted for accuracy it is not intended to replace the local knowledge or expertise pertaining to port conditions of our marine operations personnel.

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