SAFETY / MD - APPROACHES TO BALTIMORE HARBOR - PATAPSCO RIVER (CHART 12273) / GENERAL / SEC MD-NCR BNM 0056-24 /
1. EFFECTIVE IMMEDIATELY THE CAPTAIN OF THE PORT (COTP) HAS ESTABLISHED A SECOND TEMPORARY ALTERNATE CHANNEL NEAR HAWKINS POINT FOR COMMERCIALLY ESSENTIAL VESSELS ON THE SOUTHWEST SIDE OF THE MAIN SHIP CHANNEL IN THE VICINITY OF THE FRANCIS SCOTT KEY BRIDGE. THIS ACTION IS PART OF A PHASED APPROACH TO OPENING THE MAIN FEDERAL CHANNEL. THIS NEW AND TEMPORARY CHANNEL IS MARKED WITH GOVERNMENT LIGHTED AIDS TO NAVIGATION AND WILL BE LIMITED TO TRANSIT AT THE DISCRETION OF THE COTP AND DURING DAYLIGHT HOURS ONLY. THIS TEMPORARY CHANNEL HAS A CONTROLLING DEPTH OF 14 FEET, A 280-FOOT HORIZONTAL CLEARANCE, AND VERTICAL CLEARANCE OF 124 FEET. 2. THE CURRENT 2,000-YARD SAFETY ZONE AROUND THE FRANCIS SCOTT KEY BRIDGE (SEE MSIB 036-24) REMAINS IN EFFECT AND IS INTENDED TO PROTECT PERSONNEL, VESSELS, AND THE MARINE ENVIRONMENT IN THESE NAVIGABLE WATERS. NO VESSEL OR PERSON WILL BE PERMITTED TO ENTER THE SAFETY ZONE WITHOUT FIRST OBTAINING PERMISSION FROM THE COTP OR A DESIGNATED REPRESENTATIVE. THE COTP IS CURRENTLY ISSUING A BROADCAST NOTICE TO MARINERS (BNM) VIA VHF-FM MARINE CHANNEL 16. MARINERS ARE REQUESTED TO MONITOR THE VHF CHANNEL 16 FOR THE LATEST INFORMATION. 3. YOU MAY NOT ENTER THE SAFETY ZONE DESCRIBED ABOVE UNLESS AUTHORIZED BY THE COTP OR THE COTP'S DESIGNATED REPRESENTATIVE. TO OBTAIN PERMISSION TO ENTER THE SAFETY ZONE AND TRANSIT THROUGH THE TEMPORARY ALTERNATE CHANNEL, YOU MUST, AS EARLY AS POSSIBLE BUT NO LESS THAN 4 HOURS PRIOR TO GETTING UNDERWAY, CONTACT THE MARINE TRANSPORTATION SYSTEM RECOVERY BRANCH AT (505) 203-8141. MOVEMENTS ARE SUBJECT TO RESPONSE AND RECOVERY EFFORTS. 4. AS YOU APPROACH THE SAFETY ZONE AND PRIOR TO ENTRY, CONTACT THE ON-SCENE PATROL COMMANDER ON VHF CHANNEL 81A (157.075 MHZ). THOSE IN THE SAFETY ZONE MUST COMPLY WITH ALL LAWFUL ORDERS OR DIRECTIONS GIVEN TO THEM BY THE COTP OR THE COTP'S DESIGNATED REPRESENTATIVE. THE U.S. COAST GUARD MAY BE ASSISTED IN THE PATROL AND ENFORCEMENT OF THE SAFETY ZONE BY FEDERAL, STATE, AND LOCAL AGENCIES. SIGNED COMMANDER, U.S. COAST GUARD MARYLAND-NATIONAL CAPITAL REGION, SECTOR. 5.CANCEL AT//162000Z APR 24//
