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GENERAL UPDATES

02 September 2010

Hurricane Earl heading for NC Outer Banks

...DANGEROUS HURRICANE EARL HEADING FOR THE OUTER BANKS OF NORTH CAROLINA...HURRICANE WARNINGS ISSUED FOR PORTIONS OF MASSACHUSETTS...

Click here to go to the NOAA National Hurricane Center website. 

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31 August 2010

Dredging and navigational Hazard Summary, New Jersey to North Carolina

A Current summary of dredging and navigational hazards for the Coast Guard Fifth District, New Jersey to North Carolina is available by clicking here.

For details click on the appropriate region in the column to the left.

Dredging and Navigational Hazard Summary, SC, GA & FL.

A Current summary of dredging and navigational hazards for the Coast Guard Seventh District, South Carolina, Georgia and Florida is available by clicking here.
For details click on the appropriate region in the column to the left.

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30 August 2010

Mid-Atlantic AIS Users

NAVIGATING THE JAMES RIVER, YORK RIVER, UPPER CHESAPEAKE BAY, DELAWARE BAY, NEW JERSEY SHORE, AND, NEW YORK HARBOR AND APPROACHES

YOU MAY BE INADVERTENTLY OPERATING ON DIFFERENT AIS CHANNELS

Between July 27 and August, 2010, while conducting development testing of its Nationwide Automatic Identification System (NAIS), the Coast Guard inadvertently tele-commanded most AIS users transiting the Eastern United States between lower Connecticut and North Carolina to switch to AIS frequencies other than the AIS default frequencies (161.975 MHz - Channel 87B - 2087 and 162.025 MHz - Channel 88B - 2088). As a result, those users within uniquely defined channel management regions (as shown in the picture) will neither see nor be seen by vessels operating on the default AIS channels when within these regions. Similarly, vessels operating on default frequencies will not see or be seen by those vessels that were inadvertently switched to other frequencies. No other AIS users or areas are impacted.

One of the lesser known and potent features of AIS is its ability to operate on multiple channels
within the VHF-FM marine band. This frequency agility ensures AIS can be used even when the
default channels are otherwise unavailable orcompromised. In such conditions, competent
authorities, such as the Coast Guard, can use an AIS base station to tele-command shipborne AIS
devices to switch to other more appropriate channels when within defined regions of 200 to
2000 square nautical miles. This can be done automatically (and without user intervention)
through receipt of the AIS channel management message (AIS message 22) or manually entered via the AIS Minimal Keyboard Display (MKD) or similar input device. Once commanded or manually
entered, the channel management information will stay in memory for 5 weeks or until an affected
vessel moves more than 500 nautical miles from the defined region. AIS channel management commands can only be manually overridden or erased by the user via the unit's channel (regional frequencies) management function1 or automatically overridden via another channel management message for the same defined region. Reinitializing or resetting your AIS or transmission channels will not necessarily reprogram your unit back to the default channels.

Commencing September 1st and continuing for the subsequent 5 weeks, the Coast Guard will broadcast new channel management messages that will tele-command all AIS users back to default channels. This broadcast will occur each hour between hh.05:30 and hh.05:59, but may change as
needed. To ensure that these messages are received, they will be broadcast on Channel 70--Digital
Selective Calling (DSC), which is also monitored by all type-certified shipboard AIS. While this will
ensure all AIS users will get the message regardless of what AIS channel the unit is operating on, it
could however cause a minor inconvenience to owners of older DSC radios who may receive an alert (tone) upon receipt of this message. It will have no other effect on DSC radios.

AIS users are encouraged to inform others whom they believe may be affected and are therefore not being seen by others. All AIS users are reminded to maintain their AIS in effective operating condition and to validate their AIS data prior to each voyage and as needed.

This safety alert is provided for informational purposes only and does not relieve any domestic or international safety, operational or material requirement. The Coast Guard has developed policy and
procedures to ensure such inadvertent broadcast do not happen again and we apologize for any inconvenience this may have caused. For further information on AIS Channel Management or reprogramming your AIS read FAQ#19 at www.navcen.uscg.gov/?pageName=AISFAQ#19 or contact cgnav@uscg.mil. Developed by the Office of Waterways Management, U.S. Coast Guard Headquarters,
Washington, DC.

1 The following settings, if found in your AIS Channel Management / Regional Frequency pane,
should be overridden (as denoted) prior to navigating therein; if you do not find these settings / regions in this pane you are not affected and need do nothing.

Setting / Region X (MD, DE, PA, J, NY Area)
NE Corner: 41º 07.60 N, 073º 49.10' W (41.1266667 -73.8183333)
SW Corner: 38º 21.90' N, 078º 10.40 W (38.3650000 -78.1733333)
Channel 1/ A / AIS1: 1022 / Ch.22B [should be change to 2087 / 87B]
Channel 2 / B / AIS2: 2022 / Ch.22 [should be change to 2088 / 88B]

Setting / Region Y (VA Area)
NE Corner: 37º 42.00' N, 76º 43.80' W (37.7000000 -76.7300000)
SW Corner: 36º 32.00' N, 79º 8.00' W (36.5333333 -79.1333333)
Channel 1 / A / AIS1: 1027 / Ch.27B [should be change to 2087 / 87B]
Channel 2 / B / AIS2: 2006 / Ch.6 [should be change to 2088 / 88B]

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20 August 2010

AIS - are you using the proper channel?

The following is a special notice from the USCG.

AUTOMATIC IDENTIFICATION SYSTEM CHANNEL OPERATION

All mariners are advised to confirm proper channel frequency selection for vessels equipped with an Automatic Identification System (AIS). Any vessel equipped with an AIS transponder should be verified that the transponder is operating on the correct frequencies. The standard default AIS frequency is 161.975 MHZ (AIS1 or channel 87B). The alternate AIS frequency is 162.025 MHZ (AIS2 or channel 88B). These frequencies can be verified through consulting the manufacturer's operation/owner's manual for your specific AIS system.

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04 August 2010

Fuel Pricing Reports Updated

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30 June 2010

U. S. Coast Guard Nav Center to upgrade

If you are a user of the U. S. Coast Guard Navigation Center you probably received the following notification. If you are not a user, be advised that this is a very comprehensive site containing much needed navigation information, including the Local Notice to Mariners.

On or about July 7th, the Navigation Center website will be migrated to a new architecture. As a result, most saved bookmarks and links will likely be broken and unusable. We apologize for any inconvenience and ask that you bear with us while we migrate to improve our site.

If you have any questions, please contact the Navigation Center at the following URL, and select "Other" on the pull down menu next to "Subject".

http://www.navcen.uscg.gov/misc/NIS_contact_us.htm

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08 April 2010

GPS satellite decommissioned - users requested to report problems

SVN25 has been placed into its final orbit for permanent disposal following its decommissioning. The satellite will no longer contribute to GPS operations. Users that experience problems, anomalies or outages with GPS are requested to provide online feedback via the USCG Navcen's "GPS outage worksheet" at: http://www.navcen.uscg.gov/gps/gpsuserinput.htm. Mariners are encouraged to report all GPS, DGPS, Loran or AIS problems, anomalies or outages to the USCG Navigation Center at: 703.313.5900, email: nisws@navcen.uscg.gov.

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04 October 2009

Signet S.A. purchases Nobeltec

PORTLAND, OR, October 1, 2009-Signet S.A. today announced that a wholly-owned subsidiary has entered into an agreement with Jeppesen Marine, Inc. for the purchase of its Nobeltec division, a provider of marine navigation software products. Nobeltec will become part of Signet's portfolio, of which Furuno Electric Company is a significant shareholder, that includes the ownership of MaxSea & MapMedia among other marine navigation companies.

"We envision a bright future and partnership for MaxSea and Nobeltec and are excited about the innovations and technologies that will be forthcoming," said Brice Pryszo, founder and president of Signet. "Both Nobeltec and MaxSea have long, rich histories of technological innovations; we are truly thrilled to see what our partnership will bring to the marine navigation market."

Signet will continue to support existing Nobeltec products and anticipates introducing new product innovations in the near future. The Nobeltec products will continue to be compatible with Jeppesen Marine's Passporttm and MAX Protm brand of electronic chart data products.

"The sale of our Nobeltec software line reinforces our commitment to providing our original equipment manufacturer partners with the very best electronic charts and electronic charting technology, while they focus on navigation applications" says Greg Bowlin, Jeppesen senior vice president and chief strategy officer. "We are pleased that Nobeltec and its history of innovation will continue. We also expect this sale to strengthen the relationship between Jeppesen Marine and Signet."

Nobeltec will continue to be based in Portland, Oregon, globally distributing its product from that location.
Term of this sale are not being disclosed at this time. Completion of the transaction is subject to customary closing conditions and is expected to occur in the fourth quarter.

For more information on Nobeltec, visit www.nobeltec.com.

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16 September 2009

The Atlantic Intracoastal Waterway Association reports on ICW funding

The House and Senate have approved their version of the FY10 Energy & Water Development Bill. There are differences in the House and Senate versions of the bill which will need to be resolved in conference. The House bill akkocates $15.7 billion versus the Senate bill which allocates $12.3 billion. Georgia again receives the fewest dollars.

For additional details on the proposed budget and ongoing maintenace projects in the Jacksonville, Savannah and Charleston Districts, click here.

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17 June 2009

NOAA REVISED REPRINT NAUTICAL CHARTS

The National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration has commenced a new chart production program titled, "Revised Reprint Nautical Charts." This is an improved method to distribute up-to-date critical information on nautical charts. A Revised Reprint Nautical Chart incorporates all U.S. Coast Guard Local Notice to Mariners (LNM) and all National Geospacial-Intelligence Agency (NGA) Notice to Mariners (NM) issued since the current edition date. A Revised Reprint will be published when printed stock of the current edition is low. In the past when a chart was running out of stock more copies of the same chart would be printed. With the Revised Reprint all critical corrections are applied before the chart is printed. They are
similar to the NOAA's Print on Demand (POD) charts, but are lithographically printed according to traditional paper chart standards. Revised Reprints offer the convenience and added measure of safety of an already updated chart at time of purchase. The lower left corner of a Revised Reprint Nautical Chart will contain the Edition Number of the chart with the Edition Date, the words ‘Revised reprint' along with the dates of the NGA Notice to Mariners (abbreviated "NM") and the U.S. Coast Guard's Local Notice to Mariners ("LNM") available when the chart was sent to print."