Western Long Island Sound ■ Chapter 9 ■ 343 to a boat basin. The oyster wharf has reported depths of (361) Peacock Point is just west of Frost Creek. A stone about 10 feet along the face and southeast side. Parallel jetty to protect a private boat landing extends a short to and about 200 feet off the northwest side of the wharf distance from the west side of the point. is a row of sunken barges. An oil receiving wharf is about 125 yards southward of the oyster wharf. (362) Matinecock Point, 1.1 miles westward of Frost (354) Oyster Bay National Wildlife Refuge, a Marine Creek, is marked on its western side by a stone pier in Protected Area (MPA), includes the waters of Oyster ruins. A shoal extends about 600 yards off the point and Bay and Mill Neck Creek. (See Appendix C, for addi- is marked at its end by a lighted gong buoy which is re- tional information.) moved if endangered by ice. Small-craft facility Charts 12366, 12364 (355) A small-craft facility is close eastward of the en- (363) Hempstead Harbor, 4 miles wide at the entrance trance to the boat basin. Gasoline, diesel fuel, berthing between Matinecock Point and Prospect Point, is free with electricity, water, ice, marine supplies, dry and wet from dangers if the shores, between the entrance and storage, and a 10-ton hoist are available; hull, engine, Mosquito Cove, are given a berth of 0.3 mile. It is much and electronic repairs can be made. used by vessels seeking shelter in any but strong north- erly winds and affords excellent anchorage with good (356) Brickyard Point, about 0.5 mile westward of Moses holding ground. Vessels can anchor in any part of the Point, should be given a berth of at least 0.2 mile off its harbor according to draft and direction of wind. A good westerly side to avoid several dangerous rocks to the anchorage for vessels drawing less than 20 feet is just northwestward of the point. None of these rocks is inside a line from Mott Point to the breakwater at Glen marked. Extensive privately owned oyster beds, marked Cove Landing. Small vessels can anchor behind the by stakes, are in this area. breakwater. Vessels should avoid anchoring in the pipe- line area between Glenwood Landing and Bar Beach. (357) Mill Neck Creek, at the northwest end of Oyster Bay On the western shore above and below Bar Beach are Harbor, is crossed by a highway bridge having a bascule large sand and gravel plants. On the eastern shore are span with a clearance of 9 feet. The area westward of the several villages. bridge has depths of 2 to 13 feet. (See 117.1 through 117.59 and 117.800, chapter 2, for drawbridge regula- (364) A 5 mph speed limit is enforced in the harbor. tions.) (365) Waterborne commerce in the harbor is in sand, (358) Oak Neck Creek, northwest of Mill Neck Creek, is gravel, petroleum products, and building material. Ves- entered at high water as the creek is practically bare at sels engaged in this commerce usually draw from 3 to low water. 12 feet. Charts 12367, 12364 Anchorage (366) A special anchorage is in Hempstead Harbor. (See (359) Oak Neck Point (40°54.9'N., 73°34.1'W.), 4 miles west-southwestward of Lloyd Point, is marked by many 110.1 and 110.60 (u-1), chapter 2, for limits and reg- large residences. Several stone jetties extend a short ulations.) distance from the shore just westward of the point. A shoal, strewn with boulders and marked by a buoy, ex- (367) Weeks Point, on the eastern side near the entrance, tends 0.3 mile from the shore for part of the distance is marked by a breakwater which protects a private boat between Oak Neck Point and Matinecock Point to the landing. Nearly 0.5 mile southward of Weeks Point is westward. the entrance to a basin protecting a private wharf which has a reported depth of 8 feet at the end. The ba- (360) Frost Creek, locally known as Guthries Creek, 2 sin shoals to the head, and there are rocks bare at low miles westward of Oak Neck Point, has a channel at the water near the northern end. entrance which is well defined when the water is below half tide. The creek is protected by a stone jetty that ex- (368) Glen Cove is a city with rail and bus communica- tends a short distance from the shore about 50 yards tion on Glen Cove Creek, about 1 mile back from the eastward of the channel. The channel has a reported eastern shore of the bay. The breakwater extends 500 depth of about 1 foot near the entrance. The creek is yards west-southwestward from Glen Cove Landing not recommended without local knowledge. and is marked at its end by a light. The anchorage be- hind the breakwater is known as Glen Cove Harbor, the depths ranging from 18 to 22 feet behind its outer half and 7 to 9 feet near shore.
344 ■ Chapter 9 ■ Coast Pilot 2 (369) Glen Cove Creek, 0.6 mile southward of the break- Ice water, has a dredged channel from Mosquito Cove to (377) In severe winters ice has been known to close navi- the head. In 1994, the controlling depth was 2½ feet in the right half of the channel with shoaling to less than a gation for about 6 weeks during January and February. foot in the left half for about 0.6 mile above the en- trance. The remainder of the project is not being main- (378) The shore between Prospect Point and Mott Point tained. An overhead power cable near the head has a (40°51.4'N., 73°40.6'W.), to the southeastward, is marked clearance of 65 feet. The entrance is buoyed. by prominent bluffs. A shoal with boulders extends 0.2 mile from shore between the points and for a short dis- Small-craft facilities tance south of Mott Point. Buoys mark the limits of the (370) There are several small-craft facilities in Glen Cove shoal eastward and northeastward of Mott Point. Picket Rock, with 2 feet over it, is 350 yards offshore north- Creek. (See the small-craft facilities tabulation on ward of Mott Point. An obstruction covered 16 feet is chart 12364 for services and supplies available.) about 0.7 mile north-northwestward of the point in 40°52'05.5\"N., 73°40'59.1\"W. (371) A dredged channel, entered between Bar Beach and Glenwood Landing, leads alongside Glenwood Landing (379) Prospect Point, marked by prominent houses on to South Glenwood Landing at Motts Cove. In 1991, the the bluff, has a rocky shoal making out nearly 0.4 mile controlling depth in the dredged channel was 7 feet. A northward from it. The shoal rises abruptly from a natural channel continues south through extensive depth of 60 feet. The north end of the shoal is marked flats for about 0.5 mile with a depth of about 5 feet. Lo- by a lighted gong buoy that is 0.8 mile eastward of Exe- cal knowledge is advised. cution Rocks Light. About 0.2 mile eastward of the buoy are rocky patches with depths of 17 to 18 feet. An (372) Sea Cliff is a village on the steep hill on the south obstruction with 23 feet over it is east-northeastward side of Glen Cove Creek. From Sea Cliff southerly to the from the buoy. northerly wharves at Glenwood Landing, a shoal ex- tends 300 yards from the east side of the harbor and is (380) Sands Point, 0.7 mile west of Prospect Point, is marked by a buoy at the north end and a light at the marked by a daybeacon. A boulder reef extends about south end. A dredged entrance channel, marked by two 0.3 mile off the point and is marked by a lighted buoy. private lights, leads from deep water in the harbor The boulders show at low water for a distance of about northeastward to a municipal marina just north of 300 yards from shore. A stone tower is a prominent ob- Glenwood Landing. In November 1999, the reported ject on this point. controlling depths were 8 feet in the entrance channel, thence 7 feet in the marina basin. (381) Barker Point, about 1 mile south-southwest of Sands Point, is a high bluff on the northeast side of the (373) Glenwood Landing is a village on the eastern shore entrance of Manhasset Bay. Gangway Rock, marked by abreast Bar Beach. The stacks of a powerplant are a light and gong buoy, is at the northwesterly end of a prominent. A private light is shown from the outer end broken line of rocks and shoal water which extends 0.6 of an unloading boom when the boom is in operation. mile northwestward from Barker Point. Success Rock, An overhead power cable crossing from the powerplant awash at low water and marked by a buoy, is about 0.2 to Bar Beach has a clearance of 90 feet. Depths of about mile southeastward of the light. 8 to 10 feet are available at the Glenwood Landing wharves. (382) Manhasset Bay, between Barker Point and Hewlett Point, affords excellent shelter for vessels of about 12 (374) A boatyard, reached only at high water, is at South feet or less draft, and is much frequented by yachts in Glenwood Landing. Craft to 30 tons can be hauled out the summer. The depths in the outer part of the bay for minor hull repairs. range from 12 to 17 feet, and 7 to 12 feet in the inner part inside Plum Point. The extreme south end of the Tides bay is shallow with extensive mudflats. Depths of about (375) The mean range of tide is 7.3 feet. 6 to 2 feet can be taken through a natural channel al- most to the head of the bay. A 5 mph speed limit is en- Currents forced. (376) In the channel west of the breakwater the tidal cur- (383) Waterborne commerce is in petroleum products, rents are weak and variable. At Bar Beach the tidal cur- carried in vessels drawing 6 to 10 feet. rents have a velocity of about 0.8 knot through the narrow channel. (See the Tidal Current Tables for pre- Anchorages dictions.) (384) General and special anchorages are in Manhasset Bay. (See 110.1, 110.60 (g) through (j), and 110.155
Western Long Island Sound ■ Chapter 9 ■ 345 (a) (6) and (l), chapter 2, for limits and regulations.) structure on a granite pier, with a white horizontal The bottom is soft and affords good holding ground. band on the southwest face, 1.3 miles southwest of Hewlett Point. The Stepping Stones, a dangerous boul- (385) A seaplane restricted area is off Manorhaven. (See der reef which dries in places, extend 0.8 mile south- 162.15, chapter 2, for limits and regulations.) eastward from the light to the Long Island shore. In August 1976, a submerged rock, covered 18 feet, was Tides reported 100 yards west-northwestward of Stepping (386) The mean range of tide is 7.3 feet. Stones Light. (393) Kings Point Coast Guard Station is located at the (387) Plum Point is a low spit extending southward from northern end of the Kings Point boat basin. the eastern shore about 0.6 mile southward of Barker (394) Kings Point, marked by a private light, is 1.6 miles Point. A seasonal lighted entrance buoy is about 150 south-southwestward of Hewlett Point and is the site of yards southward of Plum Point. The bight eastward of the U.S. Merchant Marine Academy. The 172-foot Plum Point is shoal. unguyed steel flagpole at the academy is said to be the country’s tallest; the top of the pole is 216 feet above (388) Port Washington is a village with rail communica- the water. A boat basin, partially enclosed by an tion on the south side of a shoal bight about 1.2 miles L-shaped pier, is at the point. In 1991, the basin had re- southeastward of Plum Point. An apartment complex ported depths of 12 to 14 feet. on Tom Point, 0.9 mile east of Plum Point, is promi- (395) Little Neck Bay is entered between Kings Point and nent. Depths of about 8 feet can be carried in the Willets Point, 1.2 miles to the south-southwestward. buoyed approach from the lighted buoy off Plum Point Depths are 10 to 12 feet in the entrance, decreasing to the docks at Port Washington, thence through the gradually to the head, about 2 miles inland, where the unmarked channel along the east side of the bight to its bay divides into two branches which almost dry; there north end northeastward of Tom Point. In 1979, shoal- are boulders in places close to the shores. ing to 1½ feet was reported in the approach to the (396) The shores of Little Neck Bay are thickly settled, wharves east of Tom Point in about 40°50'04\"N., and there are many private boat landings. A much used 73°42'17\"W. In June 1981, depths of 5 feet were re- anchorage, in depths of 2½ to 7 feet, is in the cove mid- ported on the north side of the town dock with 2 and 4 way along the east side of the bay. feet on the west and south sides, respectively. Depths at the other wharves are reported to range from 4 to 9 Small-craft facility feet. The town’s Bay Constable monitors VHF-FM (397) A small-craft facility is on the west side of the bay. channels 9 and 16 from the town dock. Water, ice, and limited marine supplies are available. In Small-craft facilities June 1981, the facility had a reported depth of 4 feet (389) There are extensive small-craft facilities at Port alongside. Washington and to the eastward and westward of Tom Anchorages Point at Manorhaven. (See the small-craft facilities tab- (398) General and special anchorages are in Little Neck ulation on chart 12364 for services and supplies avail- able.) Bay. (See 110.1, and 110.60 (k), and 110.155 (a)(7) and (l), chapter 2, for limits and regulations.) (390) Hewlett Point (40°50.3'N., 73°45.2'W.) is on the west side of the entrance to Manhasset Bay. A boulder Charts 12366, 12339, 12335 reef, mostly bare at low water and marked by a lighted buoy at its northern end, extends about 0.2 mile north- (399) East River is a 14-mile-long tidal strait that con- ward from the point. nects Long Island Sound with New York Upper Bay and separates the western end of Long Island from the New Anchorages York mainland. The Sound entrance is between Throgs (391) General and special anchorages are between Neck and Willets Point; the Upper Bay entrance is be- tween The Battery and Governors Island. Hell Gate, Hewlett Point and Elm Point, about 1.3 miles south- about halfway between Throgs Neck and The Battery, is eastward of Stepping Stones Light. (See 110.1, 110.60 noted for its strong tidal currents. Harlem River ex- (j)(1), and 110.155 (a)(6) and (l), chapter 2, for lim- tends northward from Hell Gate to the Hudson River. its and regulations.) Both sides of the East River, from The Battery to Port Morris, a distance of 9 miles, present an almost (392) Stepping Stones Light (40°49'28\"N., 73°46'29\"W.), 46 feet above the water, is shown from a red brick
346 ■ Chapter 9 ■ Coast Pilot 2 continuous line of wharves except where shoals or cur- heights in excess of 125 feet may penetrate the glide rents prevent access. path to the northwest-southeast runway to La Guardia Airport. If mast heights cannot be lowered below 125 Channels feet, La Guardia Air Traffic Control Tower shall be noti- (400) A Federal project provides for main-channel depths fied by telephone (212-779-0242) prior to terminal de- parture or channel entry. of 35 feet from Throgs Neck to the inactive New York Naval Shipyard, about 2 miles from the western en- Anchorages trance, and thence 40 feet to deep water in New York (404) Several general and special anchorages are in East Upper Bay. River. (See 110.1, 110.60, and 110.155, chapter 2, for Caution limits and regulations.) (401) Mariners transiting East River in the vicinity of Tides Rikers Island and/or South Brother Island Channel are (405) The mean range of tide in East River is 7.1 feet at advised of the following: (402) East River Main Channel Lighted Buoy 5 has been Willets Point, 5.1 feet in Hell Gate, and 4.6 feet at The established northeast of Rikers Island in 40°47'47\"N., Battery. (See the Tide Tables for daily predictions for 73°51'59\"W. to assure that no vessel penetration of air The Battery.) space exists over that portion of the East River which coincides with the glide path of the northeast-southwest Currents runway of La Guardia Airport. Vessels with mast (406) In East River the flood current sets eastward and heights in excess of 125 feet shall pass 100 yards to the north of this buoy so as to avoid interference with the the ebb sets westward. Note: this is the direct opposite glide path. of conditions in Long Island Sound where the flood is (403) Vessels transiting South Brother Island Channel generally westward and the ebb eastward. and using the turning basin at its southern terminus (407) The velocity of current is 0.7 knot at Throgs Neck, shall ballast prior to entry, and are cautioned that mast 1.6 knots at Port Morris, 4 knots in Hell Gate, 3 knots at Brooklyn Bridge, and 1.5 knots north of Governors
Western Long Island Sound ■ Chapter 9 ■ 347 Island. In Hell Gate (off Mill Rock) the velocity is 3.4 Depths of about 9 feet can be taken in the buoyed chan- knots for the eastward current and 4.6 knots for the nel to the piers on the Little Bay side of Willets Point. westward current. (408) The direction and velocity of the currents are af- Anchorage fected by strong winds which may increase or diminish (417) A general anchorage is in Little Bay. (See 110.1 the periods of flood or ebb. The currents generally set with the channel, but heavy swirls are found in Hell and 110.155 (b)(2) and (1), chapter 2, for limits and Gate. regulations.) Tides and currents (418) The southern approach viaduct of the Throgs Neck (409) (See the Tidal Current Tables for the daily predic- Bridge crosses the west part of Little Bay. The fixed spans of the viaduct have a minimum clearance of 30 tions of slack water and times and velocities of feet. strengths of currents in Hell Gate and at other places on the East River.) (419) In March 1996, a sunken wreck was west of Throgs (410) Mariners should exercise caution and discretion in Neck in 40°48'32\"N., 73°48'40\"W. the use of published tidal current predictions. Also, previously available Tidal Current Charts for New York (420) Whitestone Point, 2 miles westward of Willets Harbor have been withdrawn. Point, is a small bluff marked by a light. The town of Whitestone is between Little Bay and Whitestone Pilotage, East River Point. Several private boat clubs are at Whitestone. In (411) See Pilotage, New York Harbor from Long Island June 1981, reported depths alongside the boat club docks ranged from ½ to 6 feet. Sound (indexed as such), chapter 11. (421) The Bronx-Whitestone Bridge is a suspension Towage structure that crosses East River from Old Ferry Point (412) Vessels intending to employ a tug should arrange on the Bronx side to a Long Island landing 0.4 mile southwestward of Whitestone Point; the channel clear- to do so before proceeding westward of Rikers Island. ance is 135 feet. Charts 12366, 12364 (422) In March 1989, a submerged obstruction was re- ported in the East River just west of the Bronx- (413) Throgs Neck, on the northwest side of the entrance Whitestone Bridge in about 40°48.1'N., 73°50.1'W. to East River, is marked by a light. Throgs Neck Light (40°48'16\"N., 73°47'26\"W.), 60 feet above the water, is (423) Powell Cove, between the Long Island end of the shown from a skeleton tower with a black and white di- Bronx-Whitestone Bridge and Tallman Island, 0.6 mile amond-shaped daymark on the outer end of the neck. to the westward, has general depths of 2 to 5 feet. Pier The shoal ground which extends 0.1 mile southward ruins are on the east side of the cove entrance. Tallman and eastward from the light is marked by a lighted bell Island, now joined to the Long Island shore, is marked buoy. by the prominent tanks of the NYC DEP Water Pollu- tion Control Plant. (414) Fort Schuyler, on the outer end of Throgs Neck, is used as a base for the State University of New York (424) Old Ferry Point is on the north side of East River 2 Maritime College. The 550-foot-long wharf, on the miles westward of Throgs Neck. The bight between southwest side of the fort, is used to moor the school’s Throgs Neck and Old Ferry Point affords anchorage, training ship. Depths of about 25 feet are reported with good holding ground, in depths of 15 to 35 feet; alongside the face. the water shoals abruptly from 18 feet, 0.3 mile from shore, to depths of 4 to 5 feet. Several private landings (415) Throgs Neck Bridge, a highway suspension bridge are on the north side of this bight. Tug and barge com- with a channel clearance of 138 feet and 152 feet at the panies maintain unlit commercial mooring buoys in center, crosses East River from Throgs Neck to the Anchorage Ground 6 for their own vessels. Long Island Shore. (425) Westchester Creek, on the north side of East River, (416) Willets Point, 0.7 mile southeastward across the is entered through a dredged channel that leads north- entrance to East River from Throgs Neck, is marked by ward through a shallow bight between Old Ferry Point Fort Totten, the granite walls of which are prominent. and Clason Point (chart 12339), 0.7 mile to the west- Little Bay, westward of Willets Point, has general ward, to the head of navigation at Westchester, about depths of 6 to 10 feet and is used by local small craft. 2.3 miles above the channel entrance. In September 2007, the controlling depths were 1.8 feet (3.4 feet at midchannel) from the entrance to the Bruckner Ex- pressway bascule bridge, thence 6.0 feet (6.5 feet at midchannel) to just below the head of the project. The
348 ■ Chapter 9 ■ Coast Pilot 2 channel is buoyed to a point about 1 mile above the en- buoys and lights, extends from East River through the trance. Waterborne traffic on the creek consists chiefly bay to the mouth of the creek and thence upstream for of petroleum products, sand and gravel, and crushed about 0.8 mile to the I.R.T. (Roosevelt Ave.) railroad rock. bridge. A turning basin is on the west side of the (426) Several highway bridges, three fixed and one bas- dredged channel west of the entrance to Flushing cule, cross Westchester Creek at Unionport, 1.5 miles Creek. A small-craft anchorage area extends northwest above the channel entrance. The Bruckner Expressway from the turning basin. In April-May 2007, the control- bascule bridge has a clearance of 14 feet, and the fixed ling depths were 9.1 feet (14.1 feet at midchannel) bridges have a least clearance of 52 feet. (See 117.1 through the bay channel to the turning basin, thence through 117.59 and 117.815, chapter 2, for draw- 8.3 to 15 feet in the turning basin and 1.6 to 6 feet in the bridge regulations.) The bridgetender at the Bruckner anchorage area, thence 5.5 feet (9.3 feet at midchannel) Expressway bridge monitors VHF-FM channel 13; call to the Northern Boulevard bridge, thence shoaling to sign KX-8289. bare to the I.R.T. railroad bridge. There is shoaling northwest of Buoy 2, in the eastern part of the anchor- Small-craft facilities age area. Flushing Bay is mostly shallow, with depths of (427) There is a small-craft facility on the west side of the less than 6 feet outside the channel. (434) Depths of 8 to 14 feet are between the east side of creek at Unionport. Water, limited supplies and storage the channel and the town of College Point. Small craft facilities are available. anchor south of College Point in depths of 4 to 8 feet. Chart 12339 Anchorages (435) General and special anchorages are in Flushing (428) Clason Point (40°48.3'N., 73°50.9'W.) is on the north side of East River about 3 miles west of Throgs Bay. (See 110.1, 110.60 (1) through (1–2), (m) Neck. Pugsley Creek, which empties into Westchester through (m–2), and 110.155 (b–5), chapter 2, for Creek and East River along the east side of Clason limits and regulations.) Point, is very shallow and should not be entered with- out local knowledge. Small boats anchor on the flats (436) A restricted area is in a portion of the southern part west of Clason Point. A flagstaff at the yacht club on of the channel through Flushing Bay. (See 162.20, Clason Point is prominent. chapter 2, for limits and regulations.) (429) College Point is on the Long Island side of East (437) A 0.6-mile-long dike, covered at high water and River opposite Clason Point. College Point Reef, cov- marked at either end by a light, runs close along the ered 6 feet and marked by a light, is 0.2 mile west side of the channel to within 0.3 mile of the head north-northeastward of the point. of the bay. (430) The town of College Point is south of the point and (438) The L-shaped pier at the head of Flushing Bay par- on the east side of the entrance to Flushing Bay. The tially encloses a small-boat basin. In July 2004, depths wharves on the west side of the town have depths of 9 to 12 feet, with shoaling near the western edge, alongside ranging from ½ to 10 feet. The shallow bight were available in the turning basin just west of the north of the town has depths of 2 to 5 feet and is used as small-boat basin. Inside the small-boat basin, depths of a small-boat anchorage. about 7 feet were reported in June 1981. The marina to the westward has a reported depth of about 5 feet in- Small-craft facilities side. Gasoline, diesel fuel, berths, electricity, water, ice, (431) Several small-craft facilities are at College Point. storage, and a 30-ton hoist are available; limited elec- tronic and engine repairs can be made. Marine railways to 45 feet, mobile cranes to 35 tons, water, ice, marine supplies, storage, and hull and en- Ice gine repairs are available. (439) Ice generally obstructs navigation in Flushing Bay Tides and Flushing Creek during a part of January and Feb- (432) The mean range of tide at College Point is 6.5 feet. ruary. (433) Flushing Bay extends southeast between the town (440) The twin fixed Whitestone Expressway highway of College Point and La Guardia Airport, 0.6 mile to the bridges over Flushing Creek, 0.2 mile above the mouth, southwest. Flushing Creek flows into the east side of have a clearance of 34 feet. The Northern Boulevard the head of the bay. A dredged channel, marked by Bridge, 0.4 mile above the mouth, has a fixed span with a clearance of 35 feet.
Western Long Island Sound ■ Chapter 9 ■ 349 (441) Flushing is on the east side of Flushing Creek. island, southeast of the buildings, is used as a trash Waterborne traffic consists chiefly of sand, gravel, dump. crushed rock, and petroleum products. Drafts of in- (449) East River main channel, project depth 35 feet, bound and outbound vessels seldom exceed 12 feet. leads northward of Rikers Island. A much-used general Vessels must go directly to the marginal wharves be- anchorage, with depths of 21 to 30 feet, is between the cause the creek has no room for anchorage. south side of the channel and the flats off the north side of the island. (See 110.1 and 110.155 (b) (6) and (1), (442) The east entrance to Rikers Island Channel, be- chapter 2, for limits and regulations.) tween Rikers Island and the mainland, is obstructed by a lighted runway approach to La Guardia Airport. The Caution approach to Bowery Bay is from westward of Rikers Is- (450) East River Main Channel Lighted Buoy 5 has been land. established northeast of Rikers Island in 40°47'47\"N., (443) Bronx River, on the north side of East River, has a 73°51'59\"W. to assure that no vessel penetration of air project depth of 10 feet and is subject to shoaling space exists over that portion of the East River which throughout. It is entered through a dredged channel coincides with the glide path of the northeast-south- that leads north-northwestward through a shallow west runway of La Guardia Airport. Vessels with mast bight between Clason Point and Hunts Point, 1.1 miles heights in excess of 125 feet shall pass 100 yards to the to the westward, to the head of river navigation at East north of this buoy so as to avoid interference with the 172nd Street, about 2.3 miles above the channel en- glide path. trance. (See Notice to Mariners and latest editions of charts for controlling depths.) (451) North Brother Island, 0.3 mile northwest of Rikers Island, is occupied by the ruins of former municipal (444) Waterborne traffic on the Bronx River consists buildings. East River main channel leads northward chiefly of sand, gravel, and crushed rock. and westward of the island; a light marks the main channel side of the island. Tides (445) The mean range of tide is 6.9 feet at Hunts Point (452) The buoyed channel between North Brother Island and South Brother Island, 0.1 mile to the southward, and at Westchester Avenue Bridge. has a controlling depth of about 25 feet. Shoaling to 16 feet exists on the south side of the channel in about (446) Bronx River is crossed by four bridges to East 40°47'54\"N., 73°53'47\"W. The channel is marked by a 172nd Street. Bruckner Expressway Bridge, 1.7 miles light off the north side of South Brother Island. The above the entrance, has a bascule span with a clearance channel is narrow and subject to strong currents and of 27 feet. (See 117.1 through 117.59 and 117.771, should not be used by vessels of limited maneuverabil- chapter 2, for drawbridge regulations.) Westchester Av- ity. enue Bridge, 2 miles above the entrance, has a fixed span with a clearance of 18 feet. The elevated railway (453) A ledge, partly bare at low water, extends 0.2 mile structure over Westchester Avenue Bridge has a fixed southward from South Brother Island; the outer part of span with a clearance of 61 feet. The railroad bridge, 2.1 the ledge is marked by a light. miles above the entrance, has a rolling-lift span with a clearance of 8 feet, but the draw is no longer opened. (454) Port Morris, 0.2 mile westward across East River (See 117.771(b), chapter 2, for drawbridge regula- main channel from North Brother Island, has rail ter- tions.) The Bruckner Expressway Bridge is equipped minals to and from which car floats are taken through with radiotelephone. The bridgetender can be con- East River. tacted on VHF-FM channel 13; call sign KX–8189. (455) South Brother Island Channel, marked by lighted (447) Hunts Point is on the north side of East River and unlighted buoys, leads from deep water east of about 4 miles west of Throgs Neck. A marginal wharf North Brother Island and along the west side of Rikers extends 0.3 mile northeastward from the point; depths Island to a turning basin on the west side of Bowery of 17 to 24 feet are reported alongside. Small craft an- Bay. In February 2007, the controlling depth was 29.9 chor in depths of 9 to 17 feet on the flats east of the feet in the entrance channel to the turning basin, wharf. thence 33.4 feet in the turning basin. (448) Rikers Island, in the middle of East River between Caution Hunts Point and La Guardia Airport, is partly occupied (456) Vessels transiting South Brother Island Channel by buildings of the Department of Correction of New York. The island is about a mile long, southeast to and using the turning basin at its southern terminus northwest, and 0.6 mile wide. The larger part of the shall ballast prior to entry, and are cautioned that mast
350 ■ Chapter 9 ■ Coast Pilot 2 heights in excess of 125 feet may penetrate the glide (464) Hell Gate Bridge, which crosses East River from path of the northwest-southeast runway of La Guardia Wards Island to Long Island 7.1 miles from The Battery, Airport. If mast heights cannot be lowered below 125 has a fixed railroad span with a clearance of 134 feet. feet, La Guardia Air Traffic Control Tower shall be noti- fied by telephone (212-779-0242) prior to terminal de- (465) Negro Point is the southernmost point of Wards Is- parture or channel entry. land. Triborough Bridge, which crosses East River from Negro Point to Long Island 6.8 miles from The (457) Bowery Bay, across Rikers Island Channel from Battery, has a highway suspension span with a clear- Rikers Island, has depths of about 10 feet. A special an- ance of 138 feet. In June 2002, the bridge was under re- chorage is in the west part of the bay. (See 110.1, construction; fixed workmen scaffolding has 110.60 (n) and 110.155 (b) (5) and (1), chapter 2, for temporarily reduced the vertical clearance about 3 feet. limits and regulations.) A pipeline area is in the south- east part of the anchorage area. A fixed highway bridge (466) Holmes Rock and Hog Back are two bare rocks, crosses Rikers Island Channel and Bowery Bay and con- which are on the eastern and northern parts, respec- nects Rikers Island with the Borough of Queens, New tively, of a reef in the bight on the south side of Wards York; clearance over the channel is 52 feet for a width of Island westward of Negro Point. The western extremity 125 feet. of this reef is marked by a light. (458) Bowery Bay may be approached from the East River (467) Hallets Point, on the Long Island side of East River main channel from the northward through South about 0.3 mile southwestward of Negro Point, is Brother Island Channel and from the northwestward marked by a light. There are main-channel depths close through a 100-yard-wide channel which leads between to the point. the ledges that make off from Lawrence Point on the southwest and South Brother Island on the northeast. (468) Hell Gate is the part of East River between Wards The controlling depth in the 100-yard-wide channel is Island and Roosevelt Island, 0.7 mile to the southwest. about 19 feet. Caution is advised in the northwestern The crooked channel, the strong tidal currents, and the approach as the channel is narrow, the bottom is rocky heavy traffic in Hell Gate require extra caution on the and uneven, and tidal currents are strong. part of the navigator to avoid accident or collision. Ves- sels navigating Hell Gate on a rising tide sometimes (459) Lawrence Point, on the southeast side of East River find it necessary to pass starboard-to-starboard because 0.7 mile westward of Rikers Island, is occupied by an of the strong currents between Negro Point and Hallets extensive gas and electric plant. A light marks the outer Point. This situation may arise when one of the vessels part of the ledge, partly bare at low water, which ex- does not maneuver readily or is handling a tow. North- tends 0.3 mile northeastward from the point. eastward of Negro Point and southwestward of Hallets Point, the customary port passings are made. (460) Randalls Island and Wards Island are on the north- western side of East River between Port Morris and Hell (469) Mill Rock, on the northwestern side of the main Gate, separating that river from Harlem River, which is channel through Hell Gate, is 0.2 mile southwest of described later. The islands provide recreational facili- Wards Island and the same distance northwest of ties for the residents of the city of New York. Hallets Point. The islet is marked by lights on its north and south ends. (461) Bronx Kill, which separates Randalls Island from Port Morris, is a narrow passage that extends westward Charts 12339, 12342 from the East River to the Harlem River. A fixed rail- road bridge with a clearance of 68 feet and a fixed high- (470) Harlem River, which joins East River in Hell Gate way bridge with a clearance of 51 feet cross the passage. between Wards Island and Manhattan Island, extends Bronx Kill is navigable but not recommended as a northward about 7 miles and connects with Hudson route of travel. It is shoal and obstructed throughout. River through Spuyten Duyvil Creek. The channel through Harlem River is narrow, tortuous, and naviga- (462) Sunken Meadow is the reclaimed area now joined ble only for powered vessels. By taking care to avoid to the northeast end of Wards Island and southeast end several isolated 11- to 13-foot spots, a depth of about 14 of Randalls Island. feet can be carried to the Hudson River; the chart is the guide. (463) Little Hell Gate, which formerly separated Wards Island from Randalls Island and formed a passage from (471) Traffic is heavy in Harlem River. Vessels with East River to Harlem River, has been mostly filled in heights too great to pass under the closed drawbridges and together with Sunken Meadow joins Wards Island should make the passage against the current. with Randalls Island.
Western Long Island Sound ■ Chapter 9 ■ 351 Bridges clearances of 40 feet down and 99 feet up. (See 117.1 (472) There are more than a dozen draw and fixed bridges through 117.59 and 117.781, chapter 2, for drawbridge regulations.) The bridgetender monitors VHF-FM chan- over Harlem River. The minimum clearance under nel 13; call sign KX–8184. closed drawspans is 24 feet except at the railroad bridge (480) Queensboro Bridge, which crosses from Man- over the entrance from Hudson River where it is only 5 hattan Island to Roosevelt Island and thence to Long Is- feet. Clearance under raised vertical-lift spans exceed land 5.0 miles from The Battery, has fixed spans with 100 feet. (See 117.1 through 117.59 and 117.789, clearances of 131 feet over the main channel and 133 chapter 2, for drawbridge regulations.) Minimum feet over the eastern channel. An overhead cable car clearances under fixed bridges exceeds 100 feet at the with overhead power cables crosses the main channel center of the spans. immediately north of the bridge. The low point of travel (473) Four bridges over the Harlem River, the 103rd of the cabin is not less than 135 feet. Street lift bridge, the Triborough lift bridge, the Park Avenue lift bridge, and the Conrail swing bridge at Chart 12335 Spuyten Duyvil, at 0.1 mile, 1 mile, and 1.7 miles, and 6.7 miles, respectively, above the entrance, are (481) Roosevelt Island Reef (Welfare Island Reef), with equipped with radiotelephones. The bridgetenders bare islets, rocks awash, and submerged rocks, extends monitor VHF-FM channel 13; call signs KIL-820, 0.3 mile southwestward from the island. Belmont Is- KGW-326, and KA-5059, and KU-9797, respectively. land, near the southwest end of the reef, is marked by a The Conrail bridge is maintained in the open position light. except for the passage of trains or for maintenance. Tides Chart 12338 (474) The mean range of tide in Harlem River is 5.1 feet (482) Newtown Creek is entered on the eastern side of in Hell Gate and 3.6 feet at the entrance from Hudson East River 3.6 miles from The Battery. The creek ex- River. tends 3.3 miles eastward and southward and has several short tributaries or basins. Traffic is fairly heavy and Currents consists chiefly of petroleum products, sand, gravel, (475) The tidal currents in Harlem River run southward and crushed rock; drafts of vessels navigating the creek seldom exceed 15 feet. from Hudson River to East River while the east-going current is running in Hell Gate; and the reverse. The (483) Tributary basins are Dutch Kills, on the north side south-going current in Harlem River is considered the of Newtown Creek 0.8 mile from East River; Whale flood. The times of slack water are subject to variations Creek, on the south side opposite Dutch Kills; Maspeth depending upon freshet conditions in Hudson River. Creek, on the east side 2.2 miles from East River; East The velocity of the current is 2 knots or more in the Branch, on the east side 2.5 miles from the river; and narrower parts of the channel. (See the Tidal Current English Kills, which extends westward and southward Tables for predictions.) from the East Branch entrance and forms the last 0.8 mile of Newtown Creek. Chart 12339 (476) Roosevelt Island (Welfare Island), 1.6 miles long Channels and 0.1 mile wide, is in the middle of East River south- (484) A Federal project provides for a 23-foot channel in west of Hell Gate. A gray stone tower is on the north end of the island. Newtown Creek from the East River to and in a turning basin about 240 yards above the Kosciusko Memorial (477) East River main channel, with project depth of 35 Bridge, thence 20 feet in East Branch and in English feet, is on the west side of Roosevelt Island. The chan- Kills to the Metropolitan Avenue bridge, and thence 12 nel east of the island is narrower and has a controlling feet in English Kills to the head of the project at depth of about 19 feet. Montrose Avenue. (See Notice to Mariners and latest edition of chart for controlling depths.) (478) The currents in both channels off Roosevelt Island are strong, and caution is advised while navigating in Tides these areas. (485) The mean range of tide in Newtown Creek is 4.1 (479) The 36th Avenue highway bridge which crosses the feet. eastern channel from Roosevelt Island to Long Island 5.6 miles from The Battery has a vertical-lift span with
352 ■ Chapter 9 ■ Coast Pilot 2 Currents Chart 12335 (486) The tidal current is weak and variable. (491) From abreast the entrance to Newtown Creek, the (487) Pulaski Bridge, which crosses Newtown Creek 0.5 35-foot-project main channel of East River crosses mile above the mouth, has a bascule span with a clear- from the west side of the river to the east side. Depths of ance of 39 feet at the fenders and 46 feet at the center. 24 feet extend as much as 0.2 mile from the piers on the The bridgetender monitors VHF-FM channel 13; call west side. Poorhouse Flats Lighted Range (Front sign KX–8178. Light; 40°43.5'N., 73°57.8'W.), bearing 161°, is on the Brooklyn side of the river and marks the best water in (488) Dutch Kills, which is about 0.5 mile long, is the crossover. crossed by the following drawbridges: Long Island Rail- road bridge, Borden Avenue bridge, and Hunters Point (492) Williamsburg Bridge, which crosses East River 2 Avenue bridge. Minimum clearance under the closed miles northeast of The Battery, has a suspension span drawspans is 2 feet. (See 117.1 through 117.59 and with a clearance of 133 feet. 117.801, chapter 2, for drawbridge regulations.) In July 2002, Long Island Railroad bridge was reported in- (493) The site of the inactive New York Naval Shipyard is operable as a swing bridge and closed to vessel traffic. in Wallabout Bay, on the Brooklyn side of East River 1.7 Clearance under the fixed bridge is 83 feet. miles northeast of The Battery. (489) Greenpoint Avenue Bridge, 1.1 miles above the (494) Manhattan Bridge, which crosses East River 1 mile mouth of Newton Creek, has a bascule span with a northeast of The Battery, has a suspension span with a clearance of 24 feet at the fenders and 30 feet at the cen- clearance of 134 feet. The clearance under the mainte- ter. Kosciusko Memorial Bridge, 1.8 miles from the nance platform installed at the west channel edge is mouth, has a fixed span with a clearance of 125 feet. 115 feet. Metropolitan Avenue Bridge, which crosses English Kills 3 miles from the mouth of Newtown Creek, has a (495) Brooklyn Bridge, which crosses East River 0.7 mile bascule span with a clearance of 10 feet at the center. northeast of The Battery, has a suspension span with a Montrose Avenue Bridge, at the head of English Kills, clearance of 127 feet. has a swing span with a clearance of 4 feet. The bridgetenders at the Greenpoint Avenue and Metropol- (496) East River Deepwater Lighted Range (Front Light; itan Avenue bridges monitor channel 13; call signs 40°41.9'N., 74°00.1'W.), bearing 078°, is on the Brook- KX–8182 and KX–8179, respectively. (See 117.1 lyn side of the river and marks the best water in the through 117.59 and 117.801, chapter 2, for draw- 40-foot-project main channel which leads from deep bridge regulations.) water in New York Upper Bay to the East River. The range line passes about midway between The Battery (490) Grand Avenue Bridge, which crosses East Branch, and Governors Island, 0.5 mile to the southward. has a swing span with a clearance of 8 feet. (See 117.1 through 117.59 and 117.801, chapter 2, for draw- (497) The channel between The Battery and Governors bridge regulations.) The bridgetender can be contacted Island is very congested and subject to strong currents. on VHF-FM channel 13; call sign KX–8187. Caution should be exercised while navigating in the area.
Western Long Island Sound ■ Chapter 9 ■ 353
354 ■ Chapter 10 ■ Coast Pilot 273°30’ CONNNEEWCTYIOCRUKT 73° 72°30’ LONG ISLAND SOUND Great Peconic Bay 41° LONG ISLAND Hampton Bays Westhampton Bay Shore Patchogue Great South Bay Shinnecock Inlet 12352 Moriches Inlet Lindenhurst 12352 Oceanside Fire Island Inlet East Rockaway Inlet Jones Inlet 40°30’ NORTH ATLANTIC OCEAN 12353 12326 SMALL-CRAFT CHARTS AND MARINE FACILITIES CHARTS These specially designed charts are published with small craft information and are labeled in green CONVENTIONAL CHARTS HARBOR CHARTS (outlined in red) - scales 1:50,000 and larger. COAST CHARTS (outlined in purple) - scales from 1:50,001 to 1:150,000. GENERAL CHARTS (outlined in purple) - scales from 1:150,001 to 1:600,000. Note: not all charts are shown
South Coast of Long Island ■ Chapter 10 ■ 355 South Coast of Long Island (1) This chapter describes the south coast of Long Is- more information on right whales and recommended land from Shinnecock Inlet to and including East measures to avoid collisions with whales.) Rockaway Inlet; several other inlets making into the beach along this part of the coast; and the canals, bays, Chart 12300 and tributaries inside the beach. Also described are the towns of Patchogue and Oceanside, including Ocean- (7) The south coast of Long Island has a general trend side oil terminals; Bay Shore, a large fishing center; of 247° for 68 miles from Montauk Point to Fire Island and the many smaller communities which support a Inlet, and thence trends 263° for 36 miles to the west- large small-craft activity. ern end of Coney Island in the Lower Bay of New York Harbor. It is a clear shore and may be safely approached Caution as close as 1 mile with not less than 30 feet anywhere (2) Eelgrass is found in most of the waters described in between Montauk Point and Rockaway Inlet, except off Fire Island Inlet and the inlet’s westward side where this chapter. Eelgrass nets are often placed at the en- the shore should be given a berth of at least 1.5 miles. trances to canals and are sometimes difficult to see. When viewed from seaward it presents only a few prom- (3) Fishtrap areas are in Moriches, Shinnecock, Tiana, inent features. It is composed of a series of sand dunes Quantuck, and Great South Bays. backed by low dark woods. COLREGS Demarcation Lines (8) Shinnecock, Moriches, Great South, and Hemp- (4) The lines established for this part of the coast are stead Bays are inside the beach along the south coast of Long Island and form an inside route for boats of about described in 80.160, chapter 2. 3-foot draft. The three main inlets from the sea to these bays are Fire Island Inlet, Jones Inlet, and East Weather, South Coast of Long Island and vicinity Rockaway Inlet. These inlets and all auxiliary channels (5) The south coast of Long Island is open to weather within the south coast of Long Island have numerous wrecks, obstructions, frequent and extensive changes, from the south and southeast, but somewhat sheltered and, although marked in many areas, should not be to the west through north. Waves of 8 feet (>2.5 m) or used without local knowledge. more are most likely in winter when they may be en- countered about 6 to 10 percent of the time near the (9) Two small inlets, Shinnecock Inlet and Moriches coast. During this period gales are encountered less Inlet, which broke through in 1938 and 1931, respec- than 5 percent of the time but are more likely a few tively, are also used by small boats for entrance to these hundred miles out to sea. Fogs are more apt to occur in bays, but their use is not advisable without local knowl- late spring and early summer with Ambrose Light re- edge. cording a June maximum. Visibilities of less than 2 miles are observed about 5 to 10 percent of the time Chart 12352 from May through July. These frequencies are higher at the eastern end in May and June and between (10) Shinnecock Canal, 31.5 miles southwestward of Westhampton and Ambrose in July. Locally, Shinnecock Montauk Point, is about 1 mile long and connects Inlet is particularly rough when southerly winds climb Great Peconic Bay with Shinnecock Bay. The canal is to 15 knots or more during ebb tide; breakers fill the owned and maintained by Suffolk County of New York. entrance. It is a partly dredged cut and is protected at the north entrance by two jetties; the east jetty is marked by a North Atlantic Right Whales light. In April 1985, the east timber jetty was reported (6) Endangered North Atlantic right whales may occur to be deteriorating. Protruding timbers and floating debris may be encountered; caution is advised. A lock within 30 nautical miles of the south coast of Long Is- about midway in the canal is 250 feet long, 41 feet wide, land, including the approaches to New York Harbor (peak season: November through April). (See North At- lantic Right Whales, indexed as such, chapter 3, for
356 ■ Chapter 10 ■ Coast Pilot 2 with a depth of 12 feet over the sills. Tide gates are par- be attempted without local knowledge because of the allel to and westward of the lock. The lock gates and frequent changes in channel depths. tide gates are constructed so that tidal action opens them to allow the current to set south through the ca- Currents nal and closes them to prevent water from Shinnecock (18) Tidal currents through the inlet can be dangerous; Bay to flow back into Great Peconic Bay. The lock gates are tended 24 hours and are opened mechanically when caution is advised. the tidal current is flowing northward to allow the pas- sage of boats. Red and green traffic lights are at each (19) In January 1988, an obstruction was reported end of the lock. Vessels are allowed to enter the lock about 175 yards east of Shinnecock Inlet West Break- only on the green signal. water Light 1A. (11) The fixed bridges and overhead power cables across the canal have a least clearance of 22 feet. Mast-step- COLREGS Demarcation Lines ping cranes are available at both ends of the canal. (20) The lines established for Shinnecock Inlet are de- scribed in 80.160, chapter 2. Currents (21) Shinnecock Light (40°50'31\"N., 72°28'42\"W.), 75 (12) The maximum recorded current is 4.3 knots, feet above the water, is shown from a red skeleton tower on the west side of the inlet. A fog signal is at the light. southerly, through the lock and tide gates at peak flow Private lights are on the jetties at the entrance to the when the gates are open. At the railroad bridge, the inlet, and uncharted buoys mark the channel. current has an average speed of 1.5 knots, but it has been reported that greater speeds may be experienced. (22) The jetties extend about 120 yards beyond the (See Tidal Current Tables for predictions.) At times of lights marking them. high southerly current i.e., when the gates are open, there exists a dangerous eddy system extending from Small-craft facilities the south end of the lock southerly for approximately (23) There are small-craft facilities just westward of 200 yards. Tidal currents throughout the entire canal can be dangerous; caution is advised. Shinnecock Light. Berths, gasoline, diesel fuel, water, ice, and some marine supplies are available. (13) A 5 mph speed limit is enforced in the canal. (24) A fish haven and a U.S. Naval Oceanographic plat- (14) On the east side of Shinnecock Canal just south of form painted orange and white, are about 2.4 miles south and 3.4 miles south-southwestward, respec- the jetties is a boat basin in which the depth ranges tively, of Shinnecock Inlet entrance. from 7 to 10 feet. There are several small-craft facilities on both sides of the canal. (See the small-craft facilities (25) Ponquogue Point, low and sandy, is 1.2 miles tabulation on chart 12352 for services and supplies northwestward of Shinnecock Light. The west channel available.) from inside Shinnecock Inlet enters the Long Island (15) Hampton Bays, a station on the Long Island Rail- Intracoastal Waterway southeast of the point and has a road just west of Shinnecock Canal, is the nearest post depth of about 8 feet. The Ponquogue Bridge, a high- office. Canoe Place, the settlement at the canal, has way bridge crossing Shinnecock Bay at Ponquogue gasoline and some supplies. Small craft and fishing ves- Point, has a fixed span with a clearance of 55 feet. sels berth in the basins along both sides of the canal. (16) Long Island Intracoastal Waterway.–A Federal (26) Shinnecock Coast Guard Station is on Ponquogue project provides for a 6-foot channel from Shinnecock Point. An antenna tower, 229 feet above the water and Canal to Great South Bay. The cuts provide an inland marked by red lights, is also on the point. waterway along the south side of Long Island. This wa- terway, from the south end of Shinnecock Canal to a (27) Entrances to the small coves on the northeast side point in Great South Bay opposite Patchogue, a dis- and the east end of Shinnecock Bay have depths of tance of about 29.2 miles, is subject to frequent shoal- about 3 feet. ing; mariners are advised to obtain local knowledge. (17) Shinnecock Inlet, 31 miles westward from Small-craft facilities Montauk Point along the south coast of Long Island, is (28) There are numerous small-craft facilities along the the easternmost entrance from the Atlantic to Shinnecock Bay and the inland water route along the shore and in the creeks making into the north shore of south shore of Long Island. The approach to the inlet is Shinnecock Bay from Ponquogue Point to West Point, marked by a lighted whistle buoy. The inlet should not the eastern entrance point to Tiana Bay. (See the small-craft facilities tabulation on chart 12352 for ser- vices and supplies available.)
South Coast of Long Island ■ Chapter 10 ■ 357 (29) Pine Neck, 2.3 miles westward of Ponquogue Point (35) Moriches Bay extends for about 8 miles from and on the west side of Tiana Bay, is low, flat, and sandy. Quantuck Canal to Narrow Bay and provides an inside A shoal extends southward from Pine Neck Point and is passage for small boats. The general depths in the bay marked on the south end by a lighted buoy. About 0.5 range from 5 to 7 feet, but the southern part is shoal. mile east of Pine Neck, a privately dredged channel marked by private buoys leads to a basin at Tiana (36) When navigating the Long Island Intracoastal Wa- Beach, a small summer resort on the south side of terway through Moriches Bay northeast of Moriches Shinnecock Bay. In July 1981, depths of about 2 feet Inlet, extreme care must be taken due to changing were reported in the channel and basin. shoaling conditions. (30) Weesuck Creek, on the north side near the western (37) Speonk Point, near the eastern end of Moriches end of Shinnecock Bay, is entered through a privately Bay on the north shore, is marked by several dredged channel that leads to the head of the cove at bulkheaded jetties and a prominent flagstaff. East Quogue. In April 1999, the channel, marked by private seasonal buoys, had a reported controlling (38) Seatuck Cove, on the north side of Moriches Bay, depth of about 5 feet. There are two boatyards on the about 1 mile westward of Speonk Point, is entered west side near the head of the creek. Berths, electricity, through a privately dredged channel that leads north- water, marine supplies, storage facilities, and lifts to 30 ward for about 1.1 miles and then forks into three tons are available. The largest marine railway can han- branch channels: East Branch, the easterly branch; dle craft up to 65 feet in length; hull and engine repairs Seatuck Creek, the northerly branch; and Little can be made. Seatuck Creek, the westerly branch. In June 1981, the controlling depth in the entrance channel and in the (31) Quogue Canal connects Shinnecock Bay with three branches was 7 feet. Private seasonal buoys mark Quantuck Bay. The canal is crossed by a highway bas- the entrance channel to the fork and the channel in cule bridge with a clearance of 15 feet and by overhead East Branch to the small-craft facilities just inside the power and TV cables with clearances of 75 feet. (See entrance. 117.1 through 117.59 and 117.799 (a) through (d), chapter 2, for drawbridge regulations.) A 5 mph speed (39) A landing at Eastport is on the point just above the limit is enforced in the canal. fork between East Branch and Seatuck Creek. In June 1981, depths of 2 to 3 feet were reported at the landing. (32) Quantuck Bay joins Quogue Canal with Quantuck Berths, moorings, electricity, gasoline, diesel fuel, wa- Canal. Quantuck Creek, at the head of the bay, is ter, ice, some marine supplies, and a pump-out are crossed by a fixed bridge, which is the head of naviga- available at small-craft facilities on East Branch. Lifts tion except for small pulling boats. to 15 tons can handle craft for engine and hull repairs. Depths of 3 feet are reported alongside. (33) Quantuck Canal connects Quantuck Bay and Moriches Bay. The canal is crossed by two highway bas- (40) Hart Cove, westward of Seatuck Cove, is entered cule bridges with a least clearance of 10 feet. (See through a privately dredged channel, marked by pri- 117.1 through 117.59 and 117.799 (a) through (d), vate seasonal buoys, that leads to the head of the cove. chapter 2, for drawbridge regulations). The overhead In June 1981, the channel had a reported controlling power cable at Potunk Point has a clearance of 77 feet. depth of 4 feet. A 5 mph speed limit is enforced in the canal. Small-craft facilities (34) About 300 yards northeastward of the bridge at (41) Small-craft facilities are near the head on the west Potunk Point, a privately dredged channel leads to a yacht basin at Westhampton Beach. The channel is side of the cove. Gasoline, water, ice, storage, marine along the west bank in the bight and is marked by pri- supplies, a launching ramp, and a 30-ton mobile hoist vate seasonal lights and buoys. A dredged cut leads up are available; hull and engine repairs can be made. to Main Street in Westhampton Beach. A reported depth of about 4 feet can be carried to the yacht basin (42) Tuthill Cove, locally known as West Cove, on the just before reaching the Stevens Lane Bridge, which north side of Moriches Bay, 1.5 miles westward of has a fixed span with a clearance of about 7 feet. Berths, Seatuck Cove, is entered through a privately dredged electricity, and a launching ramp are at the yacht basin. and partially marked channel that leads to the head of Gasoline, ice, and marine supplies are available at a ma- the cove; in 1986, the channel had a reported control- rina on the east bank of the bight; engine and hull re- ling depth of 2 feet. Several privately dredged channels pairs can be made. A forklift can handle craft to 6 tons. lead from the main channel to small-craft facilities on In June 1981, a reported depth of 2 feet was available at the east side of the cove. (See the small-craft facilities the marina. tabulation on chart 12352 for services and supplies available.) A Coast Guard Station is on the east side of
358 ■ Chapter 10 ■ Coast Pilot 2 the entrance to Tuthill Cove. East Moriches is on the and engine repairs can be made. A marine railway can north side of the cove. haul out vessels up to 32 feet in length. (43) Tuthill Point is on the west side of the entrance to Tuthill Cove. (53) Mud (West Senix) Creek, westward of Senix Creek, (44) Moriches Inlet, 44 miles westward of Montauk had a reported controlling depth of about 5 feet in June Point, is a shallow entrance from seaward to the deeper 1981. The creek is used mostly by local residents. A ma- water in Moriches Bay. The jettied entrance is subject rina on the east side of the creek near the head has to frequent change. Mariners are advised not to at- berthage, electricity, gasoline, water, and a 15-ton lift; tempt to navigate this inlet at any time without local hull and engine repairs can be made. knowledge. Both east and west jetties are marked by a light and the approach to the inlet is marked by a (54) Forge River, at the northwest end of Moriches Bay lighted whistle buoy. about 0.5 mile westward of the common entrance to (45) A fish haven, marked by a buoy, is about 2.5 miles Senix and Mud Creeks, is entered through a privately south-southwestward of Moriches Inlet East Breakwa- dredged channel that leads from the Intracoastal Wa- ter Light. terway to the town dock and turning basin at Mastic, about 1.5 miles above the entrance west of Masury COLREGS Demarcation Lines Point, thence for about 0.2 mile to the head of naviga- (46) The lines established for Moriches Inlet are de- tion. In 1981-1999, the reported controlling depths were 6 feet from the Intracoastal Waterway to the head scribed in 80.160, chapter 2. of navigation. Favor the east side of the channel at the entrance. The channel is marked to the turning basin (47) Fire Island extends west from Moriches Inlet for by private seasonal lighted and unlighted buoys. The about 28 miles along the south shore of Long Island to town dock is available only to the local residents, how- Fire Island Inlet. With the exception of the State park ever, overnight transient berths are available. occupying its westernmost 4.6 miles, all of Fire Island is part of the Fire Island National Seashore, a Marine (55) Old Neck Creek empties into the easterly side of Protected Area (MPA). (See Appendix C, for additional Forge River about 0.5 mile above the entrance. A pri- information.) vately dredged channel leads from the river to the head of the creek. In June 1981, the channel had a reported (48) Orchard Neck Creek, 1.7 miles west of Tuthill controlling depth of 7 feet. A marina, just inside the Point, is extensively used by local small craft as a moor- easterly entrance to the creek, has berths, gasoline, wa- ing basin. A reported depth of about 3 feet is available to ter, ice, marine supplies, a small-craft launching ramp, the head of navigation. A private seasonal lighted buoy and a 15-ton mobile hoist; hull, engine, and electrical marks the entrance. repairs can be made. Small-craft facility (56) Narrow Bay extends for about 3 miles from (49) A small-craft facility is on the west side of the creek Moriches Bay to Bellport Bay, and provides a continua- tion of the inside passage for small boats. The bridge near its head. Gasoline, water, marine supplies, and a across the bay eastward of Smith Point has a bascule 12-ton lift are available; hull and engine repairs can be span with a clearance of 18 feet. (See 117.1 through made. In June 1981, a depth of about 2 feet was re- 117.59 and 117.799 (a) through (d), chapter 2, for ported alongside the facility. drawbridge regulations.) Caution is recommended when in the vicinity of the bridge because of the piling (50) Areskonk Creek, immediately westward of Orchard near the channel. The bridge is an excellent radar tar- Neck Creek, is used as a harbor by yachtsmen. A pri- get from 5 to 10 miles. vately dredged channel, marked by private seasonal buoys, leads to the head of the creek. In June 1981, the (57) Bellport Bay extends for about 3 miles from Nar- channel had a reported controlling depth of 8 feet. row Bay to Great South Bay and provides a continua- tion of the inside passage for small boats. The bay is (51) Senix Creek, 0.6 mile westward of Orchard Neck shoal in its southern part, but has depths of 5 to 7 feet Creek, has a narrow entrance. With local knowledge, a in the northern part. reported depth of about 4 feet can be carried in the channel to about 0.5 mile above the entrance. (58) Carmans River, on the northeast side of Bellport Bay, has a depth of about 2 feet through the entrance. Small-craft facilities Sometimes bush stakes are placed on each of the shoals (52) Small-craft facilities near the head of the creek making off from the points at the entrance. Enter in midriver between these stakes, favor the east side for a have berths, electricity, storage, and a 6-ton lift; hull distance of 0.5 mile, and then follow midriver; caution is advised. The river, marked at the entrance by private
South Coast of Long Island ■ Chapter 10 ■ 359 seasonal lighted buoys, is entered between Long Point Small-craft facilities on the west and Sandy Point on the east. Some of the (66) Small-craft facilities in the creeks can provide land areas on both sides of the river just above the en- trance are part of the Werthein National Wildlife Ref- berths, gasoline, water, storage, and hull and engine re- uge, a Marine Protected Area (MPA); landing is not pairs. A 7-ton marine railway is available in Abets permitted. (See Appendix C, for additional informa- Creek, and mobile lifts up to 30 tons are available in tion.) A 5 mph speed limit is enforced on the river. Mud Creek. Diesel fuel, ice, and a pumpout station are available in Mud Creek. Small-craft facility (67) Swan River, about 0.4 mile westward of Mud Creek, (59) A small-craft facility is on the west side of the river is entered through a privately dredged channel that leads to the head of navigation about 1 mile above the about 0.6 mile above the entrance. Electricity, water, mouth. In 1981, the channel had a reported controlling some marine supplies, a 12-ton lift, and storage facili- depth of 4 feet. In September 1985, a shoal was reported ties are available; hull and engine repairs can be made. to be encroaching from the west side of the channel at the mouth of the river. A private seasonal lighted buoy (60) Beaverdam Creek, on the north side of Bellport Bay marks the entrance, and poles mark the channel above about 1.5 miles westward of Carmans River, is entered the entrance. through a privately dredged approach channel marked by private seasonal buoys. In August 1999, the channel (68) Several small-craft facilities are on Swan River. had a reported controlling depth of 7 feet. (See the small-craft facilities tabulation on chart 12352 for services and supplies available.) Small-craft facility (61) A small-craft facility is at the head of the creek and (69) Patchogue River, on the north side of Great South Bay, 3.7 miles west of Bellport and 0.9 mile westward of can provide berths, storage, supplies, and a 30-ton lift; Swan River, is entered through a dredged channel that engine repairs can be made. leads from Great South Bay, thence through Patchogue Bay, and thence to the head of river navigation about 1 (62) The wharf of a yacht club is on the northwest side of mile above the mouth. In May 2006, the midchannel Bellport Bay at the town of Bellport, about 0.5 mile controlling depth was 5.8 feet in the entrance channel westward of the entrance to Beaverdam Creek. In June to the west breakwater light, thence 2.2 feet in the 1981, depths of 6 to 8 feet were reported in the basin be- channel through the harbor to the head of navigation. hind the wharf with about 2½ to 3 feet alongside. Water The channel is marked by a lighted and unlighted and a launching ramp are available. A seasonal passen- buoys from the bay to the jettied entrance. The west ger ferry operates between the yacht club and Bellport side of the entrance is protected by a breakwater with a Beach on Fire Island. light on the outer end, and the east side by a bulkhead and short jetty extending southward from it; a private (63) A dockmaster manages the village dock adjacent to light is near the end of the jetty. the yacht club. (70) Patchogue, on Patchogue River, is the principal (64) Great South Bay, on the south shore of Long Is- town on Great South Bay. Depths at the wharves and land, extends from Bellport Bay on the east to South piers at Patchogue range from 3 to 9 feet. Oyster Bay on the west. It is about 20 miles long and about 4 miles across its widest part. It can be entered (71) Passenger ferry service, summer only, is main- through Fire Island Inlet, from Great Peconic Bay via tained from Patchogue to Davis Park and Watch Hill on the inside route, and from westward through Fire Island. Hempstead Bay. The southeast and southwest portions of the bay are shoal. The central portion has, for the Small-craft facilities most part, depths ranging from 6½ to 10 feet. In April (72) Several marinas and boatyards are on both sides of 2008, there was shoaling to less than 1 foot in the chan- nel between Fire Island Inlet and Farm Shoals Chan- the river at Patchogue. (See the small-craft facilities nel. Lights, daybeacons, and lighted and unlighted tabulation on chart 12352 for services and supplies buoys mark the channels. available.) (65) Abets Creek and Mud Creek, on the northeast side (73) Corey Creek, 0.6 mile westward of Patchogue River, of Great South Bay, had reported depths of 4 feet in is entered between two jetties each marked by a private 1981 and 6 feet in April 1999, respectively. The en- seasonal light. In June 1981, depths of 3 feet were trance to each creek is marked by a private seasonal lighted buoy and stakes. A 5-mph speed limit is en- forced in Abets Creek.
360 ■ Chapter 10 ■ Coast Pilot 2 available in the creek. A marina, on the east side of the extends northeast from Nicoll Island on the southwest creek just inside the entrance, has berths, electricity, side of the river entrance. A private light marks the en- gasoline, marine supplies, water, ice, storage, and a trance to the river. A prominent mansion with a tower, 16-ton lift; hull, engine, and electronic repairs can be now part of a private school, is on the north shore of the made. Depths of 5 feet were reported at the marina in entrance. September 1985. (74) Brown Creek, locally known as Browns River, 3 Small-craft facilities miles westward of Patchogue, is entered between two (80) There are several small-craft facilities on the east short jetties extending out to a depth of about 4 feet. The jetties are marked by lights. In March-April 2005, side of the river. (See the small-craft facilities tabula- the midchannel controlling depth was 5.4 feet to the tion on chart 12352 for services and supplies available.) old town dock, thence 3.5 feet to the upstream limit of the project; thence in 1993, 2 feet at midchannel to a (81) Great River is a village on the west side of the river. point about 0.3 mile below the Sayville Highway (82) Watch Hill, part of Fire Island National Seashore, is Bridge; thence in 1971, with local knowledge, about 2 feet to the head of navigation at the bridge. In 1976, a across Great South Bay from Patchogue. A privately large rock, covered 6½ feet, was reported at the en- dredged channel with a reported depth of 3 feet in Au- trance to the dredged channel. Local interests advise gust 1999, leads from Great South Bay to a seasonally that mariners steer a centerline course from a point operated marina. The channel is marked by private sea- about 0.75 mile south of the jetty light through the en- sonal lighted buoys and a lighted range. Berths, elec- trance channel. tricity, water, ice, some supplies, and a pumpout station are available. A passenger ferry operates between Small-craft facilities Watch Hill and Patchogue. (75) There are several small-craft facilities on the creek. (83) Cherry Grove, a summer resort across Great South Bay from Connetquot River, has a boat landing extend- Berths, electricity, gasoline, diesel fuel, water, marine ing out to a depth of 5 feet. Seasonal ferry service is supplies, mobile hoists to 80 tons, and hull and engine maintained with Sayville. repairs are available. A marine railway can handle ves- (84) Point o’ Woods, Ocean Beach, Fair Harbor, and sels to 15 feet long. Saltaire are summer resorts on Great South Bay west- ward of Cherry Grove. Provisions are available at most (76) Passenger ferry service, summer only, is available of these resorts. Year-round ferry service is maintained from Sayville to Fire Island Pines, Sailors Haven, between Ocean Beach, Saltaire, and Bay Shore, a town Cherry Grove, and Barrett Beach on Fire Island. northwestward on the north shore of Great South Bay, while there is seasonal service between the rest of these (77) Green Creek, about 1 mile west of Brown Creek, is settlements and Bay Shore. A privately dredged chan- used by many clam boats. Depths of about 5 feet were nel with a reported depth of 9 feet in 1981 leads south- reported available in the creek in 1981. Mariners are ward to Fair Harbor. A private light marks the channel. advised to use care when entering the creek, especially (85) On the north shore of Great South Bay, in the vi- during strong southwest winds. Inside the creek, gaso- cinity of Nicoll Point, is Heckscher State Park. A boat line, water, marine supplies, storage, a 30-ton lift, and basin and a small-craft launching ramp are at the park complete hull, engine, and electronic repairs are avail- in a cove about 1.6 miles west of Nicoll Point. The park able. A 4-mph speed limit is enforced in the creek. is open during daylight hours only. A 5 mph speed limit is enforced. (78) Green Harbor is a privately maintained two-part (86) Sailors Haven, across Great South Bay from Nicoll harbor just westward of the entrance to Green Creek. Point, is part of the Fire Island National Seashore. A The entrance to the outer basin and the connecting privately dredged and marked channel with a depth of channel between the outer and inner basins are very about 4 feet leads from Great South Bay to a seasonally narrow. In September 1985, depths were reported to be operated marina at which berthing, water, ice, and about 6 feet. Limited berthing is available in the outer some supplies are available. A seasonal passenger ferry basin. A boatyard is in the inner basin. operates between Sailors Haven and Sayville. (79) Connetquot River, locally known as Great River, is (87) Islip is on the south side of Long Island just inland 3 miles westward of Brown Creek. In June 1981, a re- from Great South Bay and opposite the Fire Island Na- ported depth of 5 feet (with local knowledge) could be tional Seashore, about halfway between New York city carried from Nicoll Bay to the boatyards on the east and Montauk Point. side of the river, thence about 2 feet to the head of navi- gation at the railroad; favor the east bank of the river above the boatyards. A shoal with depths of 2 feet
South Coast of Long Island ■ Chapter 10 ■ 361 (88) At Islip the average annual temperature is 53°F (95) Orowoc Creek, which enters the northeast part of (11.7°C). The average high is 61°F (16.1°C) and the av- the cove, leads to the boat basin and wharves at the erage low is 44°F (6.7°C). July is the warmest month town of Islip. The channel in the cove is sometimes with an average high of 82°F (27.8°C) and an average marked by stakes, and had a reported depth of about 6 low of 67°F (19.4°C). January is the coolest month with feet in June 1981. A private light marks the westerly an average high of 39°F (3.9°C) and an average low of edge of the 3-foot shoal on the east side of the channel 24°F (-4.4°C). The warmest temperature on record for near the entrance to the creek. Islip is 101°F (38.3°C) recorded in July 1991 and the coldest temperature on record is -7°F (-21.7°C) re- Small-craft facilities corded in January 1984. On average, seven days each (96) Small-craft facilities on the creek can provide gaso- year record high temperatures in excess of 90°F (32.2°C) and 98 days record minimum temperatures line, water, ice, storage, marine supplies, and complete below 32°F (0°C). An average of only two days each year engine and hull repairs. A 55-foot marine railway and a has an extreme minimum below 5°F (-15°C). 25-ton mobile hoist are available. (89) Precipitation is both moderate and distributed (97) Several fish packing plants are on the creek. evenly throughout the year. August is the wettest (98) Penataquit Creek and Watchogue Creek, locally month with an average precipitation total of five inches (127 mm) and February the driest with just over three known as West Creek, about 0.5 mile westward of inches (76 mm). Average annual precipitation is about Orowoc Creek, empty into the northwest end of Great 45 inches (1143 mm). Most of the rainfall from June Cove through a common entrance. Bay Shore is a large through September comes from thunderstorms, there- fishing center on the northwest shore of Great Cove at fore, is usually of brief duration, but relatively intense. the head of the creeks. The common entrance is pro- Thunderstorm days average 25 each year. From Octo- tected on its westerly side by a bulkheaded sandspit, ber to April, however, precipitation is generally associ- which forms a well-protected boat basin. The entrance ated with widespread storm areas, so that day-long rain channel leads between the northeast end of the or snow is common. sandspit and the point to the east. A private light marks the entrance to the creeks. The channel had a reported (90) Snow falls an average 30 days each year and aver- depth of 6 feet in June 1981. A 4 mph speed limit is en- ages 21 inches (533 mm) in any given year. The snowi- forced on the creeks. est month is February with an average of six inches (99) The ferry landing near the entrance of Penataquit (152 mm). Snow has fallen in each month, November Creek had a reported depth of about 5 feet at its end in through April. The greatest 24-hour total snowfall was June 1981. From the landing, ferries connect with eight inches (203 mm) which fell in March 1993. Ocean Beach and Saltaire year round and with Point o’ Woods, Kismet, Fair Harbor, Dunewood, Atlantique, (91) Tropical storms have influenced the area fourteen Sea View and Ocean Bay Park during the summer. times since 1871. Most recently, Hurricane Gloria passed within 10 miles west of Islip in September 1985. Small-craft facilities Gloria made landfall about halfway between Kennedy (100) There are several small-craft facilities in Pena- and Islip and provided sustained winds of 75 knots at time of landfall for the Islip area. Only two days earlier, taquit and Watchogue Creeks. (See the small-craft fa- Gloria was a 125-knot hurricane. cilities tabulation on chart 12352 for services and supplies available.) (92) (See page 432 for the Islip climatological table.) (93) The Long Island U.S. Courthouse (40°45’35\"N., (101) There are several creeks and a dredged boat basin between Watchogue Creek and Conklin Point to the 73°11’25\"W.), is prominent feature in East Islip, across southwestward. These waterways are for the most part Champlin Creek from Islip. The building is rectangular privately maintained and for the exclusive use of the lo- with a cone-shaped entrance and is constructed of cal property owners. white and gray panels and is 281 feet high; reported to be visible from 20 miles offshore. (94) Great Cove, on the north side of Great South Bay (102) Fire Island Inlet, about 28 miles westward along about 4 miles westward of Nicoll Point, has depths of 4 the south coast of Long Island from Moriches Inlet, is to 8 feet. A line of private orange and white spar buoys the only direct entrance from the Atlantic to Great across the mouth of Great Cove marks a shellfish clo- South Bay. The inlet is subject to frequent changes and sure area. has been moving westward for many years. Mariners are warned to beware of extreme tidal turbulence espe- cially during times of tidal change and should seek
362 ■ Chapter 10 ■ Coast Pilot 2 local knowledge of the latest conditions before enter- treacherous, and has numerous short bends. Caution ing. Navigation of the inlet is difficult even with rela- should be exercised when navigating in these areas in tively calm seas, and for small craft it can be extremely small boats. dangerous. During heavy weather, the entrance usually (111) Several channels lead from Fire Island Inlet to is obstructed by breakers. places in Great South Bay and connecting inside water- ways. From the Robert Moses Causeway Bridge, located COLREGS Demarcation Lines just inside the inlet, the channel leads northeastward (103) The lines established for Fire Island Inlet are de- off the eastern tip of Oak Beach. It then connects with Farm Shoals Channel to the southeastward and later scribed in 80.160, chapter 2. with East Channel, which follows the buoyed channel along the north side of Great South Beach and joins (104) Fire Island Light (40°37'57\"N., 73°13'07\"W.), 167 with the inside passage south of Nicoll Bay. It has a feet above the water, is shown from a black and white depth of about 7 feet although in April 2008, there was horizontally banded tower about 4 miles east-north- shoaling to less than 1 foot between Fire Island Inlet eastward of Democrat Point. Fire Island Coast Guard and Farm Shoals. Range Channel, just westward of Station is about 1.9 miles west-southwestward of the East Channel, has a depth of about 6 feet. West Chan- light. A water tower, about 208 feet high, marked by nel, just westward of Fire Islands, has a depth of about floodlights and visible for 16 miles, is about 0.1 mile 7 feet. Dickerson Channel, northeastward of Captree southwest of the Fire Island Coast Guard Station. Island, had a reported depth of 4 feet in June 1981. These channels are marked with buoys that are shifted (105) The Robert Moses Causeway Bridge over Fire Is- in position with changing conditions. land Inlet, 2.1 miles inside the entrance, has a clear- (112) From Fire Island Inlet the State Boat Channel ance of 65 feet at the 464-foot center span. The bridge is leads westward through Great South Bay and South an excellent radar target at a range of more than 12 Oyster Bay to Zacks Bay at Jones Beach State Park, miles. thence westward in Hempstead Bay through winding channels, well marked by lights, buoys, and daybeacons (106) Two boat basins at the Robert Moses (Fire Island) to Reynolds Channel at Point Lookout, just west of State Park are entered just westward of the southern Jones Inlet. Two buoys mark submerged obstructions end of the bridge. Berths and water are available in the on the south side of the entrance to the channel. In basins between sunrise and sunset. In June 1981, 2005, shoaling was reported in the channel just E of depths of 7 feet and 6 feet were reported available in the Buoy 76. east and west basins, respectively. (113) The speed of vessels is limited to 10.4 knots (12 mph) in the channel and 3.5 knots (4 mph) in the areas Currents designated as basin or anchorage. (107) The currents in Fire Island Inlet, after crossing the (114) A marina on the south side of the channel at the eastern end of Captree Island has berthage, gasoline, bar, have a velocity of about 2.4 knots at full strength diesel fuel, water, and ice. and are influenced greatly by the force and direction of (115) The Robert Moses Causeway Bridge over the State the wind. (Consult the Tidal Current Tables for predic- Boat Channel, connecting Oak Beach with Captree Is- tions.) In the bay, currents have little velocity except in land, has twin bascule spans with a clearance of 29 feet the narrow channels between the shoals and within a at the center. (See 117.1 through 117.59 and 117.799 radius of 3 miles from Fire Island Coast Guard Station (a) through (c) and (i), chapter 2, for drawbridge regu- where their estimated velocity is 1 to 1.5 knots. lations.) The twin fixed spans of this bridge and cause- way over the inside passage in Great South Bay (108) Fire Island Inlet remains open throughout the between Captree Island and Conklin Point have a clear- year, but ice does become a problem in the inland chan- ance of 60 feet for a middle width of 460 feet. nels through Great South Bay from early January (116) A shellfish closure area, marked by private yellow through about mid-March. buoys, extends from the Robert Moses Causeway at Conklin Point westward for about 6.8 miles to (109) The area between Fire Island Inlet and Jones Inlet Narraskatuck Creek. is characterized by low, sandy beaches and numerous (117) Oak Island Channel, locally known as Babylon Cut, islands fringed by vast stretches of marshy ground. extends northwestward from the State Boat Channel Many shallow areas, irregular in outline, are a serious from a point opposite the northeastern end of Oak menace to the navigation of light-draft vessels. An ex- tensive network of bays, creeks, coves, channels, and inlets covers the entire area. (110) The channel connecting Great South Bay with Jones Inlet, East Bay, and South Oyster Bay is narrow,
South Coast of Long Island ■ Chapter 10 ■ 363 Island to Great South Bay and Babylon Cove. In 1981, 1981, the privately dredged and marked entrance chan- the channel, marked by seasonal buoys, had a reported nel leading northward from East West Channel had a controlling depth of 6 feet except for shoaling to an un- reported controlling depth of 4 feet. known extent in the channel opposite Grass Island. From a point about 1.7 miles above the State Boat (124) Several small-craft facilities are on the creek. (See Channel, Oak Island Channel connects with a privately the small-craft facilities tabulation on chart 12352 for dredged and marked channel, locally known as East services and supplies available.) Several creeks to the West Channel, that leads westward and parallels the westward have been improved in a similar manner. northern shore of Great South Bay for about 6 miles to South Oyster Bay. In June 1981, East West Channel had (125) In July 1980, a submerged obstruction was re- a reported controlling depth of about 4 feet. Several ported about 0.55 mile southwest of the mouth of West channels, some leading northward into the waterways Babylon Creek in about 40°40'00\"N., 73°20'38\"W. on the north side of Great South Bay and some leading southward to the State Boat Channel, connect with (126) Oak Beach is primarily a summer resort and fish- East West Channel. These connecting channels are dis- ing village on the north side of Fire Island Inlet. The cussed later in this chapter. channel to the village pier, passing eastward of Oak Is- (118) Babylon is a town on the north shore of Great land, has a depth of about 9 feet. A tall lighted mast on South Bay. A flag pole and a church spire are promi- the south side of Oak Beach is prominent. nent. The public landing, about 0.3 mile northward of Sampawams Point and at the mouth of Sampawams (127) Cedar Island Beach and Gilgo Beach, westward of Creek, had a reported depth of 6 feet at the end in 1993. Oak Beach, are maintained and operated by the County Approaching around Sampawams Point, give the point and Township authorities and are not part of the Long a berth of 0.3 mile when southeastward of it and head Island State Park System. northwestward to the wharf. (119) Sampawams Creek, just northward of the wharf, (128) Neguntatogue Creek, on the north side of Great has been dredged to reclaim adjacent lands and is South Bay at the town of Lindenhurst, has several bulkheaded on the west side. The entrance is marked by small-craft facilities. In June 2000, the reported con- private seasonal buoys and a private light. It is used as trolling depth in the entrance to the creek was 4 feet. an anchorage by small craft and has a depth of about 5 Berths, electricity, gasoline, diesel fuel, water, ice, stor- feet through the entrance and greater depths inside. age, and marine supplies are available; hull and engine Boats also anchor between the public landing and repairs can be made. Sampawams Point. This anchorage becomes choppy during easterly or southeasterly winds. (129) Fox Creek Channel, privately dredged and marked by private seasonal aids, leads from the mouth of Small-craft facilities Neguntatogue Creek across Great South Bay to a junc- (120) There are several small-craft facilities on the creek. tion with the State Boat Channel just eastward of Cedar Island. In June 1982, the reported controlling depth (See the small-craft facilities tabulation on chart 12352 was 3 feet. for services and supplies available.) (130) Strongs Creek, westward of Neguntatogue Creek, (121) Carlls River, westward of Sampawams Point, in in June 1981, had a controlling depth of 7 feet in the June 1981, had a reported controlling depth of 5 feet in privately dredged entrance channel leading northward the privately dredged entrance channel leading north- from East West Channel. ward from East West Channel. In June 1982, shoaling to an unknown extent was reported in the channel. Small-craft facilities (131) Small-craft facilities in the creek have storage and a 12-ton mobile hoist; hull and engine repairs can be made. Small-craft facilities (132) Great Neck Creek, westward of Strongs Point, has (122) Small-craft facilities on the river have berthage, a depth of about 7 feet in the privately dredged entrance channel leading northward from East West Channel; gasoline, water, marine supplies, a 9-ton lift, and a greater depths are inside. 40-ton mobile hoist; hull and engine repairs can be made. In 1993, depths of 5 to 6 feet were reported (133) Woods Creek is westward of Howell Point and alongside at the facilities. Howell Creek. In 2005, the reported controlling depth in the entrance was 3 feet. Gasoline is available just in- (123) West Babylon Creek, locally known as Mud Creek, side the entrance and a small-craft facility at the head is about 1 mile westward of Sampawams Point. In June of the creek can provide limited berths, electricity,
364 ■ Chapter 10 ■ Coast Pilot 2 gasoline, water, some marine supplies, a pump-out sta- Chart 12352 tion, winter storage, and a 30-ton lift; hull, engine and electrical repairs can be made. (142) Jones Beach State Park, on the south coast of Long (134) Amityville Creek, on the north side of the western Island, comprises about 2,500 acres and is under the extremity of Great South Bay, had a reported control- jurisdiction of the Long Island State Park and Recre- ling depth of about 3 feet in June 1981. The entrance to ation Commission. A prominent red brick water tower, the creek is marked on the west side by a private light. 204 feet high, with a pyramid top, 3.5 miles eastward of Several boatyards on the creek have marine railways, Jones Inlet, is the center of Central Mall. The tower, the largest of which can handle craft up to 50 feet in flood-lighted at night, is visible 16 miles. Zachs Bay, a length; gasoline, water, ice, storage, marine supplies, dredged basin above Jones Beach State Park, has and complete engine and hull repairs are available. depths of 4 to 29 feet. The eastern part of Zachs Bay is (135) Amityville is a small town on the north shore of used as an anchorage; a swimming area marked by pri- Great South Bay at its western extremity . The village vate buoys is in the western part of the bay. wharf bares at low water at its face. Amityville Cut ex- tends southward from Amityville Creek and joins the (143) Stone Creek, marked by seasonal buoys and with a State Boat Channel near Gilgo Beach. The privately reported depth of about 2 feet in June 1981, leads maintained and marked channel had a reported con- northward from Sloop Channel and eastward of Green trolling depth of 8 feet in 1993. Island to the village of Seaford at the head of Seaford (136) Narraskatuck Creek, 0.5 miles westward of Amityville Creek. In August 1992, severe shoaling to an unknown Creek had a reported depth of about 3 feet in June 1981. depth was reported north of Great Island Channel Lighted Buoy Z2. Small-craft facilities Small-craft facilities (137) The small-craft facilities on the creek have gaso- (144) There are many small-craft facilities at Seaford and line, berths, electricity, water, ice, storage, and marine in the vicinity. Berthage, electricity, gasoline, water, supplies. Mobile hoists can handle craft up to 20 tons; ice, storage, marine supplies, and small-craft launch- hull, engine, and electrical repairs can be made. ing ramps are available. The largest mobile hoist is 30 tons; hull, engine and electrical repairs can be made. (138) Carman Creek, about 0.8 mile westward of Amityville Creek, is used by boats drawing 4 to 5 feet. (145) The Wantagh State Parkway bridge crosses Sloop Channel from Jones Beach State Park to Green Island (139) South Oyster Bay, lying between Great South Bay and has a fixed span with a clearance of 15 feet; the and Hempstead Bay, is shoal over its greater part. A bridge is temporary. A permanent bascule bridge is be- channel marked by buoys and daybeacons, good for a ing built close southwest of the existing temporary draft of 4 feet at high water, extends through the bay. bridge with a design clearance of 14 feet. The other Through traffic uses the State Boat Channel and con- bridges, which are part of the Wantagh State Parkway, necting lanes on the south side of the Bay. have the following clearances: 16 feet for the bascule span over Goose Creek between Green Island and Great (140) Gilgo Heading, a channel and basin between the Island; and 12 feet for the fixed span across Island State Boat Channel and Gilgo Beach, has a depth of Creek. (See 117.1 through 117.59 and 117.799 (a) about 7 feet. through (c) and (i), chapter 2, for drawbridge regula- tions.) Chart 12352 (141) Hempstead Bay is on the south side of Long Island Caution inside the beach extending from the west end of Great (146) The current is reported to be swift during periods South Bay to Far Rockaway. The bay has many sloughs that are subject to change in the vicinity of the inlets of maximum flood and ebb at the bridge crossing the and where dredging is done to reclaim land. Naviga- Sloop Channel from Green Island to Jones Beach State tional aids marking the main channels of the bay are Park, and has a tendency to set boats into the bridge maintained by the town of Hempstead. Many shoal abutments. Mariners are advised to avoid this part of spots, some to a foot or less, have been reported at sev- the channel during these periods and to use the sec- eral areas of the rivers and channels. ondary route in Goose Creek, north of Green Island. (147) A privately marked channel, locally known as Race- horse Channel, with a depth of about 6 feet, leads northward from Sloop Channel and westward of Green
South Coast of Long Island ■ Chapter 10 ■ 365 Island to the western entrance of Island Creek. Olivers the bascule span between Meadow Island and Alder Is- Channel, marked by private buoys and daybeacons, land, and 20 feet for the 29-foot fixed span over leads westward from near the north end of Racehorse Reynolds Channel between Alder Island and Point Channel to East Bay. Lookout. (See 117.1 through 117.59 and 117.799 (a) (148) A fish haven, marked by a private buoy, is near the through (c) and (f), chapter 2, for drawbridge regula- middle of East Bay. tions.) In August 1998, a replacement fixed bridge was under construction across Swift Creek, between West Small-craft facilities Crow Island and Meadow Island, just south of the exist- (149) On the north side of East Bay, there are several ing bridge with a design clearance of 20 feet. (155) Jones Inlet, about 12 miles westward along the small-craft facilities at the head of Bellmore Creek and south coast of Long Island from Fire Island Inlet, is the on the west side of Nicks Point. (See the small-craft fa- principal entrance from the Atlantic to the inside pas- cilities tabulation on 12352 for services and supplies sages and towns in Hempstead Bay. The inlet, which is available.) used mostly by pleasure craft and fishermen, should not be attempted without local knowledge because the (150) Sloop Channel, the main channel leading east channel and depths are constantly changing. from Jones Inlet, extends along the north side of Short (156) The approach is marked by a lighted whistle buoy. Beach and Jones Beach State Park. The channel is (157) A light is at the outer end of the jetty on the east marked by buoys and daybeacons. In June 1981, shoal- side of the entrance to Jones Inlet. A small-craft basin is ing to 3 feet was reported on the south side of Sloop inside the inlet on the north side of Jones Beach; Channel from about 0.3 mile southwest of Meadow- berths, electricity, water, and a pump-out station are brook State Parkway Bridge to about 0.45 mile north- available. Jones Beach Coast Guard Station is in the east of the bridge. In 2005, shoaling to bare was small-craft basin. reported in the channel south of Short Beach Island, (158) In February-March 2008, the controlling depth was obstructing the eastern entrance and part of the west- 8.1 feet in the channel from Point Lookout (40°35.6'N., ern entrance. 73°34.6'W.) to the Loop Parkway Bridge over Long Creek. The buoys and soundings in Jones Inlet are not (151) A channel with reported depths of 3 to 4 feet in charted because of continual changes; caution and lo- June 1981 leads between Snipe Island and Egg Island cal knowledge are advised. into Haunts Creek on the western side of Deep Creek Meadow and joins Sloop Channel northwestward of Currents Jones Beach State Park. (159) The tidal current in the inlet has a velocity of about (152) The channel joining Haunts Creek east of East 3 knots. (See Tidal Current Tables for predictions.) Crow Island and leading northward through Broad Creek Channel to East Bay, and thence to Merrick Tides Creek, has a depth of about 1 foot. The channel joining (160) The mean range of tide is 3.6 feet. Sloop Channel just west of the Meadowbrook State Parkway Bridge leads north through Swift Creek and COLREGS Demarcation Lines Neds Creek to East Bay; the channel bares at low water (161) The lines established for Jones Inlet are described about 0.7 mile north-northeastward of the bridge be- tween West Crow Island and Pettit Marsh. The channel in 80.160, chapter 2. between False Channel Meadow and Pettit Marsh has a depth of about 5 feet and leads to Freeport Creek, dis- (162) Point Lookout is a village on the east end of the cussed later in this chapter. barrier beach on the west side of Jones Inlet. A large lighted tank in the western part of the town is promi- (153) The Meadowbrook State Parkway Bridge has the nent. following clearances: 21 feet for the bascule span across Sloop Channel between Jones Beach State Park and Small-craft facilities Jones Island, 14 feet for the 29-foot fixed span between (163) Small-craft facilities are on either side of the West Crow Island and Pettit Marsh, and 12 feet for the 29-foot fixed span between Pettit Marsh and Fighting bridge. (See the small-craft facilities tabulation on Island. (See 117.1 through 117.59 and 117.799 (a) chart 12352 for services and supplies available.) through (c) and (h), chapter 2, for drawbridge regula- tions.) (164) Long Creek, marked by seasonal lighted and unlighted buoys, leads northward from Jones Inlet be- (154) The Loop Parkway Bridge has the following clear- tween Alder Island and Meadow Island, and between ances: 20 feet for the fixed span over Swift Creek be- tween West Crow Island and Meadow Island, 21 feet for
366 ■ Chapter 10 ■ Coast Pilot 2 Smith Meadow and Pine Marsh to Freeport. The chan- of the route between the inlets. The channel is crossed nel below the Loop Parkway Bridge has been improved by several bridges. by dredging as previously mentioned. The channel above the bridge at the intersection with Sea Dog Currents Creek is subject to frequent change; local information (173) Strong currents exist in the western portion of should be obtained before using these waters. The channel above the intersection with Sea Dog Creek had Reynolds Channel, and caution must be exercised a reported depth of about 12 feet in June 1981. A chan- when approaching the drawbridges, particularly with a nel between Pine Marsh and Pettit Marsh, with a re- fair current; the signal to open the bridge should be ported depth of about 12 feet in June 1981, joins with given sufficiently in advance so the bridge can be The Narrows and Long Creek about 1 mile northward cleared of traffic and the draw opened before the vessel of the Bay of Fundy. arrives there. The currents of the two inlets meet at the (165) Freeport Creek, leading northward from The Nar- entrance of the channel leading west from Cinder rows, had a controlling depth of 3½ feet in January Creek. 1980. In July 1993, a visible wreck was reported near the mouth of the creek, just east of Buoy Q9, in about (174) A 5 mph speed limit is enforced in the channel be- 40°37'53\"N., 73°33'55\"W. Great Sand Creek, between tween Middle Island and Point Lookout. Pettit Marsh and False Channel Meadow, had a reported depth of about 5 feet in June 1981. Several boatyards (175) A secondary channel extending northwestward and marinas are along Freeport Creek where gasoline, through Cinder Creek and westward of Parsonage Is- diesel fuel, water, and marine supplies may be obtained; land to middle Bay had a reported depth of about 3 feet complete engine and hull repairs can be made. in June 1981. The channel is not marked. (166) Hudson Channel, extending northward to the piers at Freeport, had a reported depth of about 4 feet in June (176) Garrett Lead, the primary channel extending 1981. Woodcleft Canal, westward of Hudson Channel, northeastward from Reynolds Channel to Middle Bay, had a depth of about 13 feet. is marked by a lighted buoy, a light, buoys, and (167) Freeport is a city on the north shore of Baldwin daybeacons. In June 1981, the channel had a reported Bay with rail and bus communications to New York controlling depth of 5 feet. City and other points on Long Island. Chart 12352 Small-craft facilities (168) Many small-craft facilities are at Freeport. (See the (177) Long Beach is a seaside resort on the outer beach about 4 miles west of Point Lookout. The waterfront on small-craft facilities tabulation on chart 12352 for ser- the bayside is bulkheaded. vices and supplies available.) (178) The highway bridges crossing Reynolds Channel Anchorages between Long Beach and Island Park have bascule (169) A general anchorage is in Randall Bay at the north- spans with clearances of 20 feet. The railroad bridge about 0.2 mile westward of the highway bridges has a east end of Baldwin Bay. (See 110.1 and 110.156, bascule span with a clearance of 14 feet. (See 117.1 chapter 2, for limits and regulations.) through 117.59 and 117.799 (a) through (c) and (g), chapter 2, for drawbridge regulations.) (170) A channel with a reported depth of about 7 feet in June 1981, passes through Scow Creek to Baldwin Har- (179) A dock of the Long Beach Hospital is on the south bor. A channel connecting Baldwin Harbor with side of Reynolds Channel about 0.3 mile eastward of the Randall Bay had a reported depth of about 5 feet in June highway bridge; medical aid to boatmen is available 1981. here. The dock is marked by a square white sign with a large red cross. (171) Milburn Creek, a dredged channel extending northward to Baldwin from Baldwin Bay, had reported (180) Just westward of the railroad bridge, a dredged depths of about 5 feet in June 1981. The entrance to the channel passes through Island Park. In June 1981, the channel is marked by private seasonal barrel buoys. A channel had a reported controlling depth of about 6 dredged channel with a reported depth of about 8 feet feet. The fixed footbridge and highway bridge crossing in June 1981 in the northern part of Middle Bay leads to the channel have a least clearance of 7 feet. Several Parsonage Cove. wharves are available at Island Park. (172) Reynolds Channel extends westward from Jones (181) Hog Island Channel, the main route to the towns Inlet to East Rockaway Inlet and is the main thorofare of Oceanside and East Rockaway, joins Reynolds Chan- nel southwestward of Island Park and leads westward of Island Park, then eastward of West, East, and North
South Coast of Long Island ■ Chapter 10 ■ 367 Meadows. East Rockaway Channel, privately marked bridges over Woodmere Channel northwestward of and an alternate and shallower route to the towns, joins Brosewere Bay have a least clearance of 11 feet. Hog Island Channel about 0.8 mile and 2.4 miles above (188) Atlantic Beach is an oceanfront and bayside com- Reynolds Channel. Oceanside and East Rockaway are munity on the east side of East Rockaway Inlet. Facil- along the east and west sides, respectively, of the north- ities for mooring are eastward and westward of the ern part of East Rockaway Channel. highway bridge. Gasoline, diesel fuel, water, provisions, (182) In June 1981, the reported controlling depth in and other supplies are available. Hog Island Channel was 10 feet to the oil dock at a (189) Bannister Creek, just east of the Atlantic Beach powerplant about 1.75 miles above the junction with Bridge, has depths of 7 to 12 feet. Bridge Creek extends Reynolds Channel, thence about 8 feet to the northern west just above the mouth of Bannister Creek. A small junction with East Rockaway Channel. In June 1981, boatyard on the creek can haul out craft up to 6 tons for East Rockaway Channel had a reported controlling hull and engine repairs; water, a pump-out, and some depth of 6 feet to its head. marine supplies are available. (183) Mariners of vessels transiting Hog Island Channel (190) The highway bridge crossing Reynolds Channel to in the vicinity of the public beach at the village of Island Atlantic Beach just inside East Rockaway Inlet has a Park are requested to proceed at a speed that will create bascule span with a clearance of 25 feet. (See 117.1 minimum wave wash and wake, and avoid damage to through 117.59 and 117.799 (a) through (c) and (e), the beach facilities. chapter 2, for drawbridge regulations.) The bridgetender (184) There are numerous marginal-type petroleum monitors VHF-FM channel 13; call sign KFL–348. wharves along the eastern side of Hog Island Channel (191) East Rockaway Inlet, about 8 miles westward between 1.75 and 2.25 miles above the junction with along the south coast of Long Island from Jones Inlet, Reynolds Channel. In June 1981, depths of 6 to 10 feet is the westernmost entrance from the Atlantic to were reported alongside the wharves; oil barges and Hempstead Bay and the inland water route along the coastal tankers berth at or near high tide and ground south shore of Long Island. The inlet is subject to fre- out at low tide when alongside. quent changes, but is reported to be usually safer to navigate than Jones or Fire Island Inlets. The aids Small-craft facilities marking the inlet are periodically moved to mark the (185) There are extensive small-craft facilities along the best water; local knowledge is advised. (192) Two large identical apartment buildings are promi- south and southeast sides of Island Park, and also on nent about 0.8 mile north-northeastward of the jetty East Rockaway Channel at Oceanside and East light. Rockaway. (See the small-craft facilities tabulation on chart 12352 for services and supplies available.) Currents (193) The tidal current in the inlet has a velocity of about (186) Broad Channel, which joins Reynolds Channel eastward of Hicks Beach and leads to Hewlett Bay and 2.3 knots. (See the Tidal Current Tables for predic- Macy Channel, had a reported depth of about 3 feet in tions.) Caution should be exercised when passing June 1981. through the inlet and bridge at times of maximum cur- rent. (187) Woodsburgh Channel, which joins Broad Channel about 0.5 mile northward of Hicks Beach and leads Tides northwestward to Woodsburgh, had a reported con- (194) The mean range of tide is 4.1 feet in East Rockaway trolling depth of 3 feet in June 1981. The two fixed Inlet and from about 2 to 4 feet in Hempstead Bay.
74°15’ 74° 73°45’ 368 ■ Chapter 11 ■ Coast Pilot 2 SMALL-CRAFT CHARTS AND MARINE FACILITIES CHARTS 12337 Hudson River These specially designed charts are published with small craft information and are labeled in green Passaic River Hackensack River CONVENTIONAL CHARTS HARBOR CHARTS (outlined in red) - scales 1:50,000 and larger. COAST CHARTS (outlined in purple) - scales from 1:50,001 to 1:150,000. GENERAL CHARTS (outlined in purple) - scales from 1:150,001 to 1:600,000. Note: not all charts are shown Hoboken Manhattan Jersey City New York City 12334 NEW JERSEY Newark LONG ISLAND 12333 Elizabethport Bayonne Upper Bay Brooklyn Jamaica Bay Arthur Kill Kill Van Kull 12331 STATEN ISLAND Great Kills Lower Bay Rockaway Inlet Perth Amboy 12350 12402 NORTH 40°30’ ATLANTIC Raritan River Raritan Bay Sandy Hook OCEAN 12332 Sandy Hook Bay Port Monmouth 12401
New York Harbor and Approaches ■ Chapter 11 ■ 369 New York Harbor and Approaches (1) This chapter describes New York Harbor and its ap- close as 1 mile, with not less than 30 feet except off the proaches and the areas adjacent to it bounded by and inlets where the shore should be given a berth of at including Jamaica Bay to the eastward and Sandy Hook least 1.5 miles. This coast is characterized by sandy Bay to southward. Included in the text in addition to beaches and summer resorts at the eastern end, and the facilities at New York City and Staten Island are the amusement parks and densely settled communities at New Jersey ports of Perth Amboy, Port Elizabeth, Port the western end. Newark, Bayonne, and others which are accessible (6) The shoreline is broken by three prominent and through tributaries that empty into New York Harbor navigable inlets which lead to the inland waterway such as Arthur Kill, Kill Van Kull, Passaic River, and along the south shore of Long Island. Fire Island Inlet Hackensack River. The Hudson River above New York is at the eastern extremity, and its entrance is marked City is discussed in chapter 12, and the East River, the by lights and buoys. Jones Inlet is about 12 miles to the approach to New York Harbor from Long Island Sound, west of Fire Island Inlet. The entrance is prominently is discussed in chapter 9. indicated by the 202-foot lighted tower at Jones Beach on the eastern side and by an elevated tank at Point COLREGS Demarcation Lines Lookout on the west side of the inlet. Jones Beach State (2) The lines established for New York Harbor are de- Park is on the east side of the inlet; a lighted tower in the park is a conspicuous landmark. scribed in 80.165, chapter 2. (7) East Rockaway Inlet, about 8 miles westward of Jones Inlet, is the extreme western entrance to the in- Charts 12326, 12327, 12401 land waterway. The inlet entrance is marked by a break- water with a light on its seaward end. The shoreline (3) The approach to New York Harbor from seaward is between the two inlets is closely built up with large generally along the south coast of Long Island or the communities. Elevated tanks, towers, and other tall east coast of New Jersey, although the harbor is easily structures are prominent in this area. approached from any direction between east and south. During the approach, the south shore of Long Island (8) A fish haven is about 2 miles offshore midway be- will be seen to northward and the low sandy beaches of tween East Rockaway Inlet and Rockaway Point. the New Jersey shore will be observed to westward. The Long Island shore is readily identified by sand hillocks (9) Rockaway Point, 17 miles westward of Jones Inlet, and thickly settled beach communities, whereas the is the southwestern extremity of Long Island and the New Jersey shore is characterized by long sandy eastern entrance to New York Lower Bay. A breakwater, stretches and many summer resort settlements. marked at its seaward end by a light, extends southward from the point. Rockaway Inlet forms a large deep en- Prominent features trance to Jamaica Bay. (4) The four most prominent landmarks, which can be (10) In August 2008, the demolition of Ambrose Light seen for a long distance at sea, are the Fire Island Light was reported to have commenced and a temporary and a tower at Jones Beach on the Long Island shore, lighted whistle buoy at 40°26'54\"N., 73°47'48\"W. was and the Highlands of Navesink and the microwave established. tower at Atlantic Highlands on the north end of the New Jersey coast. When nearing the Lower Bay of New (11) Sandy Hook, the southern entrance point to New York Harbor, Ambrose Light will be seen; it marks the York Harbor, is low and sandy. A Coast Guard station entrance to Ambrose Channel which is the principal and two radio towers are near the northern extremity deepwater passage through the Lower Bay. of Sandy Hook. The towers and a large green standpipe (5) The south coast of Long Island from Fire Island In- to the southeast are the most prominent objects on the let to Rockaway Inlet has a general 263° trend for 30 northern end of Sandy Hook. Southward of the miles. It is a clean shore and may be approached as standpipe are several houses and Sandy Hook Light (40°27'42\"N., 74°00'07\"W.), 88 feet above the water and
370 ■ Chapter 11 ■ Coast Pilot 2 shown from a white stone tower, 85 feet high. This section is called the Mud Gorge and the offshore sec- light, established in 1764, is the oldest in continuous tion the Hudson Canyon. In some sections of this cut use in the United States. the depths are considerably greater than those adjacent (12) The most prominent landmark southward of the to it and the walls are very steep. The use of soundings entrance to New York Harbor is the high wooded ridge permits a very accurate determination of a ship’s posi- forming the Highlands of Navesink. A tall condomin- tion by the comparison of the soundings with the depth ium on the ridge and a microwave tower at Atlantic curves on the charts. The bottom of the Mud Gorge is Highlands to the west are also prominent. The brown- usually of mud; on both sides of it sand predominates. stone towers of the abandoned Navesink Lighthouse on (18) Cholera Bank, about 15 miles southeastward of the easternmost spur of the highlands are 73 feet above Ambrose Channel Lighted Whistle Buoy A, is about 2 the ground and about 246 feet above the water. The miles long in an east-west direction and has a least northerly tower is octagonal, and the southerly tower is depth of 10 fathoms. The bank is raised very little above square. A private seasonal light is shown from the the general level of the bottom, however, because the northerly tower. bottom is rocky in character, soundings will give useful indications in thick or foggy weather. During the sum- COLREGS Demarcation Lines mer numerous vessels may be seen on this bank. (13) The lines established for New York Harbor are de- Caution scribed in 80.165, chapter 2. (19) Telegraphic companies report serious interrup- (14) Soundings will be found most useful to warn ves- tions of international telegraphic communications re- sels of too close an approach to the shore in approach- sulting from repeated breaking of their cables by ing New York Harbor. Many vessels have been wrecked vessels anchoring southeastward and eastward of the on the coast of New Jersey and Long Island through Pilot Cruising Area for Ambrose and Sandy Hook chan- failure to take frequent soundings when the position nels. The companies state that they will be glad to com- was uncertain. Depth is a better indication of position pensate any vessel, which, having fouled the cable, cuts off this part of the coast than the character of the bot- away its anchor and chain in order to save the cable tom, as the same characteristics may be found in widely from interruption. Vessels making New York in thick different positions. A frequent use of soundings and weather and finding it necessary to anchor before en- close study of the charts will always give sufficient tering Ambrose Channel should anchor in the area warning of danger. If a vessel is not certain of her posi- southward of Scotland Lighted Whistle Buoy S tion, the depth should not be shoaled to less than 15 (40°26'33\"N., 73°55'01\"W.) and westward of 73°48'00\"W. fathoms on the south coast of Long Island eastward of Fire Island Light, or 11 fathoms between Fire Island Tides Light and Barnegat Lighted Buoy B (39°45'48\"N., (20) The mean range of tide at Sandy Hook is 4.7 feet. 73°46'04\"W.), or 9 fathoms southward of Barnegat Lighted Buoy B. (See the Tide Tables for daily tide predictions.) (15) From the position of the two shores relative to each Currents other and to the entrance to New York Harbor it follows (21) The important currents affecting navigation in the that a course of 215° will deepen the water if the vessel is on the Long Island side of the approach and will shoal approach to New York Harbor are those due to winds. if she is off the New Jersey coast. A course of 035° will The largest velocity likely to occur under storm condi- deepen the water if the vessel is off the New Jersey side tions is about 1.5 knots. A sudden reversal in the direc- of the approach and will shoal if she is off the Long Is- tion of the wind produces a corresponding change in land coast. the current, either diminishing or augmenting the ve- locity. Sustained winds do not maintain the currents at (16) Eastward of Fire Island Light the water shoals quite the maximum velocities. The velocity is about 0.2 knots rapidly toward the Long Island shore, but inside a line at Ambrose Light. The largest velocity likely to occur is drawn from Nantucket Traffic Lane Lighted Horn Buoy 2 knots. NA to Barnegat Lighted Buoy B, there is no marked dif- (22) Between Nantucket and Cape May away from the ference in the soundings as either shore is approached immediate vicinity of the shore, the tidal currents are except in Mud Gorge. generally rotary. They shift direction, usually clock- wise, at an average rate of about 30° an hour, and have (17) Modern surveys show the existence of a canyon, ev- velocities generally less than 0.3 knot except in the vi- idently cut by the Hudson River in prehistoric days, cinities of the entrances to the larger inland waterways across the Continental Shelf, extending about 120 where the velocities increase as the entrances are miles southeastward from off Sandy Hook. The inshore
New York Harbor and Approaches ■ Chapter 11 ■ 371 approached. For a considerable distance from the in- Nantucket Shoals Lighted Whistle Buoy N and 1.5 lets, strengths of flood and ebb set respectively toward knots 3 miles north of Nantucket Traffic Lane Lighted and away from those entrances, and minimums of ve- Horn Buoy NA and off Five Fathom Bank. locity, corresponding to the slacks of reversing cur- (27) Between Gay Head and Montauk Point the tidal rents, set at right angles to the direction of flood and currents set northward on the flood and southward on ebb strengths. the ebb. The estimated velocity at strength where the (23) Offshore and away from the influence of the tidal depth is about 25 fathoms is 0.5 knot; closer inshore flow into and out of the larger bays, the tidal current and near the entrance this velocity increases. maintains an approximately uniform velocity. Shifting (28) Three miles north of Nantucket Traffic Lane its direction continuously to the right, it sets all direc- Lighted Horn Buoy NA the tidal currents have a mean tions of the compass during each tidal cycle of 12.4 velocity at strength of about 0.2 knot in a westward di- hours. (See the Tidal Current Tables for the predicted rection on the flood and an eastward direction on the times and velocities of the tidal currents at a number of ebb. locations in the coastal waters.) (24) Between Nantucket Island and Sandy Hook there is Weather, New York Harbor and approaches a general drift of the sea south-southwestward. The av- (29) Winds play an important role by affecting currents erage velocity of this movement is about 0.1 knot. (25) Approaching New York Harbor from the vicinity of in the harbor. During the winter west and northwest Nantucket Shoals Lighted Whistle Buoy N, a slight al- winds prevail with northerlies and southwesterlies in lowance should be made for a southwesterly set of the secondary roles. The strongest winds are out of the current. With an easterly wind it is customary to allow, west through northwest at 13 to 15 knots, from Janu- in order to make the course good, a set of the current ary through April. The sheltering effect of the land is with it of at least 0.5 knot. apparent when looking at frequencies of winds of 28 (26) The effect of the wind on the current should always knots or more. They blow at Ambrose Light about 8 to 9 be considered. The largest velocities likely to occur percent of the time compared to 1 percent at Kennedy during storms are 2.5 knots about 3 miles northward of Airport and Floyd Bennett Field. Summer winds are of- ten out of the south and southwest with a 10 to 12 knot
372 ■ Chapter 11 ■ Coast Pilot 2 afternoon peak. Fog in the harbor area is more closely Caution related to land type fogs. In winter it is common on (37) Numerous fishing floats have been reported in the clear, calm mornings and more frequent than at Ambrose Light. Southerlies can also bring winter fogs of approach to New York Harbor in the Traffic Separation the advection type. During the spring and early summer Scheme precautionary area. the harbor as well as its approaches are susceptible to advection fog, riding in on east through south winds. A (38) Shipping safety fairways have been established morning peak still exists in the harbor, while Ambrose connecting the eastern approach off Ambrose of Traffic Light exhibits an afternoon maximum. Separation Scheme Off New York and the eastern ap- proach off Nantucket of Traffic Separation Scheme Off North Atlantic Right Whales New York. (See 166.100 through 166.500, chapter 2, (30) Endangered North Atlantic right whales may occur for limits and regulations.) within the approaches to New York Harbor within 30 Vessel Traffic Service, New York nautical miles of the New York and New Jersey coasts (39) New York Harbor has a Vessel Traffic Service. (See (peak season: November through April). The Sandy Hook Pilots distribute educational material to mari- §161.1 through §161.25, chapter 2, for regulations.) ners in an effort to reduce right whale ship strikes. (See (40) Recommended minimum under-keel clearance for North Atlantic Right Whales, indexed as such, chapter 3, for more information on right whales and recom- selected areas of the Harbor Safety, Navigation and mended measures to avoid collisions with whales.) Operations Committee of the Port of New York and (31) Gateway National Recreation Area and harbor por- New Jersey.–In order to prevent groundings and to poise protection Marine Protected Areas (MPAs) extend promote the safety and environmental security of the from the waters off Long Island along the New Jersey waterway resources of the Port of New York and New shoreline. (See Appendix C, for additional informa- Jersey, the Harbor Operations Committee of the Port tion.) of New York and New Jersey recommends that all enti- ties responsible for the safe movement of vessels in and (32) Information about the coast south of Sandy Hook through the waters of the Port of New York and New is contained in United States Coast Pilot 3, Atlantic Jersey operate vessels in such a manner as to maintain Coast, Sandy Hook to Cape Henry. a minimum clearance of two feet between the deepest draft of their vessel and channel bottom in the follow- Charts 12326, 12327, 12401, 12402 ing named channels: (41) Lower Bay: (33) New York Harbor is the principal entrance by water (42) 1) Ambrose Channel (3 ft minimum under-keel to New York City and the surrounding ports. The har- clearance due to wave and sea action) bor is divided by The Narrows into Lower Bay and Up- (43) 2) Sandy Hook Channel per Bay. The Battery, the southern tip of Manhattan, is (44) 3) Chapel Hill Channel at the junction of East River and Hudson River. The (45) Upper Bay: main channel from the sea to the deepwater terminals (46) 1) Anchorage Channel (The Narrows to The Bat- in Hudson River has a project depth of 45 feet. tery) (47) 2) Bay Ridge Channel (34) Traffic Separation Scheme Off New York has been (48) 3) Red Hook Channel established in the approaches to New York Harbor from (49) 4) Buttermilk Channel the sea. (See charts 12300 and 12326.) (See also 167.1 (50) North River: through 167.155, chapter 2, for limits and regula- (51) 1) The Battery to 79th Street tions.) (52) East River: (53) 1) The Battery to Throgs Neck Bridge (35) (See Traffic Separation Schemes, chapter 1, for ad- (54) Kill Van Kull: ditional information, and chapter 3 for a discussion of (55) 1) Constable Hook Reach North Atlantic Lane Routes.) (56) 2) Bergen Point Reach (57) 3) North of Shooters Island Reach Pilot Boat Cruising Area, New York Harbor (58) 4) Elizabethport Reach (36) The pilot boat maintains station in the trian- (59) Newark Bay: (60) 1) Newark Bay Reach - Bergen Point to Droyers gle-shaped cruising area east of Scotland Lighted Point Whistle Buoy S. See Pilotage, New York Harbor and Ap- (61) Hackensack River: proaches (indexed as such), this chapter. (62) 1) Droyers Point to the turning basin at Marion
New York Harbor and Approaches ■ Chapter 11 ■ 373 (63) Passaic River: Area. This assessment process will include a review of (64) 1) Kearney Point real-time water level information from the P.O.R.T.S.®. (65) Arthur Kill: (84) Physical Oceanographic Real-Time System (66) 1) Gulfport Reach (P.O.R.T.S.®) is an information acquisition and dis- (67) 2) Pralls Island Reach semination technology developed by the National (68) 3) Tremley Point Reach Ocean Service, NOAA. The Port of New York and New (69) 4) Fresh Kills Reach Jersey Physical Oceanographic Real-Time System can (70) 5) Port Reading Reach be contacted via telephone (728) 815-9668/9684 or the (71) 6) Port Socony Reach Internet at: http://www.co-ops.nos.noaa.gov. (72) 7) Outer Bridge Reach (85) Also to be considered are the vessel’s intended track (73) Raritan Bay: including particular areas of inadequate water depth (74) 1) Raritan Bay West Reach with the pilot’s plan for their avoidance, any other local (75) 2) Raritan Bay East Reach conditions which might further restrict vessel move- (76) 3) Seguine Point Bend ment, as well as special traffic routing measures that (77) 4) Red Bank Reach might be required. If VTS NY deems this assessment to (78) 5) Ward Point Reach be necessary, the VTS Watch Officer will request on (79) A recommended standard of “always afloat” will ap- VHF-FM that the pilot contact VTS via land-line or cel- lular telephone. Discussion on under-keel clearance ply to all other areas, including berths, in the Port Dis- plans shall not be conducted on VHF-FM. It is in the trict that abut the above listed channels. Ship related best interest of all parties to insure situations of mar- factors such as squat, turning heel and other dynamic ginal under-keel clearance are identified and thor- motions should be considered and, if expected, added to oughly discussed well prior to a vessel’s underway time. this figure to insure a minimum clearance of two feet These guidelines were adopted by the Harbor Opera- will be maintained throughout a given transit. tions Committee on 20 September 1995 and became ef- fective 1 January 1996. Conformance (80) The owner, master, or person in charge of each ves- Traffic in New York Harbor (86) In the East River between the Brooklyn Bridge and sel has the ultimate responsibility for maintaining this minimum recommended under-keel clearance. Addi- Poorhouse Flats Range, shallow-draft vessels custom- tionally, persons directing the movement of vessels arily keep to the west (Manhattan) side of the channel share this responsibility and are expected to advise whether northbound or southbound, thereby reserving owners, operators and persons in charge of vessels if, in the east (Brooklyn) side of the channel for deep-draft their judgement, a vessel is not in conformance with vessels. Vessels transiting East River should be aware of these standards. this practice and anticipate northbound shallow-draft (81) If at any time a vessel’s under-keel clearance is not vessels crossing from east to west in the vicinity of in conformance with this recommendation and own- Corlears Hook, and from west to east in the vicinity of ers, masters, or others in charge of the vessel desire to Newtown Creek. proceed against the pilot’s recommendation, pilots are (87) The New York City Department of Transportation urged to report this to the USCG Captain of the Port via ferries generally follow a prescribed route between The VTS New York. Through VTS New York, the COTP will Battery and St. George on Staten Island, placing them foster communications between the concerned parties to the extreme right-hand side of the channel. All mari- in effort to arrive at agreed upon conditions for safe ners are strongly encouraged not to transit close vessel passage. aboard of the ferry slips at The Battery and St. George (82) It should be recognized that there may be instances due to ferries maneuvering. when the master, pilot and COTP evaluate a situation and agree that a vessel movement can be made safely Channels even though inconsistent with this recommendation. (88) Ambrose Channel, the principal entrance, extends Such movements may be allowed and should be coordi- nated through VTS NY so as to insure the transit of the from the sea to deep water in Lower Bay. Thence, An- vessel in question can be assisted as appropriate. chorage Channel, an extension of Ambrose Channel (83) If at any time VTS NY believes a proposed vessel leads through Upper Bay to The Battery. Hudson River transit may not conform to this recommendation, they Channel continues northward from The Battery for will request an assessment be conducted prior to grant- about 5 miles to West 59th Street, Manhattan. Project ing a vessel permission to transit within the VTS NY depth for these channels is 45 feet.
374 ■ Chapter 11 ■ Coast Pilot 2 (89) In addition to the usual aids, Ambrose Channel in areas are in the vicinity of Governors Island, The Bat- its outer portion is also marked by West Bank Light, tery, and Ellis Island. (See also chart 12334.) shown from a brown conical tower on a black cylindri- (98) The Harbor Safety, Operations and Navigation cal pier, in range with Staten Island Light, which is Committee of the Port of New York and New Jersey has shown from a light-colored octagonal brick tower on a issued the following recommendations to address the gray limestone base on the high ground of Staten Is- inadequate number of inshore anchorages within the land at Richmond. harbor: (99) Ships awaiting berths will use the offshore anchor- (90) Lower Bay is that part of New York Harbor extend- ages at Ambrose; ing from Sandy Hook westward to Raritan River and (100) All vessels will limit use of Stapleton, Bay Ridge northward to The Narrows. and Gravesend Bay anchorages to the following opera- tions: lightering or loading, bunkering, receiving Local magnetic disturbance stores or parts, repairs, Coast Guard inspections, crew (91) Differences of as much as 5° from the normal varia- changes, or emergencies; (101) Ships will return to the offshore anchorage upon tion have been reported in Lower Bay in the vicinity of completion of these operations to await berth; 40°29.6'N., 74°04.2'W. (102) Tugs and barges not engaged in operations de- scribed above will refrain from using the deep water an- (92) Sandy Hook Channel, project depth 35 feet, pro- chorages at Stapleton, Bay Ridge (south of Buoy 26) vides a secondary route from the sea to deep water in and Gravesend Bay (west of Buoys “A”, “B” and “C”) Lower Bay; it connects with Raritan Bay Channel to when there is suitable room east of the Gravesend Bay the westward, Chapel Hill Channel to the north, and buoys, north of Buoy 26 in Bay Ridge, in the North Terminal Channel to the south. Chapel Hill Channel River Anchorage, or suitable anchorage in Raritan Bay has a project depth of 30 feet. The entrance to Sandy or Perth Amboy. Hook Channel is marked by Scotland Lighted Whistle (103) These recommendations are intended to minimize Buoy S, equipped with a radar beacon (Racon). The vessel delays and allow efficient use of current anchor- channels are well marked with navigational aids. (See age areas. All vessels are requested to observe these Notice to Mariners and the latest editions of charts for recommendations. controlling depths.) Dangers (93) Swash Channel, a natural buoyed passage between (104) There are five shoal areas in the entrance to New Ambrose Channel and Sandy Hook Channel, has a con- trolling depth of 18 feet, but care is necessary to avoid York Harbor which are subject to change in depths and spots with a least depth of 13 feet near the sides of the should be avoided by strangers. False Hook, off the channel and a spot cleared to a depth of 14 feet in about northeastern side of Sandy Hook, has depths of 4 to 18 the middle of the channel. A lighted range, the rear feet. Flynns Knoll, between Swash, Sandy Hook, and marker of which is Staten Island Light, leads on a bear- Chapel Hill Channels, has depths of 9 to 18 feet. Romer ing of 305° to the junction with Chapel Hill Channel. Shoal, between Ambrose and Swash Channels, has depths of 4 to 13 feet and is marked by Romer Shoal (94) False Hook Channel, along and close to the eastern Light; a fog signal is sounded from the light station. shore of Sandy Hook, joins Sandy Hook Channel east- East Bank, northward and eastward of Ambrose Chan- ward of the north end of Sandy Hook. The channel has nel, has depths of 6 to 15 feet. West Bank, westward of depths of 9 to over 20 feet. Strangers should not use the Ambrose Channel between West Bank (Range Front) channel. Light and Fort Wadsworth, has depths from bare to 18 feet. Rocks and obstructions with depths of 18 to 28 feet (95) Fourteen Foot Channel enters Lower Bay just lie between West Bank and the western limit of north of Ambrose Channel. The channel has a depth of Ambrose channel. about 15 feet and is unmarked. (105) The tip of Sandy Hook is changeable, and the area around it is subject to severe shoaling; caution should Anchorages be exercised in the area. (96) General, explosives, naval, and special anchorages (106) Mariners are cautioned to maintain a sharp look- out for floating debris in the harbor and channels. have been prescribed for the Port of New York by Fed- eral Regulations. (See 110.1, 110.60, and 110.155, chapter 2, for limits and regulations.) (97) Vessels are especially cautioned against anchoring in the vicinity of the pipeline and cable areas as shown on the charts. The pipeline area across The Narrows supplies the water for Staten Island. Extensive cable
New York Harbor and Approaches ■ Chapter 11 ■ 375 Tides Tidal Current Tables for the daily predictions of slack (107) The mean range of tide in New York Harbor is 4.7 water and strength of current.) (114) In the entrance to Hudson River the velocity of the feet at Sandy Hook and 4.6 feet at The Battery. Daily flood and ebb currents is 1.4 knots. Off Grants Tomb, predictions for both places are given in the Tide Tables. the flood and ebb strengths are 1.6 and 1.9 knots, re- spectively. Currents (115) In October 1991, tidal currents in The Narrows, Ar- (108) The flood current entering Lower Bay from the sea thur Kill, Kill Van Kull, and Hell Gate were reported to deviate significantly from official predictions published attains a velocity of about 2 knots in Ambrose Channel by the National Ocean Service. Mariners should exer- entrance, near the outer extremities of Sandy Hook, cise caution and discretion in the use of published tidal Coney Island, and The Narrows. It sets generally paral- current predictions for these locations. Also, previ- lel to the lower straight section of Ambrose Channel ously available Tidal Current Charts for New York Har- and tends to continue to that direction where the chan- bor have been withdrawn. nel bends toward The Narrows, setting more or less di- agonally across the upper straight section of Ambrose Ice Channel. At the beginning of the flood, the current sets (116) Navigation of the channels in the Port of New York in at the bottom and near the shores while it is still ebb- ing at the surface in Ambrose Channel. and New Jersey is not restricted by ice. The main chan- (109) The ebb in Lower Bay is generally stronger than the nels do not freeze over, and any ice in the smaller wa- flood by 10 percent or more. At its strength it sets from terways is well broken up by tugs and general traffic. The Narrows approximately parallel to the upper Freshwater ice is brought down the Hudson River in straight end of the lower straight section. large floes during periods of thaws or winter freshets. (110) In the channel northward of Governors Island, Occasionally there are large accumulations of ice at cross currents may be encountered. During the first 2 Spuyten Duyvil where Harlem River joins the Hudson, hours of flood in this channel (eastward), the current and at such times it is difficult for low-powered vessels in Hudson River is still ebbing (southward). In the first or tows to make much headway. Under conditions of 1.5 hours of ebb (westward) in the channel north of strong winds the slips on the exposed side of the chan- Governors Island, the current in Hudson River is still nel become packed with drift ice, causing difficulty flooding (northward). At such times large vessels must when maneuvering in the slip or when berthing. Dur- take special care in navigating the channel. It is re- ing extremely severe winters navigation is interfered ported that the most dangerous time is about 2 hours with seriously for only short periods of time. after high water at The Battery. At this time the current is setting north in the Hudson River and westward Weather, New York and vicinity from the East River. The effect on a large vessel coming (117) New York City, an area exceeding 300 square stat- from southward and turning into the East River is to throw her stern to port and her bow to starboard, thus ute miles (777 square km), is located on the Atlantic causing a sheer to starboard toward the shoals off the coastal plain at the mouth of the Hudson River. The ter- north end of Governors Island. When coming from rain is flat and diversified by numerous waterways; all northward in the Hudson River the same effect tends to but one of the city’s five boroughs are situated on is- prevent the vessel from turning and to cause her to lands. Elevations range from less than 50 feet (15.2 m) overrun her course. These cross currents are known lo- over most of Manhattan, Brooklyn, and Queens to al- cally as The Spider. most 300 feet (91.4 m) in the northern part of (111) At the seaward end of Ambrose Channel the veloc- Manhattan and the Bronx, and over 400 feet (122 m) in ity of the flood current is 1.7 knots and of the ebb cur- Richmond (Staten Island). rent 2.3 knots. (118) Despite its nearness to the ocean and the numer- (112) When the ebb is strong the currents in both ous bays and rivers nearby, New York City has a climate Ambrose and Swash Channels tend to set toward which more closely resembles the continental type of Romer Shoal. Caution should be maintained to prevent climate than it does the maritime type. Its modified being set onto Romer Shoal when using either chan- continental climate follows from the fact that weather nel. On the flood and especially with a westerly wind, conditions affecting the city usually approach from a caution should be exercised to prevent being set onto westerly direction and not from the ocean on the east. Romer Shoal when using Swash Channel. Some important exceptions to this must be noted, (113) In The Narrows the velocity of the flood current is since the oceanic influence is by no means entirely ab- about 1.7 knots and of the ebb current 2 knots. (See sent. During the summer, local “sea breezes,” winds blowing onshore from the cool water surface often
376 ■ Chapter 11 ■ Coast Pilot 2 moderate the afternoon heat; and most often in winter, (125) (See page 433 for the Manhattan climatological ta- coastal storms, accompanied by easterly winds, pro- ble and 434 for the Kennedy Airport climatological ta- duce, on occasion, considerable amounts of precipita- ble.) tion. (119) From November through April the prevailing Pilotage, New York Harbor and Approaches winds are from the northwest; for the remainder of the (126) Foreign vessels and U.S. vessels under register en- year the prevailing winds are southwesterly. Gales with velocities of 35 knots or more are predominately from tering or departing from the Port of New York and New the northwest. Jersey must employ a pilot licensed by the State of New (120) At New York/Kennedy the average annual tempera- York or New Jersey. Enrolled vessels must have on ture is 54°F (12.2°C). The average high is 61°F (16.1°C) board or employ a pilot licensed by the Federal Govern- and the average low is 47°F (8.3°C). July is the warmest ment. month with an average high of 83°F (28°C) and an av- (127) Pilotage service for vessels entering the Port of erage low of 69°F (20.6°C). January is the coolest New York and New Jersey through Lower Bay and month with an average high of 39°F (3.9°C) and an av- intra-harbor movements is available from the United erage low of 26°F (-3.3°C). The warmest temperature New York New Jersey Sandy Hook Pilot Association, on record for New York/Kennedy is 104°F (40°C) re- 201 Edgewater Street, Staten Island, NY 10305, tele- corded in July 1966 and the coldest temperature on re- phone 718 448-3900, FAX 718 876-8055 e–mail: cord is -2°F (-18.9°C) recorded in January 1985. On [email protected]. average, ten days each year record high temperatures (128) The pilot boat maintains station in the triangu- in excess of 90°F (32.2°C) and 78 days record minimum lar-shaped cruising area east of Scotland Lighted Whis- temperatures below 32°F (0°C). An average of only one tle Buoy S. All traffic passes through a precautionary day each year has an extreme minimum below 5°F area transiting to the pilot station and most vessels (-15°C). choose to approach the pilot station triangle by passing (121) Precipitation is both moderate and distributed to the south of the southeast corner of the pilot area. evenly throughout the year with a spread of only 1.06 Traffic within the precautionary area may consist of inches (28 mm) between the wettest and driest vessels making the transition between operating in months. May is the wettest month with an average pre- Ambrose or Sandy Hook Channel and one of the traffic cipitation total of 3.92 inches (991 mm) and February lanes. Mariners are advised to exercise extreme care in the driest with 2.86 inches (74 mm). Average annual navigating within this area. The pilot boats have a black precipitation is about 41 inches (1041 mm). Most of the hull and white superstructure, with the name PILOT rainfall from June through September comes from NO. 1 or PILOT NO. 2 in yellow on each side; and fly a thunderstorms, therefore, is usually of brief duration, blue flag. A pilot boat is always on station; boarding is but relatively intense. Thunderstorm days average 24 made from a smaller boat. The pilot boat monitors each year. From October to April, however, precipita- VHF-FM channels 16, 13, and 73; works on 73. tion is generally associated with widespread storm ar- (129) Pilot services are arranged in advance through eas, so that day-long rain or snow is common. ships’ agents. A 24-hour advance notice of ETA, with a (122) Snow falls an average 30 days each year and aver- 3-hour update is requested. ages 22 inches (559 mm) in any given year. The snowi- (130) Pilotage for these waters for U.S. enrolled vessels in est month is February with an average of eight inches coastwise trade is also available from the Interport Pi- (203 mm). Snow has fallen in each month, October lots Agency, Inc., http://www.interportpilots.com, 906 through April. The greatest 24-hour total snowfall was Port Monmouth Road, Port Monmouth, NJ 20 inches (508 mm) which fell in February 1969. 07758-0236, telephone 732-787-5554 (24 hours), email (123) Tropical storms have influenced the area fourteen [email protected]. The Interport Pilots office times since 1871. Most recently, Hurricane Gloria monitors VHF-FM channels 16 and 65A during busi- passed within 20 nautical miles east of the Kennedy air- ness hours. Pilot boats are KEN JOHNSON, 47-foot, port in September 1985. Gloria had winds approaching blue hull and white superstructure with the word 75 knots at time of landfall, about halfway between PILOT displayed on both sides, and INTERPORT Kennedy airport and Islip. Only two days earlier, Gloria PILOT, 50-foot with the same colors. Boats monitor was a more respectable 125-knot hurricane. VHF-FM channels 16 and 13 one and a half hours prior (124) The National Weather Service maintains several of- to the vessel’s scheduled ETA, work on channel 65A, fices in New York where barometers can be compared. and are equipped with AIS and transmit ‘PILOTBOAT (See Appendix A for addresses.) (NAME)'. (131) Vessels are generally boarded to the south of the charted designated pilot area, at 40°26'09\"N., 73°49'37\"W.
New York Harbor and Approaches ■ Chapter 11 ■ 377 Arrangements for pilot services are made 24 hours in 4,000 hp. Arrangements for tugs are usually made in advance, with 6 hours ETA update, through ship’s advance by ships’ agents. Fireboats are stationed agents or directly to Interport Pilots Agency, Inc. throughout the harbor. (137) New York is a customs port of entry and the head- Pilotage, New York Harbor from Long Island quarters of the Regional Commissioner. Sound (132) Foreign vessels and U.S. vessels under register en- Quarantine, customs, immigration, and agricultural tering or departing from the Port of New York and New quarantine Jersey from Long Island Sound must employ a pilot li- (138) (See chapter 3, Vessel Arrival Inspections, and censed by the State of New York. Enrolled vessels must Appendix A for addresses.) have on board or employ a pilot licensed by the Federal (139) Quarantine is enforced in accordance with regula- Government. Pilotage service for vessels entering the tions of the U.S. Public Health Service. (See Public Port of New York and New Jersey from Long Island Health Service, chapter 1.) Sound is available from the United New York New Jer- sey Sandy Hook Pilot Association (see above). The pilot Coast Guard boat boarding area is off Execution Rocks. The pilot (140) A Coast Guard station is at Rosebank on Staten Is- boat ties up at a pier on the east side of City Island about 0.4 mile northward of Belden Point. The pilot station, land. A Coast Guard Command Center including a Cap- on the pier, and the pilot boat monitor VHF-FM chan- tain of the Port office and Marine Inspection Office are nel 13 when vessels are scheduled to arrive. The 48-foot at Fort Wadsworth, Staten Island. Additional informa- pilot boat has a black hull with the word PILOT in red tion can be found at http://homeport.uscg.mil/mycg/ letters on each side of the house. Arrangements for pi- portal/ep/home.do. lots are made in advance either directly by the vessel or through ships’ agents. Notification is mandatory 24 Harbor regulations hours prior to arrival and ETA updates are required 12 (141) The administration of the Port of New York and and 6 hours prior to arrival. (133) Masters of vessels entering the Port of New York New Jersey and the enforcement of its laws are vested and New Jersey are requested, prior to the time of in no single body, but are divided among various de- boarding, to contact the pilot boat to ascertain a proper partments of the Federal, State, and Municipal Govern- boarding speed, make a lee for the pilot boat, and have a ments. pilot ladder over the side about 1 meter above the wa- ter. Speed (134) Pilotage for U.S. enrolled vessels in the coastwise (142) The Coast Guard desires to warn masters and pilots trade is available from the United New York New Jersey Sandy Hook Pilot Association (see above) and Interport of all types of vessels that possible action may result Pilots Agency, Inc. (see above). Pilot boats are KEN against their licenses and criminal procedures may be JOHNSON, 47-foot with blue hull and white super- exercised, when the wash of a vessel proceeding at ex- structure with the word PILOT displayed on both sides, cessive speed in confined waters endangers life, limb, and INTERPORT PILOT, 50-foot with the same colors. or property. Damage to vessels moored at docks and Boats monitor VHF-FM channels 16 and 13 two hours terminals has been reported. The parting of a mooring prior to the vessel’s scheduled ETA, work on channel line may cause a serious oil fire or damage to pipelines 65A, and are equipped with AIS. Interport Pilots board or barges which are being loaded or discharged at vessels bound from Long Island Sound into New York chemical and petroleum company terminals. Damage Harbor via the East River at any LIS port, Montauk caused by excessive speed may also lead to a possible Point, Point Judith Pilot Station, or in the vicinity of suit by the injured party against owners, masters, or pi- Execution Rocks. lots for monetary recovery. Pilotage, Hudson River (143) The New York City Department of Ports and Ter- (135) See Pilotage, Hudson River (indexed as such), minals administers the piers along the New York wa- terfront within the city limits. The office is at The chapter 12. Battery Maritime Building. Towage (144) The Port Authority of New York and New Jersey is (136) The Port of New York and New Jersey has several an executive body appointed by the Governors of New York and New Jersey. The Authority’s Port Department towing companies with radio-equipped tugs with over serves as a bistate port development, operations, main- tenance, and promotion organization. The Port Au- thority administers piers in Manhattan, Brooklyn,
378 ■ Chapter 11 ■ Coast Pilot 2 Hoboken, Port Newark, and Port Elizabeth. The office hull, electronic equipment, machinery, and propulsion of the Authority is at the 233 Park Avenue South, New plants. Also within the port area, a number of firms York, NY 10003. without waterfront facilities are engaged in various types of marine repair work. These firms maintain Wharves ships and portable equipment for making (145) The Port of New York and New Jersey has over above-waterline repairs and for installation of equip- ment, gear, and machinery on all types of craft at berth. 1,100 waterfront facilities. Most of these facilities are Several salvage companies also perform all types of sal- privately owned and operated, and the rest are owned vage work. or operated by either the railroads serving the port, the (151) The largest floating drydock, east of Red Hook Port Authority of New York and New Jersey, the City of Channel and on the east side of Erie Basin, has a lifting New York, the States of New York and New Jersey, the capacity of 16,000 tons, an overall length of 580 feet, a Federal Government, or other municipalities. maximum clear inside width of 100 feet, and a depth of (146) The major steamship passenger terminal, the New 28 feet over the keel blocks. The largest graving dock is York City Passenger Ship Terminal, is along the east on the east side of Wallabout Bay at the site of the for- side of the Hudson River (North River) above The Bat- mer New York Naval Shipyard. The dock has a clear tery. Containership terminals are throughout the port, length of 1,092 feet, clear gate width of 143 feet, top and but principally at Elizabeth, Newark, Jersey City, and bottom inside widths of 150 feet, and 34 feet over the Weehawken, N.J. Other containership facilities are at keel blocks; cranes to 200 tons are available. The larg- Howland Hook, Staten Island, and Brooklyn. Break- est marine railway, on the east side of East Mill Basin in bulk general cargo terminals are throughout the port Jamaica Bay, can handle vessels up to 300 tons of 120 but principally along the east side of Upper New York feet long. Bay, on the East River, and at Port Newark. Petroleum and other liquid cargo facilities are along Arthur Kill, Communications on the Passaic and Hackensack Rivers, and along New- (152) The Port of New York and New Jersey is served by town Creek, Brooklyn. (147) General cargo in the port is usually handled to and three trunkline and one short-line railroads, numerous from vessels by ship’s tackle. Heavy lifts up to 500 tons, trucking firms engaged in long- and short-haul freight floating cranes up to 500 tons, and derricks are avail- service, and several bus companies. Over 100 steam- able in port. Most of the waterfront facilities through- ship companies connect the port with the principal out the port have highway and railroad connections. U.S. and foreign ports. (148) The wharves and piers of New York City along the (153) Three major airports, John F. Kennedy (New York) waterfronts of the Hudson and East Rivers are num- International, La Guardia, and Newark, provide frequent bered beginning at The Battery and follow in sequence scheduled service between New York and domestic and eastward along the East River and northward along the overseas points. Hudson River. For a complete description of the water- front facilities throughout the Port of New York and Chart 12350 New Jersey refer to Port Series No. 5, published and sold by the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers. (See Appen- (154) Rockaway Inlet, the entrance to Jamaica Bay, is be- dix A for address.) tween Rockaway Point on the southeast side and Manhattan Beach and Barren Island on the north side. Supplies The inlet is obstructed by a shifting sandbar. A jetty, (149) Provisions and supplies of all kinds are available in marked near the outer end by a light, extends south from Rockaway Point. The entrance channel extends the Port of New York and New Jersey. All grades of westward of the jetty and is marked by lighted and heavy marine bunker fuel, lubricants, and diesel fuel unlighted buoys. The channel has depths of about 12 can be obtained. Large vessels are usually bunkered at feet or more at midchannel. A shoal with depths of less their berths by tank barges or self-propelled tankers. than 1 foot and marked by breakers is west of the en- Water is available at most of the piers and wharves. trance channel. Obstructions covered 19 feet are about 0.4 mile south of the jetty light in 40°32'01\"N., Repairs 73°56'27\"W., about 0.7 mile south-southwest of the (150) The Port of New York and New Jersey has extensive jetty light in 40°31'44\"N., 73°56'58\"W., and about 1.1 miles southwest of the jetty light in 40°31'36\"N., facilities for making all types of repairs to vessels of all 73°57'29\"W. An obstruction covered 15 feet is located sizes. The shipyards at Brooklyn, Hoboken, Staten Is- land and Queens can drydock some of the largest ocean-going vessels, and can make major repairs to
New York Harbor and Approaches ■ Chapter 11 ■ 379 about 0.3 mile west-southwest of the jetty light in exceeds 3 knots at times. In August 1975, a strong 40°32'16\"N., 73°56'48\"W. east-to-west current, believed to have been the result of (155) There are two sunken wrecks farther inside the in- tidal flow, was observed at the entrance to Rockaway In- let; the first in 40°34'09\"N., 73°53'56\"W., about 0.6 mile let near the seaward end of the jetty. This current is of westward of the Gil Hodges Memorial Bridge, has 15- sufficient strength to cause a vessel to veer suddenly off and 9-foot depths immediately westward and south- course when entering or exiting the channel. South of ward, respectively, from it; the second is in Barren Island the velocity is about 2 knots; east of Bar- 40°34'30\"N., 73°52'30\"W., about 0.4 mile eastward of ren Island it is about 1.5 knots. (See Tidal Current Ta- the bridge. bles for predictions.) (156) In July 1980, shoaling to about 3 feet was reported in the inlet about 1.75 miles west of the Gil Hodges Me- (159) Jamaica Bay is on the south shore of Long Island morial Bridge in about 40°34'21\"N., 73°55'29.5\"W. about 15 miles southeastward of The Battery, New York (157) Gil Hodges Memorial (Marine Parkway) Bridge, City. The bay is characterized by numerous meadows, crossing Rockaway Inlet between Rockaway Point and hassocks, and marshes. The north and east shores are Barren Island, has a vertical lift span with a clearance of bordered by marshlands which extend inland for a 55 feet down and 152 feet up. The bridgetender moni- short distance. Several small tidal creeks enter the bay tors VHF-FM channel 13 (156.65 MHz); call sign, from the north. Channels and basins have been KIL–819. (See 117.1 through 117.59 and 117.795, dredged to project depths of 12 to 20 feet for use of craft chapter 2, for drawbridge regulations.) operating in the bay. Rockaway Beach forms the south shore. The bay is about 7 miles long and 3.5 miles wide, Tides and currents and covers an area of about 22.5 square miles. The (158) The mean range of tide at Rockaway Inlet is about 5 greater portion of the bay is in the Boroughs of Brook- lyn and Queens, New York City, and a small section of feet. In the entrance channel near Rockaway Point the the eastern extremity, consisting of parts of Motts Ba- tidal current has a velocity of about 2.2 knots. The ebb sin and Head of Bay, is in Nassau County. attains a greater velocity than the flood and probably
380 ■ Chapter 11 ■ Coast Pilot 2 Anchorages and Mill Creek lead northwesterly. There are danger- (160) Special anchorages are in Jamaica Bay. (See 110.1, ous pilings and remains of old barges along the south side of Shell Bank Creek, and several submerged and 110.60 (s) and (s–1), chapter 2, for limits and reg- wrecks in Gerritsen and Mill Creeks. The fixed highway ulations.) bridge over Mill Creek is in ruins; mariners are advised to exercise caution in this area as some parts of the (161) The commercial vessel traffic in Jamaica Bay con- bridge structure have fallen into the water and are an sists of motor tankers, barges, and tugs. The bay is used obstruction to navigation. extensively by pleasure craft. Small-craft facilities (162) Jamaica Bay has excellent transportation facilities. (169) Small-craft facilities on Shell Bank Creek can pro- Highways connect with all of Long Island and New York City, and a branch of the New York City subway system vide berths with electricity, gasoline, diesel fuel, water, crosses the central part of the bay and extends eastward ice, marine supplies, lifts to 60 tons, and a 90-foot ma- and westward along the Rockaway peninsula with sta- rine railway; complete hull and engine repairs are tions at Far Rockaway and Inwood serving the Motts available. Basin area. (170) Dead Horse Bay makes into the southwest side of (163) Ice is a problem in Jamaica Bay, mainly in the trib- Barren Island eastward of the highway bridge across utaries and basins, from early January to about Gerritsen Inlet. A marina, on the north side of the bay, mid-March. has berths and moorings. (164) Sheepshead Bay, on the northern side of the east- (171) Island Channel leads northerly from just eastward ern extremity of Coney Island and northward of of Barren Island to Bergen Beach, thence northeasterly Manhattan Beach, is well protected and is used by nu- in North Channel to Howard Beach. In March-April merous pleasure and party fishing craft. The entrance 1998, depths of about 12 feet can be carried to Howard channel is marked by buoys. In June 2002, the channel Beach. The channels are marked by lighted and had a depth of 6 feet except for shoaling to 3.7 feet along unlighted buoys. the west edge of the channel, just north of Buoy 7. In July 2002, depths of 7 to 9 feet were available inside the (172) Big Fishkill Channel and Pumpkin Patch Channel bay to the bridge near the head of navigation except for lead in a northeasterly direction from Runway Channel shoaling to 2 feet along the edges. A private light marks just west of Ruffle Bar and join North Channel 0.3 mile the outer limit of a sewer outfall that extends south- west of the North Channel Bridge at Howard Beach. ward from the bay. (173) Mill Basin is northward of Barren Island on the Anchorages west side of Jamaica Bay. Commercial traffic in the ba- (165) Special anchorages are in Sheepshead Bay. (See sin consists of occasional barge shipments of petro- leum. In May 1981, a reported depth of 13 feet could be 110.1 and 110.60(x), chapter 2, for limits and regula- taken to the north end of the basin. tions.) Small-craft facility Small-craft facilities (166) A small-craft facility in the bay can handle craft to (174) Small-craft facilities in the basin can provide 1½ tons. Mooring, electricity, diesel fuel, water, ice, berths with electricity, gasoline, water, ice, marine sup- marine supplies and storage are available. plies, and complete hull and engine repairs; a 50-ton marine railway and lifts to 20 tons are available. (167) Plumb Beach Channel, northward of Rockaway In- let, is the common approach to Gerritsen Inlet, Shell (175) The Shore Parkway bascule highway bridge with a Bank Creek, Gerritsen Creek, and Mill Creek. A fixed clearance of 34 feet crosses Mill Basin between Barren highway bridge with a clearance of 35 feet crosses the Island and Brooklyn. (See 117.1 through 117.59 and inlet. The channel is marked by buoys. It was reported 117.795, chapter 2, for drawbridge regulations.) The that with local knowledge a depth of 12 feet can be car- bridgetender monitors VHF-FM channel 13; call sign ried at midchannel through the channel and inlet to KX–8185. Mariners are requested to avoid causing the head of Shell Bank Creek. Mariners are advised to bridge openings during peak commuter hours of 0700 follow the buoys through the inlet closely. A shoal area to 0900 and 1600 to 1800 Monday through Friday. with a least depth of 2 feet is about 0.1 mile southeast- ward of Plumb Beach Channel Buoy 7. (176) East Mill Basin is about 0.4 mile northeastward of Mill Basin. In May 1981, a reported midchannel depth (168) From the highway bridge over Gerritsen Inlet, of 13 feet could be taken to the head of the basin. Shell Bank Creek leads westerly and Gerritsen Creek Small-craft facilities in the basin can provide berths
New York Harbor and Approaches ■ Chapter 11 ■ 381 with electricity, water, marine supplies, a 15-ton fork- (184) Rockaway Beach is a popular summer resort on the lift, a 100-ton travel lift and marine railways to 300 barrier beach forming the southern extremity of Ja- tons; complete hull and engine repairs are available. maica Bay. Train and bus transportation is available to (177) Bergen Beach is a community about 2 miles north New York City. Excursion boats operate between New of Barren Island. Paerdegat Basin, just north of Bergen York and Rockaway Beach during the summer only. Beach, has a midchannel depth of about 11 feet. A fixed highway bridge across the basin near the mouth has a (185) Beach Channel is on the north side of Rockaway clearance of 29 feet. A marina at the head of the basin Beach. A Federal project provides for a channel 18 feet can haul out craft up to 15 tons. Gasoline, marine sup- deep from Rockaway Inlet to about 700 yards above Gil plies, and water are available. No repairs are available Hodges Memorial Bridge, thence 15 feet deep to the for the public. In May 1981, a reported depth of 8 feet junction with Grass Hassock Channel. could be taken to the marina. Several yacht clubs are also in the basin. (186) A 056°–236° measured nautical mile is along the (178) Canarsie, a town on the northwestern shore of Ja- south shore of Jamaica Bay parallel with the concrete maica Bay, is a part of New York City. Canarsie Pier, on and wood flood barrier of Beach Channel Drive south- the northwest shore of Jamaica Bay between Paerdegat ward of Nova Scotia Bar. The structures are main- Basin and Fresh Creek, has two prominent flagpoles tained by the Brooklyn Power Squadron; the front near its center. The pier is structurally unsafe, and markers are black and yellow chevrons, and the rear landing is not permitted. The pier is a part of Gateway markers are orange squares. National Recreation Area. (179) Fresh Creek, 0.6 mile northeastward of the pier at (187) Cross Bay Memorial Bridge, crossing Beach Chan- Canarsie, has a midchannel depth of about 8 feet. A nel at Rockaway Beach, has a fixed span with a clear- highway bridge across the creek near the entrance has ance of 52 feet. The railroad bridge over Beach a 43-foot fixed span with a clearance of 21 feet. Hendrix Channel, 0.5 mile eastward, has a swing span with a Creek, 0.4 mile northeastward of Fresh Creek, is the clearance of 26 feet. (See 117.1 through 117.49, chap- site of a water pollution control plant. Sludge vessels ter 2, for drawbridge regulations.) East Broad Channel operate from the pier at the southwestern entrance to is closed to navigation at the railroad trestle of this the creek. Old Mill Creek, 1.1 miles northeastward of bridge. Fresh Creek, bares at low water just above the en- trance. Fresh, Hendrix, and Old Mill Creeks were little (188) Barbadoes Basin is adjacent to the Beach Channel used in 1971. railroad bridge. A facility in the southeast corner of the (180) Howard Beach, about 2.5 miles eastward of basin receives broken concrete by barge for recycling. Canarsie, on the north side of Jamaica Bay, has several basins for boats. North Channel Bridge, just south of (189) Vernam Basin is northeast of Barbadoes Basin. A Howard Beach, has a fixed span with a clearance of 26 facility in the southwest corner of the basin receives pe- feet. troleum products by barge. In April 2007, the control- (181) Shellbank Basin, extending northward about 1 ling depth at the facility was reported to be 15 feet. A mile from North Channel and just west of Howard facility in the southeast corner of the basin receives Beach, had a reported controlling depth of 5 feet in May sand, gravel and stone by barge. A small-craft facility in 1981. The basin has numerous small piers, float land- the basin has berths, electricity, water, open storage, ings, and other small-craft facilities along the west and lifts to 72 tons. Repairs for fishing boats can be side. Berths with electricity, water, a 15-ton lift, and made. complete hull and engine repairs are available. The bas- cule span of a former highway bridge across the basin (190) Winhole Channel, a natural channel marked by has been permanently removed leaving a channel buoys, seasonal lights, and a daybeacon, extends 1 mile width of 40 feet. northward to Grassy Bay from the junction of Beach (182) Hawtree Basin, about 0.2 mile eastward of Channel with Grass Hassock Channel. Winhole Chan- Shellbank Basin, has a depth of about 11 feet. A fixed nel has a least depth of about 11 feet, except for re- pedestrian bridge, about 0.3 mile above the mouth, has ported shoaling to 4 feet extending into the channel a clearance of 17 feet. northeast from Winhole Channel Light 3 in about (183) A railroad bridge across North Channel, at Hamil- 40°36.8'N., 73°48.4'W. Winhole Channel Shoal Day- ton Beach, 0.5 mile east of the North Channel Bridge, beacon marks the center of a shoal near the north end has a fixed span with a clearance of 26 feet. of the channel. The daybeacon should not be passed close aboard. A lighted buoy marks the junction of Beach, Grass Hassock, and Winhole Channels. (191) Grass Hassock Channel joins Beach Channel off Brant Point and continues in a northeasterly direction to Head of Bay. In March-April 1998, the controlling depth was 12 feet (15 feet at midchannel). The shallow- est water is abeam Brant Point between Buoy 14 and
382 ■ Chapter 11 ■ Coast Pilot 2 Buoy 16 and at the junction with Negro Bar Channel in continues into the marshlands on the southerly side of the vicinity of Lighted Buoy 23. the bay. (192) Sommerville Basin, about 1.2 miles eastward of (199) Bergen Basin, at the northern extremity of Grassy the railroad bridge at Rockaway Beach, has depths of 27 Bay, has depths of about 15 feet with lesser depths in to 40 feet inside. In May 1981, depths of about 15 feet the eastern arm of the basin. The entrance is marked by were reported in the approach. Several charted sunken buoys. Conspicuous are a yellow brick circular tank wrecks are in the basin. A boatyard at the head of the about 40 feet high on the southwestern side of the en- basin has berths, electricity, gasoline, water, ice, lim- trance and the numerous oil storage tanks at the head ited marine supplies, storage facilities, a launching of the basin on the eastern shore. Coastal tankers and ramp, a 45-foot marine railway, and a 7-ton mobile sand-and-gravel barge tows account for most of the hoist; engine and hull repairs can be made. commerce in the basin. In January 1988, a sunken (193) Motts Basin, a tidal inlet in the eastern part of Ja- wreck was reported in the eastern arm of the basin in maica Bay, entered through Negro Bar Channel, par- about 40°39.7'N., 73°49.1'W. tially separates the communities of Inwood and Far Rockaway. Two branch channels lead from inside the Chart 12402 entrance to the northeasterly and southeasterly ends of the basin. In March-April 1998, the controlling depth (200) Coney Island, on the northern side of the entrance was 10 feet (15 feet at midchannel) in the entrance to New York Harbor, is a large summer amusement re- channel, thence 11 feet (15 feet at midchannel) in the sort. Numerous stacks, towers, and amusement rides, northeastern branch, thence 9 feet (15 feet at mid- including a red steel parachute tower 303 feet high, are channel) in the southeastern branch to just below the prominent on the island. Coney Island Light head of each channel. Ice may obstruct vessel move- (40°34.6'N., 74°00.7'W.), 75 feet above the water, is ment in the basin during severe winters. shown from a white square skeleton tower on Norton (194) Overhead power cables across Motts Basin have the Point, the westernmost extremity of the island. following clearances: one over the northerly arm, 70 feet; two over the southerly arm, least clearance 92 feet; (201) Coney Island Channel is a buoyed passage along and one over the cut on the south side of the southerly the south side of Coney Island that leads from deep wa- arm, 60 feet. A retractable boom is on the south shore ter in Lower Bay to Rockaway Inlet. In July 2002, the of the basin about 90 yards northwest of the overhead controlling depth was 11.7 feet. It is used principally by cable tower. A light is shown from the boom when it is vessels going to Jamaica Bay and Coney Island. extended into the water. (195) Depths alongside the wharves in Motts Basin range (202) Gravesend Bay, northward of Coney Island, affords from 10 to 20 feet. Waterborne commerce in the basin good anchorage; a general anchorage is in the bay. (See is chiefly in petroleum products. 110.1 and 110.155(e), chapter 2, for limits and regu- (196) Head of Bay joins Grass Hassock Channel near lations.) The southeasterly part of the bay is shoal with Northwest Point and extends in a northeasterly direc- depths of 1 to 6 feet. tion on the south side of John F. Kennedy (New York) International Airport. Depths of about 15 feet are in (203) Coney Island Creek is at the southeastern end of the entrance channel and channel in the bay; aids mark Gravesend Bay and on the north side of Coney Island. the channels. In April 2007, it was reported that a draft Commercial traffic on the creek consists mainly of oc- of 16 feet could be taken to the facilities at Uncle casional barge shipments of sand and gravel. The area Daniels Point, 14 feet could be taken to facilities on northward of the entrance to the creek is being filled, Motts Creek, and 14 feet could be taken to facilities at and piling is along the northern side of the creek at the Norton Point. Several small marinas in the bay can filling site. Numerous obstructions and wrecks are in provide berths, electricity, water, ice, marine supplies, the creek. In February 1991, depths of about 9 feet were storage facilities, and a launching ramp; minor engine available to just below the Cropsey Avenue bridge, and hull repairs can be made. about 1 mile above the entrance, but local knowledge is (197) Thurston Basin, at the northeastern extremity of required to carry the best water, thence shoaling to Head of Bay, has reported depths of 10 feet at the en- bare to a point about 0.2 mile above the Cropsey Avenue trance decreasing to 2 feet at the head. bridge. The creek is crossed by four fixed bridges hav- (198) Grassy Bay, along the southwestern side of John F. ing a least clearance of 2 feet. A boatyard about 0.8 mile Kennedy (New York) International Airport in the above the creek entrance provides berths, electricity, northeastern part of Jamaica Bay, is blocked at the gasoline, water, ice, storage, marine supplies, and hull southeastern end by an airport runway. The runway and engine repairs. Lifts to 14 tons are available. In May 1981, a reported depth of 4 feet could be carried to the boatyard.
New York Harbor and Approaches ■ Chapter 11 ■ 383 (204) A buoyed channel with a least depth of 10 feet leads Terminal is at Pier 12 on Atlantic Basin. Commuter from deep water northward of Coney Island to off the ferry services operate extensively in Buttermilk docks in the eastern part of Gravesend Bay. Channel. (210) Gowanus Bay, at the junction of Bay Ridge and Red Small-craft facility Hook Channels, is a bight in the Brooklyn shore at the (205) A small-craft facility on Gravesend Bay can provide mouth of Gowanus Canal. A dredged channel leads from Gowanus Bay to the Hamilton Avenue Bridge, berths, electricity, gasoline, diesel fuel, water, ice, stor- about 1 mile above the mouth of the bay. In April 1990, age, marine supplies, and hull and engine repairs. Lifts the controlling depths were 21 feet (25 feet at up to 30 tons are available. In May 1981, a reported midchannel) to Sigourney Street, about 0.15 mile be- depth of 15 feet could be carried to the marina. low the head of the project, thence 22 feet to the Hamil- ton Avenue Bridge. Charts 12334, 12402, 12327 (211) The improved section of Gowanus Canal above (206) The Narrows, connecting Lower Bay and Upper Hamilton Avenue has depths of about 8 to 12 feet. The Bay of New York Harbor, has a clear width of over 0.6 Third Street, Carroll Street, and Union Street bridges mile at its narrowest point between Fort Wadsworth across the canal have the following minimum clear- and Fort Hamilton. The Verrazano Narrows Bridge, a ances: drawbridges, 3 feet; fixed bridges, 90 feet. The fixed suspension span, crosses The Narrows at these fixed bridge across that part of the canal which extends two points linking Staten Island with Brooklyn. The southward along Fifth Street has a clearance of 20 feet. bridge has a vertical clearance of 215 feet for a (See 117.1 through 117.59 and 117.787, chapter 2, midchannel width of 2,000 feet. Note: A traveling main- for drawbridge regulations.) tenance platform, when in operation, reduces the verti- cal clearances by 15 feet. A fog signal is sounded from (212) The Hamilton Avenue and Ninth Street draw- the eastern end of the bridge. bridges, 1 and 1.2 miles above the entrance of Gowanus Bay, respectively, are equipped with radiotelephones. Coast Guard Station The bridgetenders monitor VHF-FM channel 13; call (207) Coast Guard Station New York is on the east side of signs KX–8183 and KX–8186, respectively. Staten Island about 0.6 mile northwest of the (213) Erie Basin, just north of Gowanus Bay, is entered Verrazano Narrows Bridge. from Red Hook Channel. The entrance is marked by a light and the basin is marked by private lighted and (208) Upper Bay is that portion of New York Harbor be- unlighted buoys. tween The Narrows and The Battery. Anchorage Chan- nel, marked by lighted buoys, is the main passage (214) East River is a 14-mile-long tidal strait that con- through the middle of the bay. Bay Ridge Flats is a nects Upper Bay with Long Island Sound. For descrip- shoal area with depths of 8 to 20 feet east of Anchorage tion of East River and the route to New York Harbor Channel. Gowanus Flats is at the north end of Bay from Long Island Sound, see East River (indexed as Ridge Flats. Jersey Flats, the area on the New Jersey such), chapter 9. side west of Anchorage Channel, is much shoaler with depths up to 9 feet. Channels have been dredged (215) Governors Island is at the Upper Bay entrance to through these shoal areas to provide access to the piers East River. The hexagonal-shaped Fort Jay is promi- on both sides of the bay. nent on the northeast side of the island, and the circu- lar Castle William is on the northwest side. The main Channels channel is westward of the island. Lights and fog sig- (209) Bay Ridge Channel, Red Hook Channel, and But- nals are near the southern tip and on the northwest side of the island, on top of Castle William. termilk Channel follow the Brooklyn piers from The Narrows to East River. Midchannel depths in these (216) Liberty Island, on the eastern part of Jersey Flats channels are generally 25 to 40 feet with lesser depths across the main channel from Governors Island, is on the sides; the area is subject to shoaling. See the lat- marked by the Statue of Liberty, a colossal structure est chart for guidance. Caution should be exercised more than 305 feet high; the figure faces southeastward. when docking and undocking vessels along the south- In 2000, depths of 15 to 21 feet were available in the easterly side of Bay Ridge Channel because the current dredged area near the pier on the west side of the is- may flow in a direction opposite to the normal channel land. The U.S. Park Police marine unit operates from a flow, especially between the piers. The Brooklyn Cruise floating platform on the northwest end of Ellis Island. (217) Robbins Reef Light (40°39'26\"N., 74°03'55\"W.) 56 feet above the water, is shown from a conical tower,
384 ■ Chapter 11 ■ Coast Pilot 2 with the lower half brown and the upper half white, on Comfort. The bay is an excellent anchorage, the depths the southeastern part of Jersey Flats. of water ranging from 30 feet just inside Sandy Hook to (218) Pierhead Channel leads from the main channel 15 feet near its southern part; the shoaling is gradual about 0.7 mile southward of Liberty Island, thence and the bottom is good holding ground. The best an- along the New Jersey pierhead line to Kill Van Kull. The chorage during easterly and southeasterly winds is in channel, through connecting branch channels, leads to the eastern part of the bay. Vessels of more than 24-foot the Army Corps of Engineers Caven Point facility, New draft will not find good anchorage out of the channel York Waterway ferry terminal, Claremont Terminal, until above Fort Wadsworth. Extensive shoals make off New York Regional Railroad, Global Terminal and Con- northward and eastward from Point Comfort, but as tainer Services and Northeast Auto Marine Terminal. the depths of water decrease gradually, soundings will In November 2006, the controlling depths were 7.2 feet give sufficient warning of too close an approach to the from the northern entrance to Buoy 19, thence 10.2 shore. Shallow-draft vessels can reportedly find satis- feet (16.9 feet at midchannel) to Kill Van Kull except for factory anchorage in Horseshoe Cove, on the east side shoaling to 5.2 feet off the eastern end of Northeast of the bay. In August 1999, the spit of land that forms Auto Marine Terminal. The Peninsula at Bayonne Har- Horseshoe Cove was reported visible only at extreme bor, south of Northeast Auto Marine Terminal, can also low water. Shoals extend an additional 200 yards south- be reached through a channel northward of Robbins eastward from the end of the charted spit to about Reef Light. The channels are well-marked with naviga- 40°26.7'N., 73°59.9'W. Mariners are cautioned not to tional aids. Note that the buoyage system changes navigate over this finger of land. Heavy fish traps ex- southward of the Peninsula at Bayonne Harbor. tend out to a depth of 20 feet in places on the shoals on the southwest side of Sandy Hook Bay between Atlantic Charts 12327, 12401 Highlands and Point Comfort. (220) A 110°-290° measured nautical mile is on the (219) Sandy Hook Bay is the southern part of Lower Bay, south side of Sandy Hook Bay off the Municipal Yacht westward of Sandy Hook and eastward of Point Basin. The private range markers are reported to be dif- ficult to identify.
New York Harbor and Approaches ■ Chapter 11 ■ 385 (221) Sandy Hook, the southern point at the entrance to Bank, about 4.9 miles above the mouth. (See Notice to New York Harbor and the northern point of the New Mariners and the latest editions of charts for control- Jersey coast, is low and sandy. The hook, including ling depths.) Plum Island at the mouth of the Shrewsbury River, is part of Gateway National Recreation Area. Large areas Caution of the park are bird nesting areas, and landing is not (224) All cables within the area in about 40°24.2'N., permitted. A light, Sandy Hook Coast Guard Station, standpipe and a radio tower on the north end of Sandy 73°59.0'W., in Shrewsbury River have been abandoned. Hook are prominent. The area around Sandy Hook is Mariners are cautioned that the cables remain in place. changeable and subject to severe shoaling; extreme caution is advised. No-Discharge Zone (225) The State of New Jersey, with the approval of the Charts 12325, 12324 Environmental Protection Agency, has established a (222) Shrewsbury River and Navesink River empty No-Discharge Zone (NDZ) in the waters of the through a common entrance into the southern extrem- Shrewsbury and Navesink Rivers. The NDZ extends ity of Sandy Hook Bay eastward of the Highlands of south from the Highlands/Route 36 Bridge and covers Navesink. all waters of the Shrewsbury and Navesink Rivers (see chart for limits). (223) A Federal project provides depths of 12 feet from (226) Within the NDZ, discharge of sewage, whether Sandy Hook Bay to a point just above the bascule bridge treated or untreated, from all vessels is prohibtited. at Highlands, thence 9 feet in Shrewsbury River to the Outside the NDZ, discharge of sewage is regulated by Branchport Avenue Bridge at Long Branch, about 7.4 40 CFR 140 (see chapter 2). miles above the mouth. The Navesink River has a pro- ject depth of 6 feet from where it connects with the Tides Shrewsbury River to the head of the project at Red (227) The mean range of tide is as follows: Highlands, 3.8 feet; Red Bank, 3 feet; Sea Bright, 1.7 feet; Branchport,
386 ■ Chapter 11 ■ Coast Pilot 2 1.7 feet. Strong southerly and westerly winds lower the facilities tabulation on chart 12324 for services and water surface, and northerly and easterly winds raise it. supplies available.) (233) The railroad bridge across Shrewsbury River at Currents Highlands is in ruins; caution is advised. The State (228) At Highlands bridge, the currents have a velocity of Route 36 highway bridge (Highlands Bridge) 100 yards above the railroad bridge has a bascule span with a about 2.6 knots. At Sea Bright bridge the velocity is clearance of 35 feet. (See 117.1 through 117.59 and about 1.6 knots. 117.755, chapter 2, for drawbridge regulations.) The fender system from the center pier of the railroad Ice bridge to the east side of the highway bascule opening (229) Navigation in Shrewsbury and Navesink Rivers is is continuous. The east side of the river northward of the bridge and the west side 0.3 mile southward of the generally suspended because of ice from December to bridges are used as anchorages for small craft. March, inclusive. Caution Supplies (234) Caution should be exercised at the junction of the (230) Gasoline, lubricants, marine supplies, and provi- Shrewsbury and Navesink Rivers, about 0.6 mile south- sions can be obtained at most of the towns along the ward of the State Route 36 highway bridge at High- shores of the Shrewsbury and Navesink Rivers. lands, to avoid the submerged stone jetty. Craft entering Navesink River should pass westward of the Communications lighted junction buoy. The submerged jetty is marked (231) Railroad, ferry, or bus connects with New York to by three seasonal buoys. points on the New Jersey coast. (235) The State Route 520 highway bridge (Sea Bright Bridge) over Shrewsbury River between Rumson and (232) Highlands is a summer resort on the west side of Sea Bright has a bascule span with a clearance of 15 Shrewsbury River 1.5 miles inside the entrance. There are good small-craft facilities here. (See the small-craft
New York Harbor and Approaches ■ Chapter 11 ■ 387 feet at the abutment. (See 117.1 through 117.59 and reported depth of about 7 feet could be taken to the 117.755, chapter 2, for drawbridge regulations.) boatyard. (245) Red Bank, a town near the head of navigation on Small-craft facilities the Navesink River, has several small-craft facilities. (236) There are numerous small-craft facilities at Sea (See the small-craft facilities tabulation on chart 12324 for services and supplies available.) The town has rail- Bright. (See the small-craft facilities tabulation on road connections with New York. chart 12324 for services and supplies available.) (246) The dredged channel that extends for 1.5 miles above the landings at Red Bank had a reported mid- (237) Pleasure Bay, at the southeast end of Shrewsbury channel controlling depth of 2 feet to the second high- River, is crossed by a fixed highway bridge with a clear- way bridge, and thence less than 1 foot for the rest of ance of 25 feet. Branchport is a small town on the east the dredged section in 1985. The channel is privately side of Pleasure Bay at the head of navigation. marked by buoys and stakes. The Route 35 highway bridge crosses the river 4.8 miles above the mouth and Small-craft facilities has a fixed span with a clearance of 12 feet. A railroad (238) There are numerous small-craft facilities in Plea- bridge crosses the river 450 yards southwest of the Route 35 bridge and has a fixed span with a clearance of sure Bay. (See the small-craft facilities tabulation on 9 feet. chart 12324 for services and supplies available.) Charts 12327, 12401, 12402 (239) The privately dredged and marked channels in Lit- tle Silver Creek, Town Creek, Oceanport Creek, Parker (247) Atlantic Highlands is a town on the south side of Creek, and Blackberry Creek had controlling depths of Sandy Hook Bay about 2 miles west of Sandy Hook. A about 5 feet in 1965-67. breakwater, marked by a light at its eastern end, forms an anchorage basin. In June 2002, depths of 4.9 to 8 feet (240) A fixed highway bridge with a clearance of 24 feet were available in the basin. The entrance to the basin is crosses the westerly part of Shrewsbury River, just east- marked by a private 270° lighted range. ward of its junction with Parker and Oceanport Creeks. Small-craft facilities (241) The tributaries that empty into the southeasterly (248) Small-craft facilities in the basin can provide and southwesterly sides of Shrewsbury River are crossed by bridges with the following clearances: berths, electricity, gasoline, diesel fuel, water, ice, stor- Manhassett Creek, fixed highway, 6 feet; Troutmans age, marine supplies, launching ramps, pump-out sta- Creek, fixed highway, 6 feet; Oceanport Creek, Conrail tion and hull and engine repair; mobile lifts up to 50 railroad (Oceanport Bridge) with swing span, 4 feet; tons are available. and Parker Creek, fixed railroad, 4 feet. (See 117.1 through 117.59 and 117.736, chapter 2, for draw- (249) The basin is used by numerous pleasure and party bridge regulations.) fishing craft. Numerous piles and ruins of former wharves are westward of the basin. (242) The channel in Navesink River is crooked but well marked by seasonal buoys. The Oceanic highway bridge (250) Terminal Channel, entered from Sandy Hook across the river between Rumson and Locust Point has Channel about 1 mile west-southwestward of Sandy a bascule span with a clearance of 22 feet. (See 117.1 Hook, leads south-southwestward to a turning basin through 117.59 and 117.734 for drawbridge regula- and to two deepwater ammunition handling piers of tions.) the U.S. Naval Ammunition Depot at Leonardo, N.J., a town on the south side of Sandy Hook Bay. Federal pro- (243) Rumson is a town on the south side about 1.7 miles ject depth is 45 feet in the channel and turning basin. above the entrance to Navesink River. Small-craft facil- (See Notice to Mariners and latest editions of the charts ities just west of the bridge at Rumson can provide for controlling depths.) The channel is marked by a pri- berths, electricity, gasoline, water, ice, and storage. vate 207°30' lighted range and by lighted and Hull and engine repairs can be made, and a 7-ton mo- unlighted buoys. A dredged and marked side channel bile hoist is available. In May 1981, a reported depth of leads southward from the southeastern end of the turn- 5 feet could be carried to the boatyards. ing basin to an ammunition barge-loading pier; depths of about 11 feet can be carried to and alongside the pier. (244) Fair Haven is on the south side of Navesink River about 1 mile above the bridge at Rumson. A boatyard and two yacht clubs are at Fair Haven. The boatyard can provide berths, electricity, gasoline, water, ice, storage, marine supplies, and hull, engine, and radio repairs; lifts to 15 tons are available. In June-September 1987, a
388 ■ Chapter 11 ■ Coast Pilot 2 The deepwater piers and barge pier are connected to to a marina in the creek. Berths with electricity, gaso- the shore by a trestle that extends 1.6 miles across the line, water, ice, marine supplies, a pump-out station, flats from Leonardo. The waters adjacent to the piers storage, a 15-ton lift, a 40-foot marine railway, and hull and trestle are prohibited to navigation. (See 110.155 and engine repairs are available. A highway bridge (f) (1), chapter 2, for rules and regulations.) crosses the creek about 0.2 mile above the mouth and (251) Security zones have been established in the vicin- has a 31-foot fixed span with a clearance of 12 feet. ity of the U.S. Naval Ammunition Depot and Terminal (259) Staten Island forms the northwest side of Lower Channel. (See 165.1 through 165.7, 165.30, 165.33, Bay. The high wooded ridge of the island has elevations and 165.130, chapter 2, for limits and regulations.) of 100 to over 400 feet. South Beach and Midland (252) A restricted area surrounds Terminal Channel, Beach are summer resorts and amusement areas on turning basin, and piers of the U.S. Naval Ammunition the southeast side of the island. A public pier for Depot. (See 334.1 through 334.6 and 334.102, chap- small-craft is located between the resorts. ter 2, for limits and regulations.) (260) Staten Island Flats are extensive shoals making off (253) A dredged channel, about 0.4 mile eastward of the from the southeast side of Staten Island. Parts of these trestle at Leonardo, leads southward from Sandy Hook flats are Old Orchard Shoal and West Bank, which bor- Bay to the entrance and basin of a State marina. In July der on the main channel up the bay. Hoffman Island 2007, the controlling depths were 0.8 foot (1.7 feet at and Swinburne Island (see also chart 12349), artificial midchannel) to the breakwater; thence in 1991-June islands on West Bank, are part of Gateway National 2002, 2.2 feet at midchannel to the basin; thence in Recreation Area; landing is not permitted. A channel, 1983, a reported depth of 6 feet was in the basin. The used by local vessels of less than 8-foot draft, leads channel is marked by private aids to navigation. westward of West Bank. From the gong buoy 0.6 mile (254) Berths, electricity, and water are available in the southward of Fort Wadsworth, steer southwestward basin. A boatyard with a 45-foot marine railway is about through the dredged channel and then steer a course 0.5 mile eastward of the boat basin; complete hull and for Old Orchard Shoal Light. engine repairs can be made. (255) Compton Creek, 4 miles westward of Sandy Hook, Charts 12331, 12327 is used extensively as a harbor of refuge by small fishing craft. The creek is entered through a dredged channel (261) Raritan Bay is that part of Lower Bay lying west- that leads from Sandy Hook Bay, thence through Bel- ward of Point Comfort and southward of Staten Island. ford (Shoal) Harbor, and thence to about 0.4 mile The bay is full of shoals with depths of 7 to 18 feet. above the mouth. In May 2008, the midchannel con- trolling depth was 10.4 feet to the turn in the channel Channels at 40°26'02\"N., 74°04'47\"W., thence 1.9 feet (2.7 feet at (262) A Federal project provides for a 35-foot channel ex- midchannel) except shoaling to 0.5 foot within 40 feet of the head of the project. The entrance channel is tending through Lower Bay, the northern part of marked by lighted and unlighted buoys. A passenger Raritan Bay, to the junction with Arthur Kill. (See No- ferry terminal is located on the east side of the channel tice to Mariners and latest editions of the charts for with service to Manhattan. The creek is navigable by controlling depths.) small boats for about 1 mile. Several fixed bridges over the creek have a minimum clearance of 2 feet. A sea- Anchorages sonal auxiliary marine police station is on the east side (263) General anchorages are in Raritan Bay. (See 110.1 of the creek. (256) A boatyard is on the south side of Compton Creek and 110.155 (j) chapter 2, for limits and regulations.) about 0.45 mile above the mouth. Marine supplies, hull and engine repair facilities, and a 90-foot marine rail- Tides way are available. A town dock, supervised by a (264) The mean range of tide in Raritan Bay is about 5 dockmaster, is just downriver of the boatyard. (257) Port Monmouth, a village at the head of Compton feet. Creek, is a shipping point for fresh fish, shellfish, and inedible animal products. Several private landings and Ice a town landing are available. (265) In ordinary winters ice does not seriously interfere (258) Pews Creek, about 1 mile northwest of Compton Creek, is marked at the entrance by a private light. In with navigation in Raritan River or Arthur Kill, but in May 1981, it was reported that 3½ feet could be carried severe winters the ice sometimes prevents the move- ments of vessels for periods of 2 weeks at a time. In easterly winds the drift ice in Lower Bay collects in Raritan Bay and obstructs navigation, but usually only
New York Harbor and Approaches ■ Chapter 11 ■ 389 for a short time, as the prevailing westerly winds drive Anchorage the ice out of the bay. (271) A special anchorage is in Great Kills Harbor. (See Pilotage, Raritan River and Arthur Kill 110.1 and 110.6 (r-1), chapter 2, for limits and regu- (266) Pilotage for ports in the States of New York and lations.) New Jersey is compulsory for foreign vessels and U.S. (272) Great Kills, on the west side of Great Kills Harbor, vessels under register. Pilotage for vessels bound for has several small-craft facilities with berths, electricity, Perth Amboy, South Amboy, or up the Raritan River gasoline, diesel fuel, water, ice, storage, and marine and Arthur Kill is available from the United New York supplies. A public launching ramp is located in the New Jersey Sandy Hook Pilot Association. Pilotage is northeast corner of the harbor. also available from the Interport Pilots Agency, Inc. See Pilotage, New York Harbor and Approaches (indexed as (273) Lemon Creek, 0.2 mile westward of Seguine Point, such) earlier this chapter. is a narrow shallow stream used only by local boats which enter at high water. The midchannel controlling Towage depth over the bar is about 2 feet with deeper water in- (267) Tugs are used by the larger vessels and are available side. The abutment of a former bridge is on the south side of the creek just inside the mouth. Overhead power in New York. (See Towage, New York Harbor, discussed cables crossing the creek at the bridge abutment have a earlier in this chapter.) clearance of 47 feet. (268) Customs, quarantine, immigration, and agricul- tural quarantine inspections are discussed earlier in (274) A small marina on the creek can haul out craft up this chapter under New York Harbor. to 8 tons for minor engine and hull repairs; berths, electricity, water, ice, and outside storage are available. Supplies (269) Water can be had at most of the wharves in Perth (275) A prominent tower of a former lighthouse with a statue on top is on the south side of Staten Island, 0.8 Amboy and South Amboy. Provisions and marine sup- mile westward of Seguine Point. Prominent buildings plies can be had at Perth Amboy, Tottenville, New are near the point at Red Bank, 0.3 mile southwestward Brunswick, and South Amboy. of the tower. Chart 12331 (276) Keansburg, on Point Comfort on the south side of Raritan Bay, is a summer resort. The wharves on the (270) Great Kills Harbor, a shallow bight on the south west side of Point Comfort are in ruins and no longer side of Staten Island northwestward of Old Orchard used. Shoal Light, is used as an anchorage by small craft. The harbor is entered through a dredged channel that leads (277) A special anchorage is adjacent to the amusement from deep water in Lower New York Bay along the pier. (See 110.1 and 110.6 (z), for limits and regula- southwesterly side of Crookes Point, thence along the tions.) westerly side of the harbor to the head. In November 2005, the controlling depths were 6.3 feet to a point (278) Waackaack Creek and Thorns Creek, about 0.6 abeam the southern tip of Crookes Point, thence shoal- mile southwest of Point Comfort, have a common en- ing to bare across the channel at Buoy 6, thence 6.1 feet trance protected by floodgates. The gates are lowered, to the mouth of the harbor with lesser depths along the thereby closing the harbor, when tides above 4½ feet easterly side, thence 9.7 feet in the harbor channel to are sustained for a period of time. An overhead power the head of the project. Greater depths are available cable with a clearance of 32 feet crosses the creek en- outside the channel; the chart is the best guide. The trance at the floodgates. Small-craft facilities on channel is marked by buoys and a light. Great Kills Thorns Creek provide berths, electricity, ice, water, Light (40°31.3'N., 74°07.9'W.), 35 feet above the water, gasoline, marine supplies, and a 20-ton forklift and a is shown from a skeleton tower with a red and white di- 12-ton mobile hoist for hull and engine repairs. In May amond-shaped daymark on a red concrete base east of 1982, the channels into the creeks were reported the channel entrance. dredged to 7 feet. (279) Keyport Harbor, 3 miles westward of Point Com- fort, is a shallow harbor on the south side of Raritan Bay between Conaskonk Point and Matawan Point. A buoyed approach channel leads southward from the bay to a dredged marked channel that leads through the harbor to the mouth of Matawan Creek. In July 2005, the dredged channel had a controlling depth of 4.8 feet (6.5 feet at midchannel).
390 ■ Chapter 11 ■ Coast Pilot 2 (280) Matawan Creek, entered at the head of Keyport Caution Harbor, is used mostly by local craft. In July 2005, the (288) Caution should be exercised to avoid the sunken controlling depth was 3.7 feet to the first highway bridge, thence 2.0 feet to the Route 35 highway bridge, wrecks, 0.2 mile eastward of the east jetty. thence in 1981, 2 feet to shoaling to bare was reported to the railroad bridge about 1.5 miles above the mouth. (289) The State Route 35 highway bridge, 0.2 mile inside Greater depths are available with local knowledge. (See the jetties, has a bascule span with a clearance of 25 chart 12327.) Three fixed bridges, one railroad and two feet. The overhead power cable just north of the bridge highway, cross the creek; least clearances are 49 feet has a clearance of 89 feet. The Conrail bridge, 0.3 mile horizontal and 6 feet vertical. Least clearance of over- inside the jetties, has a bascule span with a clearance of head power cables crossing the creek is 54 feet. 3 feet. The bridgetender monitors VHF-FM channel 13; call sign KT-3859. (See 117.1 through 117.59 and (281) Keyport is a town on the east side of the entrance to 117.709, chapter 2, for drawbridge regulations.) The Matawan Creek. twin fixed highway bridges over Cheesequake Creek, 1.1 miles inside the jetties, have clearances of 16 feet. Small-craft facilities (282) There are several small-craft facilities on Matawan (290) Laurence Harbor is a summer resort on the east side of Stump Creek, and Morgan is a settlement on the Creek and on the southeast side of Keyport Harbor at west side of Cheesequake Creek. Keyport. Berths with electricity, gasoline, diesel fuel, water, ice, marine supplies, sewage pump-out, lifts to Small-craft facilities 30 tons, marine railways to 40 feet, and complete hull (291) There are small-craft facilities that can provide and engine repairs are available. Vessels proceed to the small-craft facilities at Keyport at high water. berths with electricity, gasoline, diesel fuel, water, ice, marine supplies, a pump-out station, storage facilities, Tide lifts to 35 tons, and a 50-foot marine railway; complete (283) The mean range of tide is about 5 feet. hull and engine repairs are available. (284) A privately dredged channel, about 25 feet wide in Chart 12332 places, leads about 0.3 mile southwesterly from the mouth of Matawan Creek to a marina basin at the en- (292) Raritan River empties into the western end of trance to Luppatatong Creek. In May 1981, a reported Raritan Bay between Perth Amboy and South Amboy. depth of 4 feet was available to the marina. The channel from South Amboy to New Brunswick is 11 miles long and very crooked, but is well marked with (285) Cheesequake Creek and Stump Creek, sharing a navigational aids. Waterborne commerce on the river common entrance and leading southwesterly and is in coal, ore, and petroleum products. southeasterly, respectively, are on the south side of Raritan Bay 6 miles westward of Point Comfort. The en- Channels trance is between two stone jetties. The east jetty is (293) Vessels enter Raritan River from the east by way of awash at high water. The outer ends of jetties are marked by a light. A dredged channel leads between the Great Beds Reach and from the north by way of Arthur jetties to the Conrail railroad bridge about 0.3 mile Kill via Raritan River Cutoff Channel. A Federal project above the jetties. In September 2003, the controlling provides for a 20-foot channel in Raritan River Cutoff, a depth was 5 feet, except an extensive severe shoal that 25-foot channel from Great Beds Reach in Raritan Bay bares gradually from about midchannel to the lower to the head of Red Root Reach about 1.9 miles above half of the east jetty. In 1987, the reported controlling Garden State Parkway bridge, and thence a 15-foot depth was 3½ feet in Stump Creek. channel to the junction with Washington Canal. (See Notice to Mariners and latest editions of the charts for Tide controlling depths.) Above Washington Canal, the con- (286) The mean range of tide is about 5 feet. trolling depth in Raritan River was about 9 feet at midchannel to New Brunswick in 1962. (287) Local boats from Lower Bay usually head for a (294) A dredged channel in Titanium Reach and South point about 1.6 miles east-northeastward of the jetties, Channel branches south from Raritan River about 0.6 and then shape a course to enter between the jetties at mile above Garden State Parkway bridge. The Federal the entrance to Cheesequake and Stump Creeks. project depths are 25 feet in Titanium Reach and 15 to 10 feet in South Channel to Crossman Dock. (See No- tice to Mariners and latest editions of the charts for
New York Harbor and Approaches ■ Chapter 11 ■ 391 controlling depths.) In 1991, the channels were not be- Memorial Bridge with high-level fixed span, 1.9 miles, ing maintained near project depth and the project 135 feet. In 1999, a second span was under construc- above Crossman Dock was not being maintained. tion adjacent to and just west of the existing Thomas (295) A dredged channel in Washington Canal branches Edison Bridge. The new bridge will have a fixed span south from Raritan River about 4.3 miles above Garden with a design clearance of 110 feet. Garden State Park- State Parkway bridge and connects with South River. A way with fixed span, 2 miles, 135 feet; overhead power dredged channel leads south for about 3.4 miles in cable near Crab Island, 5.2 miles, 128 feet; New Jersey South River. In 1961, the midchannel controlling Turnpike with fixed span, 8.7 miles, 45 feet; overhead depths were 12 feet in Washington Canal, thence 10 power cables, 8.9 miles, 114 feet; and U.S. Highway No. feet in South River to the first highway bridge, thence 8 1 Bridge with two fixed spans, 9.6 miles, 90 feet. The feet for about 1 mile, thence ½ foot to a point 800 yards highway bridge over South River at the town of South north of the highway bridge at Old Bridge. River has a fixed span with a clearance of 25 feet. The (296) A sunken drydock, marked by a light, is on the east railroad bridge, 0.4 mile upstream, has a swing span side of the river, 1.5 miles above the Garden State Park- with a clearance of 4 feet. (See 117.1 through 117.59, way fixed bridge. The wreck extends 60 feet into the 117.747, and 117.756, chapter 2, for drawbridge reg- channel and is visible at all stages of the tide. ulations.) In January 1987, the fender system of the south draw of the ConRail swing bridge sustained sig- Bridges nificant damage and may be protruding into the chan- (297) Several drawbridges and fixed bridges cross nel. Mariners are advised to exercise caution and navigate the north draw only. Mariners are requested to Raritan River and South River. The distances above the avoid bridge openings of this bridge during peak com- mouth of the Raritan River and clearances follow: muter hours of 0700 to 0815 and 1700 to 1815, Monday ConRail bridge with center-pier swing span, 0.4 mile, 8 through Friday. The bridgetender monitors VHF-FM feet, overhead power cable at the bridge has a clearance channel 13; call sign KT-4204. of 140 feet; Victory Highway Bridge, 1.6 miles, fixed span with a clearance of 110 feet; Thomas Edison
392 ■ Chapter 11 ■ Coast Pilot 2 Tides and currents (307) A liquefied petroleum gas (LPG) facility is on the (298) The mean range of tide is about 5 feet at South west side of Arthur Kill immediately south of Morses Creek. A moving safety zone has been established Amboy, 5.8 feet at New Brunswick, and 5.5 feet at the around loaded LPG vessels transiting between Scotland highway bridge on South River at the town of South Lighted Whistle Buoy S at the entrance to Sandy Hook River. (For predictions, consult the Tide Tables.) The Channel and the LPG facility. (See 165.1 through tidal current has a velocity of about 1.5 knots at the Vic- 165.7, 165.20 through 165.25, and 165.160, chapter tory Highway Bridge at Perth Amboy. 2, for limits and regulations.) (299) South Amboy is a city on the south side of the en- Anchorages trance to Raritan River. Waterborne commerce at the (308) General anchorages are in Arthur Kill. (See 110.1 port is in fuel oils, coal, sand, and gravel. Depths along- side the wharves and piers range from about 6 to 30 and 110.155 (i), chapter 2, for limits and regulations.) feet. Water, provisions, and marine supplies can be ob- tained here, and berths with electricity, water, ice, and Tides and currents winter dry storage are available at a boat club. (309) The mean range of tide in Arthur Kill is about 5 (300) Sayreville is 6 miles above South Amboy on the feet. Throughout Arthur Kill the flood sets from south bank of the Raritan River. Most of the wharves Raritan Bay to Newark Bay and the ebb in reverse direc- are privately owned. tion. Velocities of current vary with the location from about 1 to 1.5 knots. (301) South River is a town on the west side of South (310) In October 1991, tidal currents in Arthur Kill were River 7.5 miles above South Amboy. A marina about reported to deviate significantly from official predictions 200 yards north of the highway bridge at Old Bridge published by the National Ocean Service. Mariners provides berths, water, marine supplies, a 2-ton lift, and should exercise caution and discretion in the use of engine repairs. In May 1981, a reported depth of about 1 published tidal current predictions. foot could be carried to the marina. Chart 12331 (302) The Delaware and Raritan Canal, closed to naviga- tion since 1933, had its entrance to the Raritan River at (311) Perth Amboy is on the point at the junction of New Brunswick. Raritan River and Arthur Kill at the western end of Raritan Bay. The principal wharves are along the west (303) Highland Park is across Raritan River opposite bank of Arthur Kill. The greatest draft entering is about New Brunswick. In 1981, a reported depth of about 3½ 30 feet. The wharves have depths of 14 to 30 feet along- feet was available from the head of the Federal project side. Good anchorage is found abreast some wharves in to Highland Park, the practical head of navigation. 30 feet. Charts 12333, 12331 Anchorage (312) A special anchorage is south of Perth Amboy. (See (304) Arthur Kill is the narrow body of water separating Staten Island from New Jersey. The cities of Perth 110.1 and 110.60 (aa), chapter 2, for limits and regu- Amboy, Tottenville, Elizabeth, many large factories, lations.) and oil refineries and storage facilities are on its shores. (313) Perth Amboy is a customs port of entry. Northern Arthur Kill and Kill Van Kull are the major channels for bulk, containerized, and petroleum cargo Repairs in New York Harbor. (314) Several ship and boat repair yards are in Perth Channels Amboy. Small-craft engine and hull repairs can be (305) Federal project depth in Arthur Kill is 35 feet ex- made. cept for the Elizabethport Reach which is 41 feet. (See Supplies Notice to Mariners and latest editions of charts for con- (315) Diesel oil, diesel fuel, gasoline, water, lubricants, trolling depths.) and marine supplies are available at Perth Amboy. Caution (306) Numerous sunken and visible wrecks are adjacent (316) Outerbridge Crossing Bridge, 1.7 miles above Ward Point, has a fixed span with a clearance of 143 feet across to both sides of the channel in Arthur Kill; caution is Arthur Kill between Perth Amboy and Tottenville. A advised.
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