Color profile: Generic CMYK printer profile Composite Default screen Outer Cape Cod and Nantucket Sound I Chapter 4 I 195 Coast Pilot 2 - 32nd Ed. Wednesday, January 08, 2003 3:03:26 PM
Color profile: Generic CMYK printer profile Composite Default screen 196 I Chapter 5 I Coast Pilot 2 - 32nd Ed. Wednesday, January 08, 2003 3:03:31 PM
Color profile: Generic CMYK printer profile Composite Default screen Vineyard Sound and Buzzards Bay I Chapter 5 I 197 Vineyard Sound and Buzzards Bay (1) This chapter describes Vineyard Sound and Buz- (6) Woods Hole is the only anchorage providing shel- zards Bay following the Massachusetts coast of Vine- ter from all winds for vessels drawing more than 10 yard Sound, the northwestern shore of Martha’s feet. In northerly and westerly winds, good anchorage Vineyard, the eastern shore of Buzzards Bay, the Cape may be had in Tarpaulin Cove. In southerly winds, shel- Cod Canal, and the western shore of Buzzards Bay. Also ter can be had in Menemsha Bight, although Vineyard described are Woods Hole, Cuttyhunk, Onset, Haven is generally used. Several general anchorages Wareham, and the port of New Bedford, as well as the are in Vineyard Sound. (See 110.1 and 110.140 (c) numerous fishing and yachting centers along the (1), (c) (2), and (d), chapter 2, for limits and regula- sound and bay. tions.) (2) The lines established for this part of the coast are (7) With southerly or westerly gales, there is a heavy described in 80.145, chapter 2. sea in the westerly entrance to the sound, and a heavy sea occurs at times off the entrance of Quicks Hole. To avoid this, Quicks Hole is frequently used, especially by sea tows. (3) Vineyard Sound and Buzzards Bay are deep and (8) The mean range of tide in Vineyard Sound varies easily navigated day or night. Vineyard Sound, together from 1.4 feet at West Chop to 2.9 feet at Gay Head. The with Nantucket Sound, provides an inside route from time of current becomes somewhat earlier from Hedge New York to Boston which avoids Nantucket Shoals. Fence westward through Vineyard Sound. The current Buzzards Bay, together with Cape Cod Canal and Cape velocity increases from 1.4 knots at Hedge Fence Cod Bay, provides the shortest deep-draft route be- Lighted Gong Buoy 22 to about 3 knots off West Chop tween New York and Boston. Light, and then gradually diminishes to 1.2 knots off Gay Head Light. (See “Current Diagram-Vineyard and (4) Vineyard Sound is bounded on the north by the Nantucket Sounds” in the Tidal Current Tables, and the southwestern part of Cape Cod and the Elizabeth Is- Tidal Current Charts, Narragansett Bay to Nantucket lands, and on the south by part of Martha’s Vineyard, Sound, for the hourly velocities and directions of the which presents a rugged and generally inaccessible current.) shoreline. To the west, it joins Rhode Island Sound on a line between Cuttyhunk Island and Gay Head. To the (9) At the western entrance to Vineyard Sound, east, it joins Nantucket Sound on a line between west-northwestward of Gay Head Light, the tidal cur- Nobska Point and West Chop and provides an inside rent is rotary, turning clockwise. The velocity is only passage clear of Nantucket Shoals. The navigational 0.2 to 0.5 knot. Since the tidal current is weak, winds aids are colored and numbered for passing through the greatly affect it and the current frequently sets approxi- sound from the eastward. The channel through the mately with the winds. sound is well marked and generally free of dangers. (10) Buzzards Bay is open to winds out of the south and (5) Deep-draft vessels entering or leaving Vineyard southwest, which are common from spring through Sound should stay at least 3.5 miles southward of the fall. Winds increase as they move from the surrounding southwest end of Cuttyhunk Island and pass southeast land out over the Bay. Its northeast-southwest orienta- of “NA” buoy. tion causes southwesterlies to strengthen as they Coast Pilot 2 - 32nd Ed. Wednesday, January 08, 2003 3:03:31 PM
Color profile: Generic CMYK printer profile Composite Default screen 198 I Chapter 5 I Vineyard Sound and Buzzards Bay funnel up from the mouth of the Bay to its head. The (17) The harbor is the approach to the village of Vine- result is that speeds are often double those at nearby yard Haven. A detached breakwater, marked on its land stations and southwesterlies may prevail even southeastern end by a light, is on the flats on the west- when land stations are reporting west or northwest ern side of the harbor near the head; a privately main- winds. However, as a general rule southwesterlies blow tained fog signal is at the light. The fog signal and a harder close to the Elizabeth Islands than in the middle private light, on the southeast corner of the ferry wharf of the Bay. The relatively shallow water of the Bay in- at the head of the harbor, are activated when a ferry ap- creases the steepness of waves and their closeness to proaches the slip in a fog. one another; this can cause a stiff chop. With southerly or westerly gales there is a heavy sea in the westerly en- (18) The natural channel is clear; soundings are the best trance to Vineyard Sound and heavy seas occur at times guide for finding anchorage. When well inside the en- off the entrance to Quicks Hole. trance, the water shoals gradually toward the western shore, but the eastern shore is steep and should be (11) East Chop and West Chop are prominent points on given a berth of about 0.2 mile. Channel depths of 16 the north side of Martha’s Vineyard and on the east and feet or more are available to the ferry wharf at Vineyard west side of the entrance to Vineyard Haven. Both Haven. points terminate in high wooded bluffs which show prominently from the sounds; each is marked by a (19) Vessels anchor according to draft, anywhere from light. the points at the entrance to the head of the harbor. Shallow-draft vessels favor the western shore. (12) West Chop Light (41°28'51\"N., 70°35'59\"W.), 84 feet above the water, is shown from a white conical (20) Vessels entering the harbor with a head wind or tower at the summit of West Chop. A fog signal is light breeze, at the end of a favorable current through sounded from the light station. the sound, should continue on in the channel until the harbor is well opened before standing in for the an- (13) A lighted gong buoy, 0.5 mile northeastward of the chorage. This will help clear the entrance points. Ap- light, and a buoy, 0.5 mile eastward of the light, mark proaching from the eastward, vessels will keep clear of shoal water and rocks awash to the eastward of West Squash Meadow and East Chop Flats by keeping in the Chop. It has been reported that during strong tidal cur- white sector of West Chop Light. Good anchorage is rents, the buoy may be submerged. northeastward of the breakwater buoy in 20 to 23 feet. The anchorage basin behind the breakwater has depths (14) East Chop Light (41°28'13\"N., 70°34'03\"W.), 79 of 5 to 12 feet and is usually filled to capacity during the feet above the water, is shown from a white tower on summer. When anchoring in the harbor, care must be the east side of the entrance to Vineyard Haven. East taken to avoid obstructing the approach to the ferry Chop Flats, covered 5 to 18 feet, extend 0.2 mile north- slip and the approach to the oil wharves on the south- ward and 0.5 mile eastward of East Chop. A lighted bell erly side of the harbor. buoy, about 0.5 mile east-northeastward, and a buoy, about 350 yards northward of the light, mark the flats. (21) Flats, partly bare at low water and marked by a buoy, make off 300 yards from the eastern shore of the (15) Vineyard Haven Harbor is a funnel-shaped bight in harbor about 1 mile inside East Chop Light. A rock, the northern side of Martha’s Vineyard between East covered 9 feet and marked by a buoy, is 0.3 mile north- Chop and West Chop, about 1.4 miles long in a south- ward of the breakwater light. west direction and about 1.3 miles wide at the en- trance. This haven, easy of access, is the most (22) The mean range of tide is 1.7 feet. The tidal cur- important harbor of refuge for coasters between rents have little velocity in the harbor; however, care Provincetown and Narragansett Bay. The depths range should be taken on the ebb, which sets westward, not to from 46 feet at the entrance to 15 feet near the head of approach too closely to West Chop as the current in the harbor. that vicinity sets on the ledges eastward and northward of the point. (16) Although Vineyard Haven Harbor is exposed to northeasterly winds, vessels with good ground tackle can ride out most blows. The greatest danger encoun- tered by vessels at anchor in a northeast gale is from vessels with poor ground tackle, which are likely to drift, foul other vessels, and then go ashore. Coast Pilot 2 - 32nd Ed. Wednesday, January 08, 2003 3:03:31 PM
Color profile: Generic CMYK printer profile Composite Default screen Vineyard Sound and Buzzards Bay I Chapter 5 I 199 Courtesy of Cape Cod Power Squadron FALMOUTH HARBOR, MA (23) The harbormaster has control of the anchoring of the ferry wharf; other moorings can be hired from the vessels in the inner harbor; he will usually be found at boatyard and marinas. the town dock on the west side of the harbor and can be (27) The Martha’s Vineyard Hospital is on the beach contacted by radiotelephone on VHF-FM channel 16, road near Oak Bluffs. or by telephone (508-693-1368). A 4 mph speed limit is (28) The Woods Hole-Martha’s Vineyard and Nantucket enforced inside the breakwater and within 150 feet of Steamship Authority maintains year-round ferry ser- moored craft. vice from Woods Hole. Air service is available from Martha’s Vineyard Airport, about 4 miles south of the (24) Pilots are not available at Vineyard Haven. A town. twin-screw, 500-hp tug, also equipped for salvage work, (29) Lagoon Pond, eastward of the town of Vineyard Ha- is based in the harbor. ven, has its entrance about 0.5 mile northeastward of Vineyard Haven Breakwater Light. A short jetty, (25) The ferry wharf at the head of the channel has a marked by a light, extends from the northwestern end depth of 24 feet reported at the outer face. The ferry slip of the jutting point on the northerly side of the en- is on the north side and inshore end of the wharf. A pri- trance. In March 1992, the controlling depth through vate light is on the northeast corner of the wharf. The the entrance was 6½ feet. The channel is marked by light and a private fog signal, on the southeastern end private buoys. The pond, used by local and fishing craft, of the breakwater, are activated when a ferry is ap- has depths of 5 to 25 feet with shoaler depths near the proaching the slip in a fog. Several other wharves, two shore. Robbins Rock is off the west shore, about 1 mile marinas, and a boatyard are in the harbor. A yacht club above the bridge. The highway bridge across the en- is on the west side of the harbor, about 0.3 mile north- trance has a 30-foot bascule span with a clearance of 15 ward of the breakwater. (See the small-craft facilities feet. (See 117.1 through 117.49, chapter 2, for draw- tabulation on chart 13229 for services and supplies bridge regulations.) Advance arrangements for bridge available.) (26) Guest moorings, maintained by the town, are avail- able off the municipal wharf, 200 yards northward of Coast Pilot 2 - 32nd Ed. Wednesday, January 08, 2003 3:03:37 PM
Color profile: Generic CMYK printer profile Composite Default screen 200 I Chapter 5 I Vineyard Sound and Buzzards Bay openings can be made by contacting the harbormaster (35) The mean range of tide at Falmouth Heights is 1.3 or drawtender (telephone: 617-693-1212). feet. The tidal current in the sound about 1.5 miles south of the harbor sets east-northeastward on the (30) Falmouth Harbor, the open roadstead off the south flood at a velocity of 2.3 knots, and west-southwestward shore of Cape Cod eastward of Nobska Point Light, af- on the ebb at 1.7 knots. fords an anchorage for vessels in 24 to 36 feet about 0.8 mile from shore. Smaller vessels can anchor closer to (36) There are several small-craft facilities in Falmouth the shore in 15 to 18 feet. The bottom is generally Inner Harbor. (See the small-craft facilities tabulation sticky and good holding ground; the depths shoal grad- on chart 13229 for services and supplies available.) The ually toward the shore. The anchorage affords a lee in harbormaster is at the town-operated Falmouth Ma- northerly winds; in southerly winds the sea is some- rina, on the west side halfway up the harbor; telephone what broken by L’Hommedieu Shoal and the shoals (508-548-9796). The harbormaster monitors VHF-FM westward of it so that a vessel with good ground tackle channels 16, 12, and 9. A ferry operates in the summer can ride out a gale in comparative safety. (See 110.1 to Oak Bluffs from the wharf at the head of the harbor. and 110.140 (c) (5), and (d) chapter 2, for limits and regulations of the anchorage area.) (37) Nobska Point, about 29 miles westward of Monomoy Point, is a bluff with Nobska Point Light (31) Falmouth Harbor is frequently used by vessels with (41°30'57\"N., 70°39'18\"W.), 87 feet above the water, good ground tackle that prefer this anchorage to the shown from a white tower, at the south end. A fog sig- anchorage in Vineyard Haven Harbor, which may be nal is at the light. Nobska Point Ledges, partly bare at crowded in bad weather. Vessels approaching the an- low water, extends 150 yards eastward and southwest- chorage are cautioned to stay clear of the two shoal ar- ward from the point. eas with depths of 10 to 16 feet marked by buoys which extend westward of L’Hommedieu Shoal. (38) Middle Ground, covered 4 to 17 feet, is the easterly half of a narrow, somewhat shifting ridge that extends (32) Vessels can enter Falmouth Harbor from the for about 9 miles westward from a point about 0.5 mile southward on a course of 344° with West Chop Light northwestward of West Chop Light. A buoy is at the astern, and pass about 0.1 mile westward of Falmouth northeast end, and a lighted bell buoy off the south- Harbor East Shoal Buoy 17. Vessels in the vicinity of western end. Nobska Point Light can pass 0.4 mile eastward of the light on a north-northeasterly course, and when Tar- (39) Lucas Shoal, covered 12 to 18 feet, is the south- paulin Cove and Nobska Point Lights are nearly in western end of the ridge. It is separated from the Middle range, stand eastward to an anchorage. Ground by a natural channel with a depth of 31 feet. A buoy marks the southwestern end of the shoal. (33) Falmouth Heights, about 3 miles east-northeast of Nobska Point Light and east of the town of Falmouth, is (40) Lake Tashmoo, a landlocked pond on the north- a prominent yellow bluff on the summit of which are west side of Martha’s Vineyard, is entered through a numerous homes and a large hotel. narrow jettied entrance which had a reported control- ling depth of 2½ feet in September 1981. The lake, only (34) Falmouth Inner Harbor, westward of Falmouth used by local craft, has general depths of 3 to 10 feet. A Heights, is a dredged basin about 0.7 mile long and less private seasonal light marks the east jetty and private than 0.1 mile wide, on the north side of Falmouth Har- seasonal buoys mark the channel through a shoal area bor. A tall green standpipe, about 1.5 miles westward of just inside the entrance. Falmouth, is one of the most prominent landmarks in this vicinity. The yacht club dock and flagpole, just in- (41) A 4 mph speed limit is enforced in the pond. An- side the entrance on the east side of the harbor, are con- choring is prohibited in the entrance channel. spicuous from close inshore. The harbor is entered through a dredged channel between two jetties; a light (42) A small boatyard is on the easterly side of the lake; a marks the end of the west jetty. In April 2000, the re- flatbed trailer can handle craft up to 30 feet for hull and ported controlling depths were 7.5 feet (9.2 feet at engine repairs. Guest moorings and limited supplies midchannel) in the entrance channel to the inner har- are available. bor; thence in 1997, the controlling depths were 7.5 feet (8 feet at midchannel) in the harbor, except for (43) Norton Point and Cape Higgon are prominent shoaling to 4.5 feet at the upper end of the harbor along bluffs on the northwest side of Martha’s Vineyard about the NW side. Coast Pilot 2 - 32nd Ed. Wednesday, January 08, 2003 3:03:37 PM
Color profile: Generic CMYK printer profile Composite Default screen Vineyard Sound and Buzzards Bay I Chapter 5 I 201 3 and 8 miles, respectively, southwestward of West contacted by radiotelephone on VHF-FM channel 16 or Chop Light. by telephone (508-645-2846). (44) Menemsha Bight, on the northerly side of the (50) A marina is on the east side of Menemsha Basin. western end of Martha’s Vineyard 2.5 miles east of Gay Repairs and hauling of craft to 45 feet can be arranged. Head, affords shelter from southerly and easterly winds Gasoline, diesel fuel, water, ice, launching ramp, and in depths of 25 to 60 feet, sticky bottom. (See 110.1 and marine supplies are available. 110.140 (c) (1) and (d), chapter 2, for limits and regu- (51) Seasonal bus service is available from Menemsha to lations for the anchorage area.) There are no dangers in Vineyard Haven and other points on the island. the bight if the shore is given a berth of 0.3 mile. (52) Gay Head, the westerly end of Martha’s Vineyard, is (45) Menemsha Creek, on the northwestern shore of a prominent high bluff. It is marked by Gay Head Light Martha’s Vineyard and about 3 miles eastward of Gay (41°20.9'N., 70°50.1'W.), 170 feet above the water, Head Light, is entered from Menemsha Bight through shown from a 51-foot red brick tower on the head. A a dredged channel that leads southeastward to lighted gong buoy is 1.6 miles northwestward of the Menemsha Basin, on the north shore just inside the light. entrance. From the basin, the dredged channel contin- (53) Devils Bridge is a reef making off 0.8 mile ues southward through the creek to Menemsha Pond, northwestward of Gay Head. The reef has a depth of 2 about 1 mile above the entrance. The entrance to the feet about 0.4 mile offshore and 17 feet at its end. creek is protected by jetties. The east jetty is marked by (54) Nomans Land, about 5.5 miles southward of Gay a light. A bell buoy, about 300 yards northwestward of Head, is a prominent, high, and rocky island. Except for the light, marks the channel approach, and buoys and a small section on its northwestern side, the shore con- daybeacons mark the channel. sists of clay and gravel cliffs 10 to 18 feet high with (46) In October 1991-March 1992, the controlling boulders lining the shores. In the interior of the island depth was 10 feet at midchannel to Menemsha Basin, are many hills, the highest over 100 feet high, with thence 1½ feet could be carried to Menemsha Pond; considerable marshy area between the hills. A danger thence 5½ to 10 feet was available in the larger north- zone surrounds Nomans Land. (See 334.70, chapter 2, western part of Menemsha Basin and 3½ to 5 feet in the for limits and regulations.) smaller southeastern part, except for shoaling to 1 foot (55) Several sunken rocks and ledges are in the passage in the southeastern corner. The channel south of between Nomans Land and Martha’s Vineyard. Lone Menemsha Basin is reported to shoal rapidly after Rock, covered 8 feet, and Old Man, a ledge covered 4 dredging; mariners are advised to seek local knowledge feet, are marked by buoys. A buoyed channel about 0.7 before attempting to go beyond Menemsha Basin. mile wide between the islands may be used by small (47) Menemsha is a small fishing village on Menemsha vessels in the daytime. Shoal water extends 0.5 mile Basin. Menemsha Pond, a rectangular basin about 1 southward of Squibnocket Point, the southernmost mile long and 0.7 mile wide, has general depths of 2 to point of Martha’s Vineyard. 18 feet, with the deepest water in the southern half of the pond. (48) The mean range of tide in Menemsha Bight is 2.7 (56) Elizabeth Islands, including Nonamesset, feet. The tidal currents through the entrance have an Uncatena, Weepecket, Naushon, Pasque, Nashawena, estimated velocity of 3 knots or more. Slacks are re- Penikese, and Cuttyhunk Islands, extend about 14 ported to occur 45 minutes after local high and low wa- miles west-southwest from the southwest end of Cape ters. Cod. The islands, forming part of the northern shore of Vineyard Sound, separate the sound from Buzzards (49) Guest moorings are available in Menemsha Basin, Bay. They are hilly and partly wooded; the shores are, in and anchoring is permitted in the pond. Berths are also general, low bluffs. Westward of Woods Hole are several available at the public facilities at Dutcher Dock, on the buoyed channels between the islands, but Quicks Hole northeast side of the basin. Commercial fishing and is the only one recommended for strangers. charter boats berth at the dock or at the private piers on the west side of the basin. Menemsha Coast Guard Sta- tion is on the south side of the basin. The harbormaster controls all berthing and mooring in the basin. The harbormaster has an office at Dutcher Dock and can be Coast Pilot 2 - 32nd Ed. Wednesday, January 08, 2003 3:03:37 PM
Color profile: Generic CMYK printer profile Composite Default screen 202 I Chapter 5 I Vineyard Sound and Buzzards Bay (57) Woods Hole is that water area lying between the has depths of over 18 feet. A 344° lighted entrance southwest tip of Cape Cod and Uncatena and range leads into the harbor from Vineyard Sound to the Nonamesset Island, the easternmost of the Elizabeth wharves at Woods Hole in Great Harbor. A lighted bell Islands, with Buzzards Bay on the northwest and Vine- buoy marks the entrance and lighted and unlighted yard Sound on the southeast; it includes Great and Lit- buoys mark the channel. When entering on the range, tle Harbors in the eastern part, and Hadley Harbor in mariners should guard against the current from Buz- the western part. Woods Hole is also the approach to zards Bay, which has a tendency to set vessels eastward. the town of Woods Hole on the northeastern shore of (62) The deepest draft using the passage is 11 feet. Great Harbor. The town is a busy commercial center These channels are marked by buoys and lights, but ex- and a transshipping point for passengers and freight to treme caution and slack water are required to safely and from Nantucket and Martha’s Vineyard. During the navigate them with drafts greater than 8 feet. Mariners summer it is an active resort and frequently a port of entering from Buzzards Bay should keep in mind that call by yachts passing through to Vineyard Sound or the buoys are colored and marked for passage from Buzzards Bay. The deepest draft entering Great Harbor Vineyard Sound to Buzzards Bay. in 1981 was 14 feet. There is considerable waterborne commerce in seafood products and general cargo. (63) (See 110.1 and 110.140 (c) and (d), chapter 2, for limits and regulations of the deepwater anchorages in (58) The most prominent landmark approaching Woods the vicinity of Woods Hole.) An anchorage about 0.2 Hole is Nobska Point and light. A light marks the south mile square, with poor holding ground and irregular end of Juniper Point, the finger of land separating Lit- depths ranging from 20 to 60 feet, is at the head of tle and Great Harbors. Also prominent is the house Great Harbor. Shoals covered 5 to 9 feet are northwest high on Juniper Point, a standpipe 2.2 miles northward of the anchorage. Good anchorage in depths of 30 to 48 of Nobska Point, a water tower and stacks in the town, feet is also available about 200 yards northwest of the the dome of the Woods Hole Oceanographic Institu- National Marine Fisheries Service’s wharf. Small craft tion, and the buildings of the National Marine Fisheries can find good anchorage in Little Harbor and Hadley Service and the Marine Biological Laboratory. Harbor. (59) Woods Hole Passage, a dredged section through (64) Numerous ledges and shoals border the channel the northern part of Woods Hole, connects Vineyard through Woods Hole. Great Ledge, an extensive rocky Sound and Great Harbor with Buzzards Bay, and con- shoal awash at low water with a full northwest gale, lies sists of The Strait and a spur channel known as the between the entrances to Little and Great Harbors; it is Branch at the western end of The Strait, and Broadway, marked by a buoy. Coffin Rock, eastward of Great the southerly entrance to The Strait from Vineyard Ledge and covered 6 feet, is marked by a lighted buoy Sound. In August 1989, the controlling depths were 13 120 yards eastward of it. Nonamesset Shoal, covered 11 feet in The Strait, except for shoaling to 11 feet near the feet, extends about 0.2 mile eastward from Nonamesset north edge of the channel between Buoys 2 and 6, 12 Island, at the entrance to Great Harbor. Parker Flats feet (13 feet at midchannel) in the Branch, and 11 feet extend as much as 200 yards off the eastern shore of in Broadway. The northerly entrance from Great Har- Great Harbor northward of Juniper Point. Most of these bor into The Strait is preferred over Broadway with its dangers are marked by buoys. sharp turn, which is difficult in strong currents, espe- cially for low-powered vessels and vessels under sail. (65) Fringing the passage westward of Great Harbor are many other ledges and shoals. Red Ledge, grassy, and (60) The passage through Woods Hole, between numer- Grassy Island, with its surrounding ledge marked by a ous ledges and shoals, is marked by navigational aids. light, are on the western side of Great Harbor Channel. However, tidal currents are so strong that the passage In 1997, a dangerous wreck was reported 250 yards is difficult and dangerous without some local knowl- north-northeastward of Grassy Island Ledge Light in edge. Buoys in the narrowest part of the channel some- about 41°31'24\"N., 70°40'32\"W. Middle Ledge, which times are towed under, and a stranger should attempt uncovers 1 foot in places and is marked by buoys, is on passage only at slack water. the south side of The Strait. A ledge, awash at low water and marked by a light, is about 250 yards westward of (61) The entrance to Great Harbor from Vineyard Middle Ledge. Hadley Rock, covered 5 feet, is some 500 Sound, between Great Ledge and Nonamesset Shoal, yards west-southwestward of the light west of Middle Ledge. A rocky shoal area extends more than 0.3 mile Coast Pilot 2 - 32nd Ed. Wednesday, January 08, 2003 3:03:37 PM
Color profile: Generic CMYK printer profile Composite Default screen Vineyard Sound and Buzzards Bay I Chapter 5 I 203 westward of Penzance Point, the southern extremity of flashing white light is shown from the southwest cor- Penzance, which is the curving peninsula sheltering ner of the pier, and a private quick flashing yellow light the west and northwest sides of Great Harbor. Most of is shown from the southwest corner of the ferry slip. the dangers adjoining the passage channel are marked The ferry to Naushon Island lands at the service wharf by navigational aids. about 60 yards north of the ferry pier. The buildings (66) In October 1985, a sunken wreck was reported and wharf of the Woods Hole Oceanographic Institu- about 0.3 mile west of Penzance in about 41°31.4'N., tion are northwestward of the ferry pier. 70°41.7'W. Northwestward of the Oceanographic Institution are the wharves of the Marine Biological Laboratory; the (67) The mean range of tide is 1.4 feet off Little Harbor, wharf, basin, and buildings of the National Marine about 1.8 feet off Woods Hole Oceanographic Institu- Fisheries Service; the town pier; and several private tion, and 3.6 feet off Hadley Harbor. Strong northwest- buildings. erly winds may lower the water in the passage as much (72) Depths at the principal piers vary from 11 to 30 as 2 feet. feet. A breakwater extends about 90 yards southwest- ward from the south end of the National Marine Fish- (68) The velocity of the current is about 3.5 knots in The eries Service wharf. The front entrance range light is Strait southward of Penzance Point. (See the Tidal Cur- near the end of the breakwater. Foul ground extends rent Tables for predictions, and the Tidal Current about 50 yards northwestward of the outer end of the Charts, Narragansett Bay to Nantucket Sound, for the breakwater. hourly velocities and directions of the current.) Both the velocity of the current and time of slack water are (73) Eel Pond, an extension of Great Harbor to the affected by strong winds. At the north entrance to northeastward, is a basin with depths of 10 to 20 feet. In Woods Hole in Buzzards Bay, the velocity of the tidal September 2001, the narrow entrance to the pond had current is 0.8 knot, whereas at the eastern entrance to a reported controlling depth of 6 feet. A highway bridge The Strait in Great Harbor, it is about 1.3 knots. In the over the entrance channel has a 31-foot bascule span upper part of Great Harbor, near the National Marine with a clearance of 5 feet. (See 117.1 through 117.59 Fisheries Service’s wharf, the currents are barely per- and 117.598, chapter 2, for drawbridge regulations.) ceptible, and vessels at anchor lie head to wind. The piers of the Marine Biological Laboratory are along the southwest side of the pond. A boatyard in Eel Pond (69) Drift ice is brought through from Buzzards Bay, has water, some marine supplies, limited berths with but seldom interferes with navigation except in unusu- electricity, and can do engine repairs. The ally severe winters, when it may close the entrance harbormaster has an office in Falmouth. from the bay. Small craft may experience difficulty in severe winters, but powered vessels usually proceed (74) Seasonal ferry service is available from Woods Hole through the ice. The strong tidal currents usually keep to Nantucket and Oak Bluffs, Martha’s Vineyard. Great Harbor open. Year-round ferry service is available to Vineyard Haven, Martha’s Vineyard. (70) The following directions are good for me- dium-draft vessels entering Woods Hole at slack water. (75) Woods Hole Coast Guard Station is on the west Approaching from the eastward, pass about 0.3 mile side of Little Harbor about 450 yards northward of Ju- southward of Nobska Point on a west-southwesterly niper Point. A dredged buoyed channel leads from course until on Great Harbor Lighted Range, or from a Vineyard Sound to a turning basin off the Coast Guard point close to Nobska Point Lighted Bell Buoy 26, steer wharf on the west shore. In 1992, the controlling depth 279° until on the entrance range. Approaching from was 12 feet in the channel with 12 feet available in the the westward in Vineyard Sound, give the south side of basin. The east side of the harbor is used as a mooring the Elizabeth Islands a berth of about 0.5 mile and steer area for local craft. Depths of 12 to 2 feet are reported in for Nobska Point Light on any bearing between 045° the mooring area. Numerous rocks awash are in this and 051° until on the entrance range. part of the harbor; extreme caution is advised. A 6 mph speed limit is enforced in the harbor by the Falmouth (71) The ferry pier of the Woods Hole-Martha’s Vineyard Harbormaster. and Nantucket Steamship Authority is on the eastern side of Great Harbor. When a ferry is approaching in (76) Hadley Harbor, in the western portion of Woods fog, a private fog signal is sounded, a private quick Hole at the northwest end of Nonamesset Island, is suitable only for small craft. It is reached by a narrow, crooked channel. The deeper entrance, marked by buoys, is between ledges on both sides; the northern Coast Pilot 2 - 32nd Ed. Wednesday, January 08, 2003 3:03:38 PM
Color profile: Generic CMYK printer profile Composite Default screen 204 I Chapter 5 I Vineyard Sound and Buzzards Bay ledge is marked by a private daybeacon. The inner har- the passage. The velocity in the narrow part is about 3 bor forms a well-sheltered anchorage for small craft. knots. The flood sets southeastward and the ebb (77) Two wharves, with depths of about 9 feet at their northwestward into Buzzards Bay. (See the Tidal Cur- ends, are on the western side of Hadley Harbor. A pri- rent Tables for predictions, and the Tidal Current vate wharf, with a depth of about 7 feet at its end, is at Charts, Narragansett Bay to Nantucket Island, for the the western end of Nonamesset Island. hourly velocities and directions of the current.) (85) Quicks Hole, between Pasque Island and (78) Naushon Island, the largest of the Elizabeth Is- Nashawena Island, is the only passage between Vine- lands, extends west-southwestward from Uncatena and yard Sound and Buzzards Bay eastward of Cuttyhunk Nonamesset Islands. available for vessels of over 10-foot draft. The clearly defined entrance from Vineyard Sound, about 0.6 mile (79) Weepecket Islands, in Buzzards Bay off the north- wide, is about 4 miles southwestward of Tarpaulin Cove eastern part of Naushon Island, are bare and rocky. and about 5 miles north of Gay Head. The passage is used considerably by tows, especially during westerly (80) Weepecket Rock, on a rocky ledge about 0.7 mile or southerly winds, to avoid the very heavy sea in the northeastward of the northernmost of the Weepecket entrance to Vineyard Sound, and also because a secure Islands, is covered 8 feet, and is marked by a lighted anchorage from these winds can be had, if necessary, gong buoy. on the north side of Nashawena Island. The passage is considered unsafe for a long tow at night, but otherwise (81) Lackeys Bay, between Nonamesset Island and Jobs it may be used by steamers either night or day. Neck, the southeastern extremity of Naushon Island, is (86) Vessels should follow a midchannel course through shoal with numerous bare rocks. the passage. The channel is nearly straight with a width of about 0.2 mile. General depths are 30 feet or more, (82) In November 1990, an unexploded World War II but there are several spots of 16 to 18 feet and others of ordnance was reported about 0.5 mile southeastward of 21 to 27 feet. Because of the broken nature of the bot- Lackeys Bay in about 41°29'34.5\"N., 70°41'15.0\"W. tom, the passage is not recommended for a stranger drawing more than 21 feet. Buoys mark the channel. (83) Tarpaulin Cove, about 5 miles west-southwest of (87) The aids in Quicks Hole are colored and numbered Nobska Point, is a bight about 0.5 mile in diameter, in for passage from Vineyard Sound to Buzzards Bay. the south shore of Naushon Island. The cove affords (88) The eastern side of Quicks Hole is foul, and no at- shelter from northerly and westerly winds, and is fre- tempt should be made to pass eastward of the lighted quently used. A light is on the southwest side of the buoy. Felix Ledge, 0.2 mile off the eastern shore of cove. Anchorage in depths of 14 to 18 feet, good hold- Nashawena Island, is covered 16 feet and marked by a ing ground, is in the cove with the light bearing be- buoy. tween 212° and 189°. Deep-draft vessels should anchor (89) In November 1985, a sunken wreck was reported farther out in depths of 36 feet or more. The eastern on the west side of the passage in about 41°26.5'N., and northern shores should be given a berth of 200 70°51.0'W. yards. Rocks are near the western shore and should be (90) Lone Rock, covered 3 feet and marked by a lighted given a berth of over 300 yards; buoys mark the dan- buoy, is off the northern entrance, about 0.7 mile gers. northward of North Point, the northeastern extremity of Nashawena Island. (84) Robinsons Hole is a narrow buoyed passage from (91) The mean range of tide is 2.5 feet at the south end Vineyard Sound to Buzzards Bay between the western and 3.5 feet at the north end of Quicks Hole. The tidal end of Naushon Island and the eastern end of Pasque Is- currents have considerable velocity in Quicks Hole, land. It has numerous rocks and ledges, and strong about 2 to 2.5 knots, and a sailing vessel should not at- tidal currents. The buoys often tow under, and the pas- tempt to pass through unless with a strong favorable sage should never be attempted by strangers; it is used wind on a favorable current. Deep-draft vessels should occasionally by local fishermen. It has been reported be careful not to be set off their courses. With a strong that currents sometimes reach a velocity of 5 knots in westward current through Vineyard Sound, there is a northward current through Quicks Hole; with a strong eastward current in Vineyard Sound, the current sets southward through Quicks Hole. Strong winds affect Coast Pilot 2 - 32nd Ed. Wednesday, January 08, 2003 3:03:38 PM
Color profile: Generic CMYK printer profile Composite Default screen Vineyard Sound and Buzzards Bay I Chapter 5 I 205 Courtesy of Cape Cod Power Squadron CUTTYHUNK HARBOR, MA the regularity of the currents. (See the Tidal Current Copicut Neck forms the northerly side of Cuttyhunk Tables for predictions, and the Tidal Current Charts, Pond. Narragansett Bay to Nantucket Sound, for the hourly (94) Cuttyhunk Light (41°24'52\"N., 70°56'58\"W.), 63 velocities and directions of the current.) feet above the water, is shown from a 45-foot white (92) Penikese Island, grassy and hilly, is about 1.3 miles skeleton tower with a red and white diamond-shaped northwestward of Knox Point, the northwestern ex- daymark shown from a small house at the base of the tremity of Nashawena Island. Shoal water extends from tower on the western side of Cuttyhunk Island. Penikese Island to Gull Island, a small islet 0.5 mile (95) Also prominent from offshore is a 50-foot-high southeastward. No attempt should be made to pass be- monument on an island in Westend Pond on the west- tween them. Rocky ledges extend southward and west- ern end of Cuttyhunk Island. ward from Gull Island; buoys are on the southern edge (96) Vessels bound for Cuttyhunk Harbor generally ap- of this area. The channels to Cuttyhunk Harbor from proach from Buzzards Bay. The principal dangers are Buzzards Bay are southward of the ledges. marked by buoys. Strangers should not enter except in (93) Cuttyhunk Harbor is formed by the bight between the daytime with clear weather. If entering from the Nashawena Island and Cuttyhunk Island, the western- northwestward, a greater draft than 10 feet should not most of the Elizabeth Islands. Northward of the harbor be taken in. The approach from northeastward is are Penikese and Gull Islands and several ledges, which deeper. shelter the harbor from winds from that direction. The (97) Canapitsit Channel, between the east end of harbor is exposed to winds from the northeastward. Cuttyhunk Island and Nashawena Island, is used by Weather-bound coasting vessels and fishermen some- small boats and is partially marked by buoys. In No- times use the anchorage in the harbor. The harbor is vember 1980, the channel had a controlling depth of 5½ the approach to the village of Cuttyhunk and to feet. The buoys at this entrance are often dragged off Cuttyhunk Pond; the latter is entered through a station by strong currents and heavy seas. The channel dredged cut in the eastern end of Cuttyhunk Island. should never be used during a heavy ground swell. Coast Pilot 2 - 32nd Ed. Wednesday, January 08, 2003 3:03:43 PM
Color profile: Generic CMYK printer profile Composite Default screen 206 I Chapter 5 I Vineyard Sound and Buzzards Bay With southerly winds, heavy seas will break across the between Middle Ground and Penikese Island, passing entrance. northward of Middle Ledge and the 12-foot spot south- eastward of it, and then swinging southeasterly to the (98) A dredged channel leads from Cuttyhunk Harbor harbor anchorage, or southward to the entrance to into Cuttyhunk Pond to a turning basin at the western Cuttyhunk Pond. terminal in the pond and an anchorage basin in the eastern part of the pond north of the channel. In May (103) The mean range of tide at Cuttyhunk Pond en- 2001, the entrance channel into the pond had a trance is 3.4 feet. The current velocity in Canapitsit midchannel controlling depth of 9.3 feet; thence in Channel is 2.6 knots on the flood which sets June 1989, the centerline controlling depth was 6 feet south-southeastward, and 1.7 knots on the ebb which in the pond channel to the turning basin, with 8 to 10 sets northwestward. In the channel southward of feet in the turning basin. The anchorage basin had Penikese Island, the flood sets eastward and the ebb depths of 8 to 10 feet. The jettied entrance is marked by westward at about 0.8 knot. (See Tide Tables and Tidal a light on the north jetty and by a buoy off the end of the Current Tables for predictions, and the Tidal Current submerged south jetty. A bell buoy marks the entrance Charts, Narragansett Bay to Nantucket Sound, for the to the channel. hourly velocities and directions of the current.) (99) Limited anchorage with reported poor holding (104) Drift ice is carried into Cuttyhunk Harbor with ground may be found in depths of 10 to 24 feet in northerly winds and closes the harbor during severe Cuttyhunk Harbor. The shores on both sides of the har- winters. bor are foul, and the anchorage is in the middle. (105) There is a service wharf on the south side of the (100) Shoals extend 0.6 mile northeastward of channel at the entrance to the pond and a marina on Cuttyhunk Island. Whale Rock and Pease Ledge un- the south side of the basin at the head of the channel in cover at low water. Middle Ground, covered 9 feet, is 0.5 the pond. A yacht club and a fishing club are on the is- mile north of Copicut Neck in the northwestern ap- land. Gasoline, diesel fuel, water, ice, berths with proach to the harbor. Middle Ledge, covered 15 feet, is electricty, and some marine supplies are available. about 0.4 mile east of Middle Ground. Edwards Rock, Limited lodging in cottages is available on the island. covered 7 feet, is 250 yards northeastward of Whale The harbormaster can be reached by telephone Rock. These dangers except for Middle Ledge, are (508-966-9295). There is daily launch service with New buoyed. An unmarked rocky shoal, covered 12 feet, is in Bedford in the summer and twice weekly in the winter; the middle of the northwestern approach about 0.2 seaplane service is also available. mile southeastward of Middle Ledge. Numerous other rocks and ledges covered 4 to 12 feet are between (106) Buzzards Bay is the approach to New Bedford, Cuttyhunk Island and the ledges southwestward of many small towns and villages, and the entrance of Penikese and Gull Islands. The eastern point at the en- Cape Cod Canal. The bay indents the south shore of trance and the eastern shore of the harbor should be Massachusetts, extending in a northeasterly direction given a berth of over 300 yards. from Rhode Island Sound. The bay is enclosed on the south side, and separated from Vineyard Sound, by the (101) In approaching Cuttyhunk Harbor from eastward Elizabeth Islands. in Buzzards Bay, take care to avoid Lone Rock, 0.7 mile northward of the northeastern end of Nashawena Is- (107) The shores are irregular, rocky in character, and land. Thence pass northwestward of Cuttyhunk East broken by many bays and rivers. Large boulders are Entrance Lighted Bell Buoy CH (41°26.6'N., common, in places extending a considerable distance 70°53.4'W), and thence to anchorage according to draft from shore, thus making close approach to the shore in the harbor. dangerous. (102) In approaching from westward, from a position (108) The bottom in the main part of the bay and ap- about midway between Ribbon Reef Buoy and proach is very broken with boulder reefs in places. Ves- Cuttyhunk Light, steer 051° until abeam of Middle sels should proceed with caution when crossing shoal Ground Buoy MG, distance 600 yards. Pass midway areas in the tributaries of the bay where the depths are Coast Pilot 2 - 32nd Ed. Wednesday, January 08, 2003 3:03:43 PM
Color profile: Generic CMYK printer profile Composite Default screen Vineyard Sound and Buzzards Bay I Chapter 5 I 207 not more than about 6 feet greater than the draft. Cau- except by small craft with local knowledge. The four tion must also be exercised in the vicinity of the wrecks major entrances are the main channel, from westward, shown on the chart. Deep water prevails as far as Wings passing north of Cuttyhunk Island; Cape Cod Canal Neck, above which the bay is full of shoals. from northeastward; and Quicks Hole and Woods Hole from the southward. The two hazardous entrances are (109) Traffic Separation Scheme (Buzzards Bay) has Canapitsit Channel, between Cuttyhunk and been established in the approach to Buzzards Bay Nashawena Islands, and Robinsons Hole, between through Rhode Island Sound. (See charts 13218 and Pasque and Naushon Islands. 12300.) (118) The western entrance has a clear width of 4.3 miles between Sow and Pigs Reef and Hen and Chickens. The (110) The Scheme is composed basically of directed traf- bottom in this entrance is irregular and rocky, and fic lanes each with one-way inbound and outbound there are spots with depths of 17 to 34 feet. Because traffic lanes separated by a defined traffic separation these shoal areas are surrounded by deeper water, ves- zone and a precautionary area. The Scheme is recom- sels of 16-foot draft or more must exercise extra cau- mended for use by vessels approaching or departing tion when entering the bay. In heavy southwest gales from Buzzards Bay, but is not necessarily intended for the sea breaks over some of these spots. tugs, tows, or other small vessels which traditionally (119) The best guides for entering the bay from westward operate outside of the usual steamer lanes or close in- are Buzzards Bay Entrance Light, Cuttyhunk Light, shore. and the lighted buoys in the entrance. Gay Head Light and Cuttyhunk Light are the guides for vessels ap- (111) The Traffic Separation Scheme has been designed proaching from the southward. to aid in the prevention of collisions at the approaches (120) Buzzards Bay Entrance Light (41°23'48\"N., to the major harbors, but is not intended in any way to 71°02'01\"W.), 63 feet above the water, is shown from a supersede or alter the applicable Navigation Rules. tower on a red square superstructure on red piles about Separation zones are intended to separate inbound 4 miles 254° from Cuttyhunk Light. The name and outbound traffic lanes and be free of ship traffic, BUZZARDS is painted in white on the sides. A fog signal and should not be used except for crossing purposes. is at the light. Mariners should use extreme caution when crossing traffic lanes and separation zones. (See Traffic Separa- (121) New Bedford Inner Harbor affords anchorage for tion Schemes, chapter 1, for additional information.) vessels of 25-foot draft. Cuttyhunk Harbor affords an- chorage in depths of 10 to 24 feet; except for the (112) The precautionary area in the southwest part of small-craft inner harbor, it is exposed to northerly Rhode Island Sound has a radius of 5.4 miles centered winds. A good anchorage sheltered from all southerly on 41°06'06\"N., 71°23'22\"W., excluding those areas of winds may be had off the north shore of Nashawena Is- the circle bounded by imaginary lines extended be- land eastward of Penikese and Gull Islands in depths of tween the outer limits of the inbound and outbound 40 to 48 feet. This anchorage, frequently used by tows, traffic lanes. (Note that this precautionary area is com- is available for vessels of any draft; however, care must mon to the Traffic Separation Schemes for the ap- be taken to stay clear of the fishtrap area in the vicinity. proaches to both Buzzards Bay and Narragansett Bay. Two general anchorages are off the western entrance to The Traffic Separation Scheme for the approach to Cape Cod Canal. (See 110.1 and 110.140 (b) (1), (b) Narragansett Bay is described in chapter 6.) (2), and (d), chapter 2, for limits and regulations.) (113) The separation zone is a 1-mile-wide zone centered (122) Hen and Chickens, extending 1.4 miles southward in the following positions: (i) 41°10'09\"N., of Gooseberry Neck, is a reef consisting of many large 71°19'09\"W., (ii) 41°21'48\"N., 71°07'06\"W. boulders, most of them baring a foot or less. The reef is in two large groups; the southerly group is the larger. (114) The inbound traffic lane is a 1-mile-wide lane with Numerous covered rocks are well away from the visible a length of about 14.8 miles. Entering the traffic lane at part of the danger. A narrow ledge covered 5 to 14 feet a point in about 41°09'36\"N., 71°18'00\"W., a course of extends about 0.4 mile northward from the visible part 038° follows the centerline of the traffic lane to its end, of Hen and Chickens. A buoy is north of the ledge. Old thence steer usual courses to destination. Cock, a rock awash, and The Wildcat, covered 5 feet and unmarked, are in the southern shoal area. The (115) The outbound traffic lane is a 1-mile-wide lane with a length of about 14.8 miles. Entering the traffic lane at a point in about 41°22'25\"N., 71°08'06\"W., a course of 218° follows the centerline of the traffic lane to a junction with the precautionary area. (116) The Traffic Separation Scheme is not buoyed. (117) Buzzards Bay has six entrances, but two of these are so narrow and dangerous as to exclude their use Coast Pilot 2 - 32nd Ed. Wednesday, January 08, 2003 3:03:43 PM
Color profile: Generic CMYK printer profile Composite Default screen 208 I Chapter 5 I Vineyard Sound and Buzzards Bay south edge of the shoal is marked by a buoy. Strangers or southern shore where they form drift ice. Under or- are advised to stay outside the 5-fathom curve in this dinary circumstances a northeast wind, if continued vicinity. for 48 hours, will clear the bay of ice. Southerly winds, (123) Sow and Pigs Reef, much of which is dry or awash, especially southeastern, diminish the extent and extends about 1.5 miles west-southwestward from weaken the strength of the pack. Some of the lighted Cuttyhunk Island. Its outer end is marked by a lighted buoys are removed from station or replaced by bell buoy. An unmarked rocky shoal, covered 20 feet, is unlighted buoys when endangered by ice. 0.9 mile westward of Cuttyhunk Light. In 1997, a rock was reported 1.2 miles south of Cuttyhunk Light with (128) The southern side of Buzzards Bay from Cuttyhunk 27 feet of water over it in about 41°23.5'N., 70°57.0'W. to Woods Hole has been discussed previously in this Numerous obstructions and rocks with a least depth of chapter. 31 feet were reported to extend as much as 3 miles southward of Sow and Pigs Reef. (129) Quissett Harbor, 1.7 miles northeastward of the (124) Ribbon Reef, a detached ledge covered 18 feet, is western entrance to Woods Hole, is used by small plea- about 1.5 miles northwestward of Cuttyhunk Light. sure craft. The Knob, a small hillock on the north point Coxens Ledge, covered 28 feet and marked by a lighted of the entrance, and the homes on the eastern shore of bell buoy, is 1.2 miles northward of Ribbon Reef. the harbor are prominent. A standpipe, 1.2 miles (125) Mishaum Ledge, a group of several rocky spots northeastward of the entrance, is conspicuous. with a least depth of 8 feet, extends about 1.7 miles southward of Mishaum Point. It is marked by a lighted (130) A seasonal lighted buoy marks the entrance, and gong buoy off its southeast end. A lighted bell buoy buoys mark the entrance channel, thence private sea- marks a rocky shoal covered 22 feet about 1 mile sonal aids mark the best water to the northeast end of north-northwestward of the north end of Penikese Is- the harbor. In August 1981, a depth of about 8 feet was land. An unmarked rocky shoal covered 18 feet is 0.5 reported available in the channel. Mariners are advised mile north of the island. to steer a midchannel course through the entire en- trance channel to avoid numerous rocks on both sides (126) The mean range of tide varies from 3.0 feet at of the channel. Westport Harbor to 4.2 feet at Bird Island near the head of the bay. The tidal currents in the passages between (131) Anchorage can be found in the middle of the harbor Buzzards Bay and Vineyard Sound have considerable in depths of 11 to 18 feet, sticky bottom. Local craft velocity and require special attention. At Hen and generally moor in the northeastern part of the harbor Chickens Lighted Gong Buoy 3, the tidal current is ro- off the boatyard at the town of Quissett. The boatyard tary, turning clockwise. Tide rips occur when a sea is has an L-shaped pier and a float which was reported to running against the current. Maximum velocities are have about 15 feet alongside. Water, ice, moorings, about 0.5 knot. Minimum velocities average about 0.2 some marine supplies, storage facilities, and marine knot. (See the Tide Tables and Tidal Current Tables for railways up to 40 feet are available; hull and engine re- predictions, and the Tidal Current Charts, pairs can be made. The harbormaster can be contacted Narragansett Bay to Nantucket Sound, for the hourly through the boatyard. velocities and directions of the current.) (132) Hamlin Point, 2 miles north-northeastward of (127) The head of Buzzards Bay and the harbors in that Quissett Harbor, is marked by a prominent hotel with vicinity are generally closed to navigation during the twin cupolas. A shoal, covered 10 feet near its outer winter. The approaches to the harbors on the eastern end, extends about 1 mile westward of the point. shore are rendered dangerous by drift ice. In severe Gifford Ledge, covered 9 feet, is 1.4 miles winters the drift ice extends across the bay and joins north-northwestward of Hamlin Point. Great the local formations on the western shore, forming an Sippewisset Rock, awash and marked by a private sea- impassable barrier for short periods. Ice forms more sonal daybeacon, is 0.4 mile offshore about 1.1 miles rapidly in the bay with winds from north to west as the northward of Hamlin Point. A shoal area, foul with western shore forms a shelter from such winds. When rocks awash and covered, extends 0.3 mile offshore the field ice extends sufficiently out toward the channel eastward of the daybeacon. as to be affected by the winds from north to west, the outer edges are broken up and carried off to the eastern (133) West Falmouth Harbor, 5 miles northward of Woods Hole, has depths of 1 to 6 feet and bares in places at low water. The entrance is protected by a breakwater extending about 700 feet southward of Little Island, Coast Pilot 2 - 32nd Ed. Wednesday, January 08, 2003 3:03:44 PM
Color profile: Generic CMYK printer profile Composite Default screen Vineyard Sound and Buzzards Bay I Chapter 5 I 209 the north point of the entrance, and by a short jetty on (138) Fiddlers Cove (41°38.9'N., 70°38.2'W.) is a the northwest end of Chappaquoit Point. A tower and small-craft harbor on the south shore of Megansett the summer homes on Chappaquoit Point are promi- Harbor, about 0.5 mile east-southeastward of Cataumet nent. The entrance is marked by a seasonal lighted bell Rock. A channel, privately dredged to a reported depth buoy and an unlighted buoy on the south side and by an of 7 feet, leads southward to a marina and boatyard in a unlighted buoy on the north side; these buoys mark dredged basin on the east side of the cove. A seasonal reefs that extend westward from both entrance points. lighted buoy marks the approach, and private buoys Seasonal private buoys mark the channel in the harbor. mark the channel. Gasoline, diesel fuel, water, ice, are (134) In 1981, it was reported that 4 feet could be taken available. Craft up to 40 feet in length can be hauled out through the narrow, privately marked channel in the for hull and engine repairs and storage. In April 2000, harbor to the anchorage basin off the town wharf at the depths of 5 to 7 feet were reported in the basin at the village of West Falmouth on the east shore of the har- bulkhead and at the berths. bor. Depths of 5 feet were reported alongside the wharf in 1981. The harbormaster has an office at the town (139) Halftide Rock, awash at low water, is about 500 wharf. A 6 mph speed limit is enforced in the harbor. yards southwestward of the end of the Megansett breakwater. Rands Harbor, about 0.3 mile east of Fid- (135) Wild Harbor (41°38.3'N., 70°38.9'W.), 7 miles dlers Cove, is a private boat basin with little or no water. northward of Woods Hole, is a small cove on the south side of Nyes Neck affording anchorage in northerly or (140) Squeteague Harbor, northward of Megansett, is en- easterly winds. A tower on Nyes Neck is prominent. The tered through a narrow channel from the head of entrance is clear in midchannel, with depths of 13 to 20 Megansett Harbor. The privately marked channel had a feet inside. A seasonal lighted buoy marks the entrance, reported depth of about 2 feet in 1981, however, depths and buoys mark the shoals extending from the en- of 5 to 7 feet are reported to be available in the channel trance points. The shores are foul, and the easterly part to the harbor; local knowledge is advised. The village of of the harbor is shoal. The reported depth in the pri- Cataumet is on the northerly shore of the harbor. vately dredged channel into Silver Beach Harbor to a small basin is about 3 feet, but is subject to shoaling. A (141) Seal Rocks, about 0.3 mile southwestward of stone jetty extends off the south side of the entrance to Scraggy Neck, on the north side of Megansett Harbor the basin. The basin is a special anchorage. (See 110.1 entrance, are partly bare at half tide and marked by a and 110.40, chapter 2, for limits and regulations.) seasonal lighted buoy about 300 yards southwest of their southern end. Part of an old concrete barge is (136) A town wharf and surfaced ramp are in the basin. In aground on the rocks. Southwest Ledge, extending August 1981, depths of 4 feet to bare were reported about 0.7 mile westward of Seal Rocks, consists of two alongside the wharf. Ice and provisions are available. patches of shoals covered by 2 to 18 feet and marked by buoys on its northern, western, and southern sides. A (137) Megansett Harbor, the approach to the towns of rock awash is in the northerly shoal. North Falmouth, Megansett, and Cataumet, is entered between Nyes Neck on the south and Scraggy Neck on (142) Pocasset Harbor and Red Brook Harbor share a the north. The natural channel is buoyed as far as the common entrance between Scraggy Neck and Wings rock breakwater at Megansett. The breakwater is Neck. Bassetts Island separates Pocasset Harbor from marked at the end by a light. A yacht club and a town Red Brook Harbor. Broken ground with depths of 17 to wharf are just inside the breakwater. In August 1981, 19 feet in places extends across the entrance. Entering depths of 4 to 5 feet were reported alongside the wharf; about 250 yards north of buoys marking the north side water is available. The harbor has extensive shoals and of Southwest Ledge, vessels of about 14-foot draft can ledges, but by following the buoyed channel a draft of anchor westward of Eustis Rock Buoy in depths of 20 to about 8 feet can be carried to an anchorage in the outer 30 feet. This anchorage is exposed to westerly winds. harbor in depths of 10 to 22 feet. Inside the breakwater, Eustis Rock, about 0.2 mile north of Scraggy Neck, is anchorage is available in 6 to 12 feet, taking care to covered 5 feet and marked by a buoy. The area eastward avoid the shoals on the north side of the harbor and the of Eustis Rock to Bassetts Island is shoal. rock awash near the center in 41°39'27\"N., 70°37'31\"W. Cataumet Rock, covered 6 feet and marked by a buoy, is (143) A narrow buoyed channel, with a reported depth of on the south side of the entrance; Seal Rocks are on the about 8 feet in August 1981, leads north of Bassetts Is- north side and marked by a seasonal lighted buoy. land to Pocasset Harbor. Barlows Landing, at the northeast end of the harbor, has a depth of 1½ feet. A small-craft launching ramp is just south of the landing. (144) Hospital Cove, about 0.2 mile southward of the southern end of Bassetts Island, is entered through a natural buoyed channel that leads southeastward from a point about 0.4 mile east-southeastward of Eustis Coast Pilot 2 - 32nd Ed. Wednesday, January 08, 2003 3:03:44 PM
Color profile: Generic CMYK printer profile Composite Default screen 210 I Chapter 5 I Vineyard Sound and Buzzards Bay Courtesy of Cape Cod Power Squadron CAPE COD CANAL EAST ENTRANCE, MA Rock to a small anchorage in the cove. A depth of about south of the marina. Both facilities have berths, elec- 6 feet can be carried in the channel, and there are tricity, gasoline, diesel fuel, water, ice, marine supplies, depths of 8 to 14 feet in the anchorage. In August 1981, and storage facilities, and can make hull and engine re- a shoal at the south tip of Bassetts Island was reported pairs. Electronic repairs can be made at the marina. to be shifting westward in the vicinity of Buoy 3; cau- Depths of 8 feet are reported at the marina berths and tion is advised. A boulder reef extends northeastward at the boatyard berths. from Scraggy Neck in the approach to the cove. Several (147) Wings Neck, 9 miles northward of Woods Hole, ex- private piers with depths of 5 to 8 feet alongside are in tends about 2 miles in an west-southwest direction into the cove. Buzzards Bay. The neck is a prominent peninsula, ir- (145) Red Brook Harbor, eastward of Bassetts Island, is regular, and hilly. The anchorage areas southwestward approached from the northward through the channel of the neck are discussed with the Cape Cod Canal. A that leads through Pocasset Harbor, and from the yacht club and private piers are on the east shore of the southward through the channel that leads through neck. Traffic signals for the Cape Cod Canal are dis- Hospital Cove. Hen Cove is immediately northward of played from a tower on Wings Neck. (See 207.20, Red Brook Harbor. The channels are buoyed. In August chapter 2, for details.) 1981, reported depths of 8 feet and 6 feet could be car- (148) Pocasset River, between the northeastern end of ried through the north and south channels, respec- Wings Neck and Bennets Neck, is entered from the tively. Because of numerous submerged rocks in and north side of Wings Neck through a privately dredged near the edges of the channel, local knowledge is ad- channel that leads southward between two jetties to a vised. highway bridge about 0.4 mile above the entrance. In (146) A marina is on the east shore of Red Brook Harbor June 2001, a reported depth of 6 feet could be carried to about 500 yards southeastward of Handy Point; a the bridge. The bridge has a fixed span with a clearance 60-ton lift is available. A boatyard with a 35-ton mobile of 7 feet. Only very small boats go above the bridge. A lift is on the east side of the small cove, about 300 yards boatyard is on the south side of the river at the bridge. Coast Pilot 2 - 32nd Ed. Wednesday, January 08, 2003 3:03:48 PM
Color profile: Generic CMYK printer profile Composite Default screen Vineyard Sound and Buzzards Bay I Chapter 5 I 211 Courtesy of Cape Cod Power Squadron CAPE COD CANAL WEST ENTRANCE, MA Water, berths with electricity, storage facilities, a feet is available at the pier. Gasoline, water, ice, elec- 35-foot marine railway, and a 5-ton lift are available; tricity, and a surfaced ramp are available. hull and engine repairs can be made. A town wharf and (152) Back River, a stream which is nearly bare except floats are on the north side of the river at the bridge. near its entrance, empties into the north side of (149) Tobys Island, just northward of the entrance of Phinneys Harbor. Small craft sometimes anchor in the Pocasset River and on the south side of Phinneys Har- entrance. A railroad bridge and a highway bridge cross- bor, is connected to the mainland by a causeway. ing the river about 0.2 mile above the mouth have fixed (150) Phinneys Harbor, between Tobys Island on the east spans with a minimum clearance of 4 feet. A boatyard is and Mashnee Island on the west, is approached from on the south bank between the bridges. In August Buzzards Bay through a buoyed channel that leads 1981, a depth of about 1½ feet was reported available in along the northerly side of Wings Neck to another the river to the boatyard. A forklift is used to haul out buoyed channel into the harbor. A light is at the bend of boats up to 26 feet at the yard, while boats up to 37 feet the approach channel. Depths of about 10 feet can be in length can be hauled out on a flatbed trailer at a carried in the inner channel, and greater depths are paved ramp at Barlows Landing and then brought to available in the approach channel. The harbor is used the yard for hull and engine repairs or dry open or cov- as an anchorage by small boats. Mashnee Island, once ered storage. A launching ramp and marine supplies an island, is now connected with the mainland by a are available at the yard. landfill causeway. A group of rocks awash, marked by a (153) Gray Gables is on the north side of the head of the buoy, is 0.2 mile off the east shore of the harbor, and an- Back River. other rock, covered 4 feet, and marked by a buoy, is 0.1 mile north of Tobys Island. (154) Cape Cod Canal is a deep-draft sea-level waterway (151) The village of Monument Beach is on the east connecting Buzzards Bay and Cape Cod Bay. The shore. A marina is at the long town pier in the cove in the southeastern corner of the harbor. Berthage in 6 Coast Pilot 2 - 32nd Ed. Wednesday, January 08, 2003 3:03:53 PM
Color profile: Generic CMYK printer profile Composite Default screen 212 I Chapter 5 I Vineyard Sound and Buzzards Bay waterway is 15 miles long from Cleveland East Ledge England Petroleum Company wharf about 1.2 miles Light to deep water in Cape Cod Bay. The canal short- west of Canal Breakwater Light 6. ens the distance between points north and south of (159) The approach channels from both the west and the Cape Cod by 50 to 150 miles and provides an inside pas- east are marked with lighted ranges and other naviga- sage to avoid Nantucket Shoals. The canal is main- tional aids. The canal itself is lighted at night on both tained by the Federal Government as a free waterway. banks by mercury vapor lights, generally 500 feet apart. (See 207.20, chapter 2, for the regulations governing the use, administration, and navigation of the Cape (160) General anchorages are on each side of Cleveland Cod Canal.) Ledge Channel between Cleveland Ledge Light and (155) Traffic lights (red, green, and yellow) are located at Wings Neck. (See 110.1 and 110.140 (b) and (d), the easterly canal entrance at Sandwich; at the Canal chapter 2, for limits and regulations.) In 1971, a dan- Electric Terminal basin on the south side of the canal at gerous submerged rock was reported just inside the Sandwich; and at the westerly entrance of Hog Island easterly edge of Anchorage D in about 41°40'05\"N., Channel at Wings Neck. These signals apply to all ves- 70°40'17\"W. In January 1984, an obstruction was re- sels over 65 feet in length that desire to transit the ca- ported in Anchorage C in about 41°40'00\"N., nal. (See 207.20 (h), chapter 2, for detailed 70°41'35\"W. information on signals.) (161) Mooring basins, with tieup dolphins, are at both (156) Cleveland East Ledge Light (41°37'51\"N., ends of the canal. One is on the east side of Hog Island 70°41'39\"W.), 74 feet above the water, is shown from a Channel abreast of Hog Island, where shoaling to bare white cylindrical tower and dwelling on a red caisson in about 41°43'49\"N., 70°37'53\"W. was reported in Sep- on the east side of the entrance channel approaching tember 1979. The other is just inside the eastern en- Cape Cod Canal from Buzzards Bay. A racon and fog trance to the canal. A small boat basin is on the south signal are at the light station. The railroad bridge over side of the channel just inside the eastern entrance to the canal at the village of Buzzards Bay, and the high- the canal; depths of 8 to 13 feet were available in the ba- way bridge at Bourne are also prominent. sin in June 1969. (157) Canal Breakwater Light 6 (41°46'47\"N., (162) The Cape Cod Canal is crossed by three bridges. 70°29'23\"W.), 43 feet above the water, is shown from a The railroad bridge at the village of Buzzards Bay, 7.8 red cylindrical tower on the end of the north breakwa- miles above Cleveland East Ledge Light, has a verti- ter at the east entrance to Cape Cod Canal from Cape cal-lift span with a clearance of 7 feet down and 135 feet Cod Bay. A fog signal is at the light. The most promi- up. The span is normally maintained in the raised posi- nent landmark when approaching from Cape Cod Bay tion and lowered for the passage of trains. (See 117.1 is the tall lighted stack of the powerplant about 1.1 through 117.59, 117.589, and 207.20(i), chapter 2, miles west-southwestward of Canal Breakwater Light for drawbridge regulations.) The State Route 25/28 6. The high-level highway bridge across the canal at highway bridge at Bourne, 9 miles above Cleveland Sagamore, 2.5 miles west of the breakwater light, is Ledge Light, has a fixed span with a clearance of 135 also prominent. The breakwaters at the east entrance feet. The U.S. 6/State Route 3 highway bridge at to the canal should not be confused with the smaller Sagamore, 11.8 miles above Cleveland East Ledge jetties at Sandwich Harbor, 1 mile to the southeast- Light, has a fixed span with a clearance of 135 feet. ward, nor should the two white church spires back of Sandwich Harbor be mistaken for the range structure (163) The minimum clearance of the overhead power ca- marking the entrance to the canal. bles across the canal is 160 feet. (158) A Federal project provides for a channel 32 feet (164) The mean range of tide is 3.5 feet at the railroad deep through the Cape Cod Canal. (See Notice to Mari- bridge near the Buzzards Bay entrance and 8.7 feet at ners and latest editions of the chart for controlling the Cape Cod Bay entrance. The large differences in depths.) Deep-draft vessels should obtain the latest in- range and timing of the tide between Buzzards Bay and formation as to available depths so as to pass through Cape Cod Bay cause strong currents in the canal. Tides the canal during maximum stages of high water if the may lower the canal level 2 feet below mean low water draft of the vessel is near the controlling depth. In or even more if attended by heavy offshore winds. 1981, it was reported that the east entrance was being privately maintained to a depth of 40 feet to the New (165) Daily predictions for the tidal current in Cape Cod Canal at the railroad bridge are given in the Tidal Coast Pilot 2 - 32nd Ed. Wednesday, January 08, 2003 3:03:53 PM
Color profile: Generic CMYK printer profile Composite Default screen Vineyard Sound and Buzzards Bay I Chapter 5 I 213 Current Tables. Under ordinary conditions, the tidal (173) Pilots also meet vessels 2.5 to 3 miles southeast of current has a velocity of 4.0 knots on the flood, which Brenton Reef Light within an area bounded by sets eastward, and 4.5 knots on the ebb, which sets westward. (174) 41°23.6'N., 71°22.4'W., (166) Due to the strong tidal currents in the canal, espe- (175) 41°22.6'N., 71°22.0'W., cially during spring tides, low-powered vessels should (176) 41°24.2'N., 71°20.0'W., await slack water or favorable current. Navigators are (177) 41°22.6'N., 71°20.6'W. This pilot boarding area is warned to be on the alert for possible “bank suction” and “bank cushion,” the effects of which may cause a southward of a line extending from Point Judith to vessel to take a sudden and decided sheer. Sakonnet Point. (178) Pilots also meet vessels in the vicinity of Point Ju- (167) Fog is said to be less dense over Cape Cod Canal dith Lighted Whistle Buoy 2, within a 1-mile radius cir- than outside, but at times a water vapor rises from the cle centered in 41°17.2'N., 71°30.4'W. canal to such an extent that traffic has to be suspended. (179) Pilot services are generally arranged for in advance The canal proper never has been closed by ice, but occa- by ships’ agents or directly by shipping companies. sionally Buzzards Bay and Cape Cod Bay become so congested with ice that navigation through the canal is (180) Launch service is available from the CAPE COD prevented. PILOT BOAT; arrange through Northeast Marine Pi- lots, Inc. (168) At the canal, Canal Traffic Control, voice call (181) Tugs to 2,200 hp are based at the village of Buz- “WUA21” or “Cape Cod Canal Control”, monitors zards Bay; arrangements for their services are usually VHF-FM channels 16, 13, 12 and 14; usually works on made through ships’ agents. Tugs monitor VHF-FM 12 or 14. The masters of all vessels required by the channel 13 when expecting a vessel, and use channel Coast Guard to carry a pilot are required to notify Canal 18A as a working frequency. Traffic Control, prior to entering the waterway, the name of the pilot bringing the vessel through. See (182) Cape Cod Canal Coast Guard Station is on the east 207.20(k), Management of vessels, chapter 2. side of the entrance to the canal about 1 mile north- eastward of Sandwich Harbor. (169) Pilotage service for the canal is available from Northeast Marine Pilots, Inc., 243 Spring Street, New- (183) State Pier, site of the Massachusetts Maritime port, RI 02840, telephone 401-847-9050 (24 hours), Academy, on the north side of Cape Cod Canal, 0.6 mile 800-274-1216, FAX 401-847-9052, Cable RISPILOT, below the railroad bridge at the village of Buzzards Bay, Newport, RI 02840. is 600 feet long with about 25 feet alongside the berth- ing face. In August 1981, shoaling to 10 feet was re- (170) Pilotage is also available from Boston Pilots, Pier ported in the basin off the berthing face in about No. 1, Bremen Street, East Boston, MA, telephone 41°44'15\"N., 70°37'35\"W. In August 1981, the reported 508-569-4500, 508-962-4970 (night), FAX controlling depth on the channel side of the pier was 25 508-569-4502, Cable BOSPILOTS, East Boston; and feet. Permission to berth at the pier must be obtained from the Connecticut State Pilots (a division of from the academy. Vessels should not attempt to go Interport Pilots Agency, Inc.), address: State Pier, New alongside or leave the pier except at periods of slack wa- London, CT, telephone 800-346-4877 or 908-787-5554 ter. Passing vessels are requested to proceed slowly to (24 hours). Cable PORTPILOTS Port Monmouth, NJ. avoid damage to lines and other equipment at the pier. (171) The pilot boat, CAPE COD CANAL PILOT BOAT, (184) The New England Petroleum Company mooring which serves both ends of the canal, is owned and oper- platform, on the south side of Cape Cod Canal, 1.2 ated by Northeast Marine Pilots, Inc. The 39-foot boat miles westward of Canal Breakwater Light 6, provides has a black hull and white superstructure with the berthing for tank vessels up to 750 feet long with drafts word PILOT on the sides. She monitors channels 16, of 40 feet. Vessels over 50,000 tons or 32-foot draft 13, 14 and 10; works on 13, 12 or 14. moor at high water slack during daylight hours only. Vessels under 50,000 tons moor at high water slack, day (172) Pilots meet vessels off the eastern entrance to the or night. Petroleum products are pumped to storage canal between the sea buoy and the breakwater in tanks ashore. about 41°47.9'N., 70°28.5'W., and by prearrangement off the west end of Cleveland Ledge at the western en- trance. Coast Pilot 2 - 32nd Ed. Wednesday, January 08, 2003 3:03:54 PM
Color profile: Generic CMYK printer profile Composite Default screen 214 I Chapter 5 I Vineyard Sound and Buzzards Bay 13 to 15 feet were available in the basin; depths of 6 to 8 (185) Gasoline, diesel fuel, water, ice, marine supplies, feet were available in the eastern anchorage basin with and a paved ramp are available at the boat basin just in- 7½ feet available in the western anchorage basin. side the Cape Cod Bay entrance to the canal. Temporary (192) Wickets Island is a high and wooded islet in the berthage and anchorage are also available at the basin. middle of the bay. The buoys in the entrance channel are frequently towed under because of the strong cur- rents. A rock, covered 8 feet, is near the channel en- (186) Information on operating conditions, widths, trance about 75 yards northeast of Hog Island Channel depths, or other data on the canal is available at all Light 21. In 1981, two rocks, covered 4 to 5 feet, were hours, day or night, by calling the canal office at Buz- reported on the north edge of the channel between zards Bay (508-759-4431). Buoys 2 and 4; caution is advised. (187) Vessels which are to transit the Cape Cod Canal will (193) A special anchorage is in the northern part of Onset monitor channel 16 continuously to establish contact Bay. (See 110.1 and 110.45, chapter 2, for limits and with traffic controllers. The vessels will be asked to regulations.) Additional anchorages are available at the switch to channel 12 or channel 14 as a working chan- head of the dredged channel. nel to pass information between the traffic controllers (194) A 5 mph speed limit is enforced above Wickets Is- and the vessel. However, channel 13 may be used only land. when the above channels are not available. (195) The Onset town wharf, on the north side of the (188) The radiotelephone at the Cape Cod Canal Office, turning basin, has depths of about 14 feet at its face. Buzzards Bay, Mass., is in continuous operation. Call The harbormaster has an office at the wharf. The letters are WUA-21, and the frequencies are channels harbormaster monitors VHF-FM channel 16 and uses 13, 16, 12, and 14. Vessels equipped for communication channel 9 as a working frequency; call sign KYQ-833. with the Cape Cod Canal Office are requested to keep Several small-craft facilities are on the north side of the their radiotelephone tuned to these frequencies. bay along the southwesterly side of Long Neck. (See the small-craft facilities tabulation on chart 13229 for ser- (189) Buttermilk Bay, at the northeast end of Buzzards vices and supplies available.) Onset has bus service. Bay, has depths of about 1 to 7 feet. A dredged marked (196) East River empties into Onset Bay southeast of On- channel and Cohasset Narrows connect the bay with set. A draft of 3 feet can be taken to an anchorage just Cape Cod Canal. In April-May 1991, the controlling above the highway bridge which connects Onset and depth was 5 feet to the railroad bridge about 1.1 miles Long Neck. The bridge has a fixed span with a clearance above the channel entrance, except for shoaling to 1½ of 11 feet. feet in the east half of the channel between Buoy 3 and (197) Stony Point Dike, a sandspit breakwater about 5 Buoy 5. In June 1990, severe shoaling was reported be- feet high, extends about 1.8 miles south-southwesterly tween Buoy 4 and Buoy 5. In December 1992, a rock from Cedar Island Point to Abiels Ledge. The breakwa- was reported just below the railroad bridge in about ter protects Hog Island Channel. Cleveland Ledge 41°44'46\"N., 70°37'22\"W. Two bridges cross Cohasset Channel Range Front Light is on the outer end of the Narrows; the railroad bridge has a bascule span with a breakwater. Abiels Ledge, between the channel and the clearance of 6 feet, but is kept in a closed position and south end of the dike, is covered 3 feet. Dry Ledge, 1 used as a fixed bridge. The highway bridge, immedi- mile northwestward of Abiels Ledge, bares at half tide; ately above, has a fixed span with a clearance of 9 feet. it is marked by a buoy. Little Bird Island, 0.8 mile Several small piers for shallow-draft boats are the only northward, is surrounded by uneven bottom with facilities in Buttermilk Bay. Gasoline is available in the depths of 2 to 19 feet between it and the northerly shore bay. of Buzzards Bay. (190) Butler Cove, on the western side of Cohasset Nar- (198) Wareham River, which empties into the northern rows southwesterly of the bridges, has depths of 3 to 5 end of Buzzards Bay, is the approach to the town of feet. Wareham on the west bank. Great Hill, wooded, 124 (191) Onset Bay, between Sias Point on the north and feet high, and about 1.5 miles southward of Long Hog Neck on the south, is the approach to the village of Beach Point, is prominent when approaching the river. Onset. A dredged marked channel leads westward from A brick stack and a standpipe in Wareham are conspicu- Cape Cod Canal along the southerly side of the bay to a ous. The buoyed channel to the town is crooked and turning basin off the village. Two anchorage areas, one twisting; in April-May 1986, the controlling depth was on each side of the channel, are at the head of the chan- 4 feet from Wareham River Entrance Buoy 14 to the up- nel. In October 1995, the midchannel controlling stream limit of the project. In October 1987, a sunken depth was 14 feet to the turning basin, thence depths of wreck was reported in the vicinity of Wareham River Coast Pilot 2 - 32nd Ed. Wednesday, January 08, 2003 3:03:54 PM
Color profile: Generic CMYK printer profile Composite Default screen Vineyard Sound and Buzzards Bay I Chapter 5 I 215 Entrance Buoy 10. A rock covered 6 feet is in the en- marked. An overhead power cable crossing the river trance about 350 yards south-southwest of Dry Ledge about 1.4 miles above the mouth has a clearance of 51 in about 41°41'59.9\"N., 70°41'41.6\"W., and several feet. The highway bridge, which is 1.7 miles above the rocks and shoal spots covered 9 to 14 feet are within mouth, has two fixed spans with a clearance of 5 feet. 0.75 mile west to southwest of the ledge. A shoal makes The channel is through the northeasterly 45-foot span. off southeasterly from Cromeset Point, 0.6 mile south- The river is navigable for 2 miles above the highway ward of Long Beach Point. In August 1981, it was re- bridge by small craft drawing less than 2 feet. A small ported that Long Beach Point covers at high water; marina is just above the bridge. Gasoline, water, ice, caution is advised. The section near Quahaug Bar, storage facilities, marine supplies, and hull and engine north of Long Beach Point, is subject to shoaling. repairs are available. A flatbed trailer at the marina can Depths shoal to 2 and 3 feet close to the buoyed chan- haul out boats to 25 feet. nel. Small craft sometimes anchor just north of Long (204) From Wareham River to New Bedford the shore is Beach Point. Highway and railroad bridges over the indented sharply by rocks and ledges extending off- river above the wharves have 31-foot fixed spans with a shore nearly 2 miles in places. clearance of 1 foot. (205) Wings Cove, between Great Hill Point southeast of (199) The mean range of the tide at the entrance to Great Hill and Piney Point on the eastern side of Wareham River is about 4.1 feet. The velocity of the Sippican Neck, has depths of 8 to 17 feet in its outer current is not great enough to materially interfere with section. The cove affords protection from westerly a sailing vessel having a good breeze. During the first winds; it is used only by small local craft. half of the ebb the current below the wharves of the (206) Butler Point is at the southern tip of Sippican town sets across the flats westward of the channel, and Neck. Shoal water extends about 0.4 mile southward during the whole of the ebb it sets across the flats east- from the point to Bird Island, a round, low flat island. ward of the channel below Long Beach Point. (See the (207) Southward and westward of Bird Island are several Tidal Current Tables for predictions.) The river ices buoyed dangers. Bird Island Reef, covered 15 to 18 over for short periods during most winters. feet, is about 0.4 mile east-southeastward. About 0.5 (200) Vessels approaching Wareham river from Buzzards mile southwestward is Centerboard Shoal, covered 12 Bay pass 0.8 mile east of Bird Island Light and steer feet. The Bow Bells, isolated shoals covered 11 to 18 351° to the buoyed channel. Strangers should obtain feet, are about 0.6 to 1 mile southwest of Centerboard local information regarding channel depths before nav- Shoal. An unlighted gong buoy is about 1.15 miles igating the river. southward of Bird Island. (201) The depth at the Wareham town landing was re- (208) Sippican Harbor, scene of much pleasure-boat ac- ported to be about 4½ feet in August 1981. The tivity, makes into the north shore of Buzzards Bay Wareham Harbor Patrol patrols the harbor during the about 3 miles southward of Wareham River. The harbor summer boating season and enforces a speed limit of 5 is the approach to Marion, a small town on the western knots. A boatyard, on the western side of Wareham shore. It is entered between Bird Island on the east and Neck about 0.3 mile below the bridges, has a marine Converse Point on the west. Prominent features in- railway that can handle craft up to 45 feet for hull and clude the abandoned lighthouse on Bird Island and the engine repairs or storage. Gasoline, diesel fuel, water, conspicuous house and flagpole on Converse Point. marine supplies, and a 25-ton mobile hoist are avail- The standpipe on Sippican Neck can also be seen for a able. In August 1981, depths of about 6 feet were re- considerable distance. ported alongside the boatyard service float. Wareham (209) The town dock at Marion, approached through a has bus service. channel marked by private seasonal buoys, has re- (202) Marks Cove, on the west side of the channel to ported depths of 4 to 5 feet alongside. A yacht club and Wareham River between Swifts Beach on the north two boatyards at Marion provide gasoline, guest moor- and Cromeset Neck on the south, has depths of 2 to 5 ings, water, ice, marine supplies, mobile hoists to 30 feet. The cove is used by small boats. In 1961, a 6-foot tons, hull and engine repairs, and storage facilities. The channel was dredged by the State through the cove boatyard at the head of the harbor can also provide die- from the 6-foot contour to Cedar Island at the entrance sel fuel. In August 1988, a reported depth of 4 feet could to Cedar Island Creek. be carried to this boatyard. The harbormaster, who (203) Weweantic River, entered southward of Cromeset controls all mooring and anchoring in the harbor, Neck, has a narrow and crooked channel partly ob- monitors VHF-FM channels 16 and 9. structed by rocks. A reported depth of about 3 feet can (210) Mendells Rock and Seal Rocks are shoal, rocky ar- be carried past the rocks and as far as the highway eas, northward of Converse Point extending up to 0.2 bridge, with local knowledge. The channel is not mile off the west shore of the harbor. Planting Island, a Coast Pilot 2 - 32nd Ed. Wednesday, January 08, 2003 3:03:54 PM
Color profile: Generic CMYK printer profile Composite Default screen 216 I Chapter 5 I Vineyard Sound and Buzzards Bay peninsula extending about 0.6 mile northwesterly from (216) The entrance between Angelica Point and Straw- Sippican Neck, is on the eastern side of the harbor. At berry Point on the east and Mattapoisett Neck on the Ram Island, off Marion, the passage between the island west is about 1.5 miles wide. A buoyed natural channel and the western shore is less than 275 yards wide. The leads through the numerous rocks and ledges in the currents in the narrow portion of the channel have entrance to the anchorage area off the town. The chan- considerable velocity at times. Little Island lies on the nel has a depth of about 14 feet but because of the bro- western side of the channel about 0.2 mile ken bottom, vessels should proceed with caution over northwestward of Ram Island. The buoyed channel has areas where the charted depths are not more than 6 feet a reported depth of about 12 feet from the entrance to greater than the draft. Strangers should not attempt to Marion. enter at night. (211) Blankinship Cove and Planting Island Cove, on the eastern side of Sippican Harbor, have a common (217) There are many shoals and rocks, most of them entrance northward of Ram Island. They have general buoyed, off the points and in the entrance. Off the west depths of 3 to 5 feet. Meadow Island separates the two side of the entrance, Mattapoisett Ledge extends about coves. Gibbs Rock, marked by a private seasonal a mile southeasterly from Mattapoisett Neck. Nye daybeacon, is 50 yards off the north point of Ram Is- Ledge, covered 7 to 17 feet, about 0.4 mile southeast- land. A rock awash is charted 120 yards north of the ward of Mattapoisett Ledge, is marked by a seasonal daybeacon. lighted bell buoy. In or near the entrance channel are (212) Hammett Cove in the northeastern part of Gallatin Rock, covered 10 feet; Sunken Ledge, covered Sippican Harbor is shallow and used only by small local 3 feet; Snow Rock, covered 5 feet; and Barstow Rock, craft. The approach to the cove is marked by private covered 8 feet. Near the town wharf, a rock, covered 3 seasonal buoys. Charted obstructions are close west- feet, is marked by a buoy. ward of the buoys. (213) The mean range of tide at Marion is 4.0 feet. Ice (218) A special anchorage is in Mattapoisett Harbor. (See usually closes Sippican Harbor for about a month or 110.1 and 110.45a, chapter 2, for limits and regula- more each winter. tions.) (214) Aucoot Cove, about 0.8 mile southwestward of Sippican Harbor, has depths of 10 to 19 feet. A 4-foot (219) The mean range of tide in the harbor is 3.9 feet. The spot is near the center of the cove in about stone wharf at the town has a reported depth of 6 feet 41°40'23.2\"N., 70°45'23\"W., and the head of the cove is alongside. Diesel fuel, gasoline, oil, water, ice, marine foul. The harbor is protected from all winds except supplies, and a surfaced ramp are available. A boatyard southeast. An unmarked channel with depths of less in town can handle craft to 60 feet long and 7 feet in than 1 foot leads to a boatyard west of Haskell Island. draft at the town ramp. A 5 mph speed limit is enforced Local knowledge and a high tide are required to navi- in the mooring areas. gate to the boatyard, which can haul out craft up to 40 feet in length. The yard does general repairs and ma- (220) A boatyard on the east side of the harbor provides chine work. Gasoline, diesel fuel by truck, and marine limited guest berths, gasoline, diesel fuel, electricity, supplies are available. The other coves between water, ice, storage facilities, marine supplies, and a Sippican and Mattapoisett Harbors are foul and seldom 30-ton mobile hoist; hull and engine repairs are avail- entered. able. In August 1981, a reported depth of 5 feet could be carried to the boatyard. (215) Mattapoisett Harbor, about 3.5 miles southwest of Sippican Harbor and 5 miles northeastward of New (221) Ram Island, about 1.5 miles southwestward of Bedford Harbor, is the approach to the town of Mattapoisett Harbor, is a low, grassy island connected Mattapoisett. The harbor is used by numerous yachts to Mattapoisett Neck by a narrow shoal. Rocks and during the summer. Although exposed to southeasterly shoal water surround the island. winds, the ledges at the entrance somewhat break the sea from that direction. A light on Ned Point marks the (222) Cormorant Rock, 0.9 mile southeastward of Ram approach. A standpipe is in the town. Vessels anchor be- Island, bares at half tide and is marked by a daybeacon. tween Ned Point and the wharves in 13 to 17 feet. Ledges with very little water over them surround the daybeacon at a distance of 150 yards. A rock, covered 14 feet, is about 0.2 mile northeastward of the daybeacon; depths of 18 to 21 feet extend 0.2 mile southward. The channel between the rock and Ram Island has depths of about 15 feet. (223) Nasketucket Bay is entered between Cormorant Rock on the east and West Island on the west. North- ward and westward of West Island the bay is greatly ob- structed by rocks and small islands. Because of these obstructions, only small craft proceed through the bay Coast Pilot 2 - 32nd Ed. Wednesday, January 08, 2003 3:03:54 PM
Color profile: Generic CMYK printer profile Composite Default screen Vineyard Sound and Buzzards Bay I Chapter 5 I 217 to Little Bay, at the head, or up Nasketucket River. The (228) From the main channel numerous landmarks can edges of Little Bay are foul, but excellent anchorage in be seen on the westerly side. Dumpling Rocks Light 5A all but strong southerly winds is available in the center off Round Hill Point, about 3 miles west of the channel, of the bay in 3 to 6 feet, sticky mud. The entrance is is conspicuous. About 0.5 mile westward of the radar made treacherous by obstructions and wind and should dome on Round Hill Point is a radio tower. Clarks not be attempted without local knowledge. Numerous Point, on the west side of the channel, is marked by a rocks, including Whale Rock, are on the east side of granite fort. About 0.7 mile northeast of the point is West Island at the entrance. A causeway connects the Butler Flats Light near the edge of the shoal. A group of western side of West Island with Long Island. A fixed three stacks is on the west side of the inner harbor. Al- span in the causeway has a clearance of 5 feet. The though there are no landmarks on Sconticut Neck, depth at the bridge is 6 feet. The approach from south- Fort Phoenix is a promontory fairly conspicuous just ward to the west side of West Island runs among many east of the channel, almost opposite Palmer Island. sunken rocks and shoals, and is very dangerous. The Several church spires are prominent in Fairhaven. A causeway between Long Island and Sconticut Neck, the tall radio tower is on Popes Island in the inner harbor. neck of land forming the east side of New Bedford Har- A private light is on the northeast point of Palmer Is- bor, completely blocks passage between the two. land, about 0.2 mile inside the hurricane barrier. The (224) Bare rocks and shoaling extend about 1 mile south- lights marking the eastern and western sides of the erly of West Island, and from there to the New Bedford hurricane barrier are also prominent. Harbor entrance are numerous isolated rocks and ledges, the most dangerous of which are buoyed. (229) Butler Flats Light (41°36.2'N., 70°53.7'W.), a pri- Mosher Ledge, about 1.1 miles south of Wilbur Point, vate aid 53 feet above the water, is shown from a white has a least depth of 6 feet. Strangers should stay south conical tower on a black cylindrical pier about 0.7 mile of the buoys marking these dangers. north-northeast of Clarks Point. (225) New Bedford Harbor, a tidal estuary at the mouth (230) The lines established for Buzzards Bay and Vine- of Acushnet River on the northwestern side of Buz- yard Sound are described in 80.145, chapter 2. zards Bay, is the approach to the city of New Bedford and the town of Fairhaven. The harbor is about 166 (231) A Federal project provides for a 30-foot deep chan- miles from The Battery at New York via Long Island nel from Buzzards Bay to the turning basin just above Sound, and 83 miles from Boston via Cape Cod Canal. the New Bedford-Fairhaven Bridge. (See Notice to Mar- The harbor includes all the tidewater lying northerly of iners and latest edition of charts for controlling a line from Clarks Point at the southern extremity of depths.) The 350-foot-wide channel is constricted to New Bedford to Wilbur Point at the southern end of 150 feet by a hurricane barrier across the inner harbor, Fairhaven and extends to the head of navigation on protecting New Bedford Harbor, extending from the Acushnet River at Acushnet. The outer harbor consists western shore over Palmer Island to Fort Phoenix on of the area south of the hurricane barrier at Palmer Is- the east. The 150-foot gated opening will be kept in the land, and the inner harbor consists of the area north of open position during fair weather, but is closed during the barrier to a short distance above the New Bed- periods of high winds or high tides, or when a hurri- ford-Fairhaven Bridge. cane is expected. Lights marking the eastern and west- ern sides of the opening are shown from the top of each (226) New Bedford is a manufacturing city on the west of the two gate operations houses, 48 feet above the wa- side of the Acushnet River. Fairhaven is on the east side ter. A fog signal is sounded from the west barrier light. of the river. Principal shipping includes receipt of gen- eral cargo and frozen fish; exports are general cargo. (232) Hurricane barrier traffic lights are displayed on the Commercial fishing craft operate from the ports. The north side of the smaller, northerly house on the west deepest draft entering is about 30 feet at high water. side of the entrance and adjacent to the old fort at Clarks Point. Green lights are displayed when the gate (227) The approach from Buzzards Bay and the entrance is open. Red lights are displayed from 20 minutes be- to New Bedford Harbor are much obstructed by ledges fore the start of closing the gate through reopening. In and shoals, between which are several channels leading addition to the traffic lights, three flashing white strobe to the dredged entrance. The bottom is very broken, lights are shown; two from atop the west barrier oper- characterized by large boulders; vessels should proceed ating house, one facing toward the harbor and one with caution when crossing areas off the general track when the charted depths are not more than 6 to 8 feet greater than the draft. Coast Pilot 2 - 32nd Ed. Wednesday, January 08, 2003 3:03:54 PM
Color profile: Generic CMYK printer profile Composite Default screen 218 I Chapter 5 I Vineyard Sound and Buzzards Bay facing toward the bay, and a third light facing toward (241) Dumpling Rocks, bare and covered, extend 0.4 the bay adjacent to the old fort at Clarks Point. These mile southeastward from Round Hill Point. A light is synchronized lights flash every 20 seconds, but flash on the easterly rock. A buoy marks the southeastern every 2 seconds from 20 minutes before the start of portion of the shoal area around the rocks, and a gong closing the gate through reopening. buoy is about 400 yards east of the light. (233) The controlling depth above the turning basin to the Coggeshall Street Bridge is about 15 feet. Above (242) Wilkes Ledge, 1.8 miles southeastward of Round that point in Acushnet River there is little traffic except Hill Point, is the southernmost danger at the entrance by launches and small craft. to the harbor. It is covered 9 feet with a wreck near the easterly part; a lighted buoy is close south-southwestward of the wreck. (234) The main channel to New Bedford Harbor is from (243) Four bridges cross Acushnet River at New Bedford. Buzzards Bay Midchannel Lighted Bell Buoy BB The first, the US6/New Bedford-Fairhaven Bridge, has a (41°30.8'N., 70°50.1'W.) through the buoyed channel swing span with a clearance of 6 feet. (See 117.1 eastward of Negro Ledge. through 117.59 and 117.585, chapter 2, for draw- bridge regulations.) The bridgetender monitors (235) There are several other passages with least depths VHF-FM channel 16 and works on channel 13; call sign of about 21 feet that lead from Buzzards Bay to New WHH-238. About 1 mile above this drawbridge is the Bedford Harbor west of the main channel. However, Coggeshall Street Bridge, which has a fixed span with a they are not as well marked as the main channel; un- clearance of 8 feet. A highway bridge with a fixed span marked shoals with depths of 9 to 18 feet are near the and a clearance of 8 feet is just below the Coggeshall course lines. Street Bridge. About 1.3 miles above the Coggeshall Street Bridge is a fixed bridge with a clearance of 6 feet. (236) From a position about 0.3 mile south of Mishaum Ledge Lighted Gong Buoy 5 (chart 13230), a course can (244) The mean range of tide is 3.7 feet. be set to pass about 500 yards east of Dumpling Rocks Light 5A to about 500 yards northwest of Decatur Rock (245) Tidal currents are weak. From a series of current Buoy 12, thence on a 006° course to join the main observations, conducted by the Corps of Engineers channel near Butler Flats Light. over a 2-day period in October 1965 at the center of the navigation opening of the New Bedford Hurricane Bar- (237) An alternate approach can be made from a position rier, it was revealed that the maximum flooding and about 0.3 mile southeastward of Wilkes Ledge Lighted ebbing velocities were about 2.4 knots; average flood Buoy 7 on a course of 004° to join the main channel setting 344° and the ebb 144°. During flooding or ebb- near Butler Flats Light. The high elevated tank at Fair- ing a slight set towards the east barrier abutment may haven is a good leading mark for this leg. be experienced. During this same period it was further revealed that the time of slack water occurred about 30 (238) Strangers should not attempt to enter New Bedford minutes before the time of low or high water; that the Harbor except in clear weather when the aids are visi- maximum ebbing velocity occurred about 2 hours after ble. Vessels should proceed with caution where the the time of high tide; that the maximum flooding ve- charted depths are less than 6 to 8 feet greater than the locity occurred about 4 hours after the time of low tide; draft, because of the broken character of the bottom. and that, generally, the maximum current occurred at about the same time as the most rapid change in the (239) Before proceeding into New Bedford Harbor, ves- vertical height of the tide was taking place. sels occasionally anchor in depths of 20 to 30 feet about 0.7 mile south of Clarks Point. Two general anchorages are in the outer harbor. (See 110.1 and 110.140 (a) and (d), chapter 2, for limits and regulations.) In the inner harbor vessels may anchor in the two dredged an- chorage areas on either side of the channel in depths of 25 to 30 feet. (240) The entrance to New Bedford Harbor is full of rocks (246) The prevailing winds during the winter are from and ledges, some covered 3 feet or less. Obstructions north to west, and during the summer from south to near the entrance passages are marked with buoys. The southwest. Thick fog is reported to close in quickly chart is the best guide. with little warning in New Bedford Harbor. Coast Pilot 2 - 32nd Ed. Wednesday, January 08, 2003 3:03:54 PM
Color profile: Generic CMYK printer profile Composite Default screen Vineyard Sound and Buzzards Bay I Chapter 5 I 219 (247) The channels and anchorage area usually are navi- (260) Quarantine is enforced in accordance with regula- gable throughout the year, although in prolonged peri- tions of the U.S. Public Health Service. (See Public ods of extreme cold weather the harbor as well as all of Health Service, chapter 1.) Buzzards Bay may be closed to navigation because of ice. Such conditions are infrequent and of short dura- (261) New Bedford has several hospitals. tion. Steamers generally can make their way through (262) Coast Guard vessels moor at the State Pier. the ice in the harbor. (263) The New Bedford Harbor Development Commis- (248) Pilotage is compulsory for foreign vessels and U.S. sion, through the harbormaster, enforces the harbor vessels under register. Pilotage for New Bedford is regulations. The State Pier Traffic Manager is the State available from Northeast Marine Pilots, Inc., Newport, authority who directs anchoring, berthing, and move- RI, 02840; telephone 401-847-9050 (24-hours), ment of vessels, and discharging operations at the State 800-274-1216, FAX 401-847-9052, cable RISPILOT, Pier. Vessels are expected to proceed slowly in the vicin- Newport. Pilots usually board vessels ity of the piers. State laws forbid pollution and dump- ing of refuse and rocks inside the harbor. The (249) (a) off Buzzards Bay Midchannel Lighted Bell Buoy harbormaster has an office just north of the State Pier. BB (41°30.8'N., 70°50.1'W.) or (264) The New Bedford waterfront has many piers and (250) (b) about 1.5 miles eastward of Narragansett Bay wharves. The fishing industry uses most of these facili- Entrance Lighted Horn Buoy NB within an area ties. Only the deep-draft facilities are described, and the bounded by alongside depths for these facilities are reported; for in- formation on the latest depths contact the operator. All (251) 41°23.6'N., 71°22.4\"W., of the facilities described have highway connections, (252) 41°22.6'N., 71°22.0'W., and most have rail connections. Water is available at (253) 41°24.2'N., 71°20.0'W., most piers and wharves. Cargo in the port is usually (254) 41°22.6'N., 71°20.6'W. This latter pilot boarding handled by ship’s tackle. A 250-ton floating “A” frame derrick is available for heavy lifts by prior arrangement. area is southward of a line extending from Point Judith to Sakonnet Point. Vessels arriving from sea should ap- (265) New Bedford South Terminal Wharf: 500 yards proach this latter boarding station via the Narragansett westward of Palmer Island; 1,600 feet long; 30 feet Bay Traffic Separation Scheme inbound traffic lane. alongside; 250,000 cubic feet of refrigerated storage; (255) Pilots board vessels from the NEW BEDFORD receipt of seafood products; owned by several seafood PILOT, 35-foot with black hull with white superstruc- companies. ture with the word Pilot on the side. The pilot office and NEW BEDFORD PILOT monitor VHF-FM channel 16 (266) Commonwealth Edison Co. Pier: 300 yards north- and work on 10 and 18A. The pilots recommend that ward of South Terminal Wharf; north side 740 feet vessels, delayed because of weather or other reasons, long, with dolphins; 30 feet alongside; receipt of petro- anchor about 0.5 mile southwestward of Buzzards Bay leum products; vessels usually berth with bow inshore; Lighted Bell Buoy BB. owned by Commonwealth Electric and operated by (256) Pilot services are generally arranged for in advance New England Petroleum Corp. by ships’ agents. (267) State Pier: 500 yards northward of New Bedford (257) Oceangoing vessels usually require tug assistance Gas and Edison Light Co. Pier; face 450 feet long, north when docking and undocking. Tugs up to 2,200 hp are side 600 feet long, south side 775 feet long; 30 feet based at New Bedford, and arrangements for their ser- alongside; 125,000 square feet covered storage; receipt vices are usually made through ships’ agents. Tugs and shipment of general cargo; owned and operated by monitor VHF-FM channel 13 when expecting a vessel, the Commonwealth of Massachusetts, Division of Wa- and use channel 18A as a working frequency. terways. (258) New Bedford is a customs port of entry. (268) Maritime Terminal Wharf: westward of Fish Island; 600 feet long; 31 feet alongside; 3 million cubic feet of (259) (See chapter 3, Vessel Arrival Inspections, and ap- refrigerated storage; receipt of frozen food, fish, and pendix for addresses.) chilled foodstuffs; shipment of general cargo; owned and operated by Maritime Terminal, Inc. (269) Bridge Terminal Wharf: northeast side of Fish Is- land; 450 feet long; 28 feet alongside; 500,000 cubic feet of refrigerated space; receipt of frozen and chilled Coast Pilot 2 - 32nd Ed. Wednesday, January 08, 2003 3:03:55 PM
Color profile: Generic CMYK printer profile Composite Default screen 220 I Chapter 5 I Vineyard Sound and Buzzards Bay foodstuffs; owned and operated by Bridge Terminal, craft. Several rocks are off Moshers Point on the west Inc. side of the cove. (270) Frionor Processing and Distribution Center Wharf: (277) Apponagansett Bay, about 2 miles southwestward 200 yards northwest of Fish Island; 580 feet long; 25 to of Clarks Point, shelters numerous pleasure craft and a 28 feet alongside; 63,400 square feet of refrigerated few fishermen in the summer, but the bay is insecure in space, 57,500 square feet of freezer space, 34,700 southeasterly gales. Nonquitt and Bayview are villages square feet of covered storage space; receipt of frozen on the south side of the entrance and South fish; owned and operated by Frionor Norwegian Frozen Dartmouth is on the northerly shore. Padanaram Fish Ltd. Breakwater is marked on the southern end by a light. (271) New Bedford North Terminal Wharf: 400 yards The approach to the bay is obstructed by numerous northwest of Fish Island; 1,000 feet long; 30 feet along- ledges and rocks, and strangers should enter only in side; 14 acres of open storage; owned by New Bedford the daytime with clear weather. Inside the breakwater Harbor Development Commission and operated by var- the channel is marked by buoys. Dartmouth Rock, cov- ious tenants. ered 4 feet, is on the northeast side of the channel. Pri- vate seasonal anchorage buoys mark the area off South (272) Gasoline, diesel fuel, water, provisions, and marine Dartmouth, which is usually very crowded in the sum- supplies of all kinds are available. Diesel oil and marine mer. A highway bridge at the village has a swing span bunker fuels are available by truck. The water is excel- with a channel width of 31 feet and a clearance of 8 feet. lent for drinking and boiler use; a water boat services (See 117.1 through 117.59 and 117.587, chapter 2, craft at anchor. for drawbridge regulations.) Above the bridge, small craft anchor in a narrow channel near the eastern (273) There are several boatyards at Fairhaven that can shore. make hull, engine, and electronic repairs; storage facil- (278) The harbormaster controls anchoring and berth- ities are also available. The largest marine railway in ing in the harbor and can be contacted through the po- the area can handle vessels up to 130 feet, 800 tons, and lice department or VHF-FM channel 16. The speed 16-foot draft. Lifts to 50 tons are also available. Several limit in the harbor is 5 mph. repair firms in New Bedford are available for (279) Southward of the bridge is a landing at a Yacht above-the-waterline repairs and engine repairs. Der- Club with reported depth of 10 feet alongside. Diesel rick lighters, some with air compressors and diving fuel, gasoline, water, ice, and some marine supplies are equipment, are also available. available. Two nearby boatyards and a marina can pro- vide limited guest berths, storage, complete marine (274) There is only rail freight service to Boston and fre- supplies, and hull, engine, electronic, rigging, and sail quent bus service to Providence, Boston, and New York. repairs. The largest marine railway can handle craft to A mail and passenger boat makes trips to Cuttyhunk 55 feet; mobile hoists to 35 tons are also available. In twice weekly in the winter and daily in the summer. August 1981, depths of 3 to 11 feet were reported at the Seasonal passenger ferry service is also available to slips. Martha’s Vineyard. Air service is available to Boston, (280) Round Hill Point, about 3.5 miles southwestward New York, Martha’s Vineyard, Nantucket, and Cape of Clarks Point, is marked by a prominent round hill on Cod. which is a white tower and a radar installation. Care should be taken not to confuse this tower with Dump- (275) The coast between New Bedford Harbor and the en- ling Rocks Light 5A. Westward of the hill is a radio trance of Sakonnet River is fringed with extensive tower. shoals, many of them rocky and a considerable number (281) Between Round Hill Point and Salters Point, 1.1 of them well offshore. The entrances to several inlets miles southwestward, Hunts Rock Breakwater extends are shoal and are used only by local fishing and plea- 270 yards in a northeast-southwest direction. sure boats. (282) Mishaum Point, 1.9 miles southwestward of Round Hill Point, is the southern point of Smith Neck. Shoal (276) Clarks Cove, between New Bedford Harbor and water extends about 0.2 mile off the point. Apponagansett Bay, affords anchorage in depths of 12 to 22 feet. It is exposed to southerly weather and is sel- (283) Slocums River, westward of Mishaum Point, has a dom used. Several small piers can accommodate small bar at the entrance nearly bare at low water. The Coast Pilot 2 - 32nd Ed. Wednesday, January 08, 2003 3:03:55 PM
Color profile: Generic CMYK printer profile Composite Default screen Vineyard Sound and Buzzards Bay I Chapter 5 I 221 channel inside is narrow, unmarked, and little used. (290) A highway bridge with a 49-foot bascule span and a Slocums Ledge, extending 0.6 mile westward of clearance of 21 feet at the center crosses the river at Mishaum Point, covered 2 to 7 feet, is marked by a Westport Point, about 2 miles above the mouth. (See buoy. Pawn Rock uncovers 3 feet and is 0.2 mile east- 117.1 through 117.59 and 117.620, chapter 2, for erly of Barneys Joy Point, the point on the west side of drawbridge regulations.) Hix highway bridge, about 6 the river entrance. miles above the mouth, has a 35-foot fixed span with a (284) Gooseberry Neck, about 4 miles southwestward of clearance of 3 feet. An overhead power cable on the Mishaum Point, is marked by several prominent tow- north side of Hix bridge has a clearance of 37 feet. ers. The neck, irregular and elongated, extends about 1 mile southward from Horseneck Beach to which it is (291) Approaching Westport River, boats must take care joined by a narrow roadway over rock fill. The water to pass westward of the dangers off Gooseberry Neck surrounding the neck is very foul. and eastward of the dangers off the river entrance. Nu- (285) Hen and Chickens and the dangers southward of it merous rocks and ledges are southward of the entrance have been previously discussed under the entrance to to the river. Twomile Rock, 1 mile southeastward of Buzzards Bay. Westport Harbor Entrance Light 5 on The Knubble, is (286) In addition to Hen and Chickens, numerous rocks marked by a daybeacon. Shoals with depths of 5 to 18 and reefs surround Gooseberry Neck. Shoal water ex- feet are southeasterly of the rock. A buoy is 0.35 mile tends 0.6 mile southwestward of the neck to Lumber south-southeast of the rock. Halfmile Rock, 3 feet Rock, covered 4 feet and marked by a buoy, and over 0.5 high, is 325 yards southeast of the light on The mile westward to Browing Ledge, covered 6 feet. Little Knubble. The shoal water surrounding the rock is Southwest Rock is about 0.3 mile northeastward of marked by a buoy. The area south of The Knubble is Lumber Rock. very foul. Other unmarked dangers include Twomile (287) Westport River empties into the large bight be- Ledge, extending 1 mile south of The Knubble, and tween Gooseberry Neck and Sakonnet Point (chart covered 2 to 12 feet; Joe Burris Ledge covered 14 feet, 13221). The mouth of the river is between Horseneck midway between Halfmile Rock and Twomile Rock, and Point, 2.7 miles northwest of Gooseberry Neck, and Pinetree Ground, about 1 mile south of Twomile Rock, The Knubble, a protruding mound of granite marked covered 25 to 30 feet. by a light about 0.2 mile south of Horseneck Point. The river is the approach to Westport Harbor, the area just (292) The shore in this vicinity should be given a berth of inside the entrance; the village of Westport Point, on about 1.3 miles to avoid numerous rocks and ledges ex- the north shore of the east branch of the river; and the tending about 1 mile offshore for 2.5 miles westward of village of Acoaxet, westward of The Knubble. Fishing Westport Harbor. and pleasure boats use the river as far as Westport Point. (293) The mean range of tide is 3.0 feet. The tidal current (288) The bar and entrance channels are marked by in the entrance has a velocity of 2.5 knots, and caution buoys. The entrance channel is narrow and crooked. In is recommended when navigating the river. (See the June 2000, the bar and entrance channels had control- Tidal Current tables for predictions.) ling depths of 7.1 feet over the bar and 5.5 feet (6.9 feet at midchannel) in the entrance. Depths over the bar are (294) Two piers, used by fishing and pleasure boats, are at continually changing, and local information should be Westport Point. These piers have reported depths of obtained as to depths and best water. Numerous rocks about 10 feet at their faces. Berthing at the piers is un- are in the channel below the bridge at Westport Point; der the control of the harbormaster, who can be con- caution is advised. tacted through the town hall or police department. (289) Boats should not try to enter during strong south- erly winds as heavy seas break over the entrance bar. (295) A 5 mph speed limit is enforced in the harbor. About 1 mile above the entrance the river divides into (296) A boatyard and a marina are in the harbor. The two branches. The west branch is shallow, with a nar- row channel marked by private seasonal buoys, and is boatyard is on Horseneck Point about 0.5 mile west of used by local craft to opposite Toms Point, about 1.6 the highway bridge. The marina is on Westport Point miles above the entrance. Above the Westport Point about 0.1 mile west of the highway bridge. Berths, bridge, the east branch is marked by private seasonal moorings, gasoline, diesel fuel, water, ice, launching buoys as far as the Hix Bridge, 4.7 miles above Westport ramps, and marine supplies are available. The largest Point. A reported depth of about 4 feet can be carried to marine railway is at the boatyard and can handle craft this bridge with local knowledge. up to 60 feet for hull and engine repairs and dry open or covered storage. (297) Quicksand Point is about 1.5 miles west of The Knubble. The boundary line between Massachusetts and Rhode Island is near the point. Cutty Wow Rock, awash at low water, is 1 mile southwestward of the point. Coast Pilot 2 - 32nd Ed. Wednesday, January 08, 2003 3:03:55 PM
Color profile: Generic CMYK printer profile Composite Default screen 222 I Chapter 5 I Vineyard Sound and Buzzards Bay (298) Briggs Point, 2 miles southwestward of Quicksand Point, is surrounded by shoals and rocks. Halfway Rock, 2 feet high, is 0.4 mile southeastward of the point. Coast Pilot 2 - 32nd Ed. Wednesday, January 08, 2003 3:03:55 PM
Color profile: Generic CMYK printer profile Composite Default screen Vineyard Sound and Buzzards Bay I Chapter 5 I 223 Coast Pilot 2 - 32nd Ed. Wednesday, January 08, 2003 3:03:55 PM
Color profile: Generic CMYK printer profile Composite Default screen 224 I Chapter 6 I Coast Pilot 2 - 32nd Ed. Wednesday, January 08, 2003 3:03:58 PM
Color profile: Generic CMYK printer profile Composite Default screen Narragansett Bay I Chapter 6 I 225 Narragansett Bay (1) This chapter describes the Sakonnet River, traffic lanes separated by a defined traffic separation Narragansett Bay, Mount Hope Bay, and Taunton and zone, and two precautionary areas, one at the southern Providence Rivers. Also discussed are the ports of New- end and the other at the northern end of the directed port, Fall River, and Providence, as well as the numer- traffic lanes and separation zones. The Scheme is rec- ous other yachting and fishing centers in this area. ommended for use by vessels approaching or departing from Narragansett Bay, but is not necessarily intended (2) The lines established for this part of the coast are for tugs, tows, or other small vessels which tradition- described in 80.145, chapter 2. ally operate outside of the usual steamer lanes or close inshore. (3) Narragansett Bay, opening into the north side of (7) The Traffic Separation Scheme has been designed Rhode Island Sound 17 miles westward of Buzzards to aid in the prevention of collisions at the approaches Bay entrance, is the approach to the cities of Newport, to major harbors, but is not intended in any way to su- Providence, Fall River, and Taunton, as well as numer- persede or alter the applicable Navigation Rules. Sepa- ous towns and villages. Rhode Island, the largest island ration zones are intended to separate inbound and in the bay, forms the eastern shore of the bay proper. outbound traffic lanes and be free of ship traffic, and The entrance is between Brenton Point, the southwest- should not be used except for crossing purposes. Mar- ern part of Rhode Island, on the east, and Point Judith iners should use extreme caution when crossing traf- Neck on the west. The bay is about 18 miles long from fic lanes and separation zones. (See Traffic Separation the entrance to the mouth of Providence River. Naviga- Schemes, chapter 1, for additional information.) tion of the bay is easy during day or night in clear (8) The southern precautionary area in the southwest weather as it is marked by navigational aids. The large part of Rhode Island Sound has a radius of 5.4 miles Conanicut Island and Prudence Island, and several centered on 41°06'06\"N., 71°23'22\"W., excluding those smaller islands, divide the bay into two passages. areas of the circle bounded by imaginary lines extend- Sakonnet River, although not a part of Narragansett ing between the outer limits of the inbound and out- Bay, is included with it in the following discussion. bound traffic lanes. (Note that the southern precautionary area is common to the Traffic Separation (4) East Passage is good for a least depth of about 60 Schemes for the approaches to both Narragansett Bay feet for about 11 miles up the marked channel to the and Buzzards Bay.) The Traffic Separation Scheme for entrance of the dredged channel to Providence. West the approach to Buzzards Bay is described in chapter 5. Passage is the approach to Dutch Island Harbor, (9) The separation zone is a 2-mile-wide zone centered Wickford, Greenwich Bay, and Providence River. Ves- upon the following positions: (i) 41°22'39\"N., sels of over 16-foot draft rarely go above Dutch Island 71°23'22\"W., (ii) 41°11'07\"N., 71°23'22\"W. Harbor without a pilot, but vessels of 16-foot draft or (10) The inbound traffic lane is a 1-mile-wide lane with less should have no difficulty in going to the head of the a length of about 11.5 miles. Entering the traffic lane at bay and Providence River. Sakonnet River is good for a a point in about 41°11'06\"N., 71°21'24\"W., a course of depth of 18 feet from the mouth to Mount Hope Bay. 000° follows the centerline of the traffic lane to a junc- tion with the northern precautionary area. (5) Traffic Separation Scheme Narragansett Bay has (11) The outbound traffic lane is a 1-mile-wide lane been established in the approach to Narragansett Bay with a length of about 11.5 miles. Entering the traffic through Rhode Island Sound. (See charts 13223, lane at a point in about 41°22'39\"N., 71°25'24\"W., a 13221, 13218, 12300.) course of 180° follows the centerline of the traffic lane to a junction with the southern precautionary area. (6) The Scheme is composed basically of directed traf- (12) The northern precautionary area has a 3.55-mile fic lanes each with one-way inbound and outbound radius centered on a point in about (41°25'35\"N., 71°23'22\"W.), excluding those areas of the circle Coast Pilot 2 - 32nd Ed. Wednesday, January 08, 2003 3:03:58 PM
Color profile: Generic CMYK printer profile Composite Default screen 226 I Chapter 6 I Narragansett Bay bounded by imaginary lines extending between the additional Security calls when off Popasquash Neck and outer limits of the inbound and outbound traffic lanes. when approaching Bullock Point Light BP. Vessels (13) A 2-mile-wide restricted area extends from the bound for Fall River should call Brightman Street northern limits of the Narragansett Bay Approach traf- Bridge when they enter Mount Hope Bay to allow suffi- fic separation zone to 41°24.7'N. This restricted area cient time for opening of the bridge. within the precautionary area will only be closed to ves- (19) Vessels outbound from Providence should make sel traffic by the Naval Undersea Warfare Center Divi- Security calls when leaving their dock and when off sion, Newport, during periods of daylight and optimum Popasquash Neck. Vessels outbound from Fall River weather conditions for torpedo range use. The closing should make calls when leaving their dock, when ap- of the restricted area will be indicated by the activation proaching Mount Hope Bridge, and when off Gould Is- of red flashing lights on naval vessels supporting the land. torpedo range activities. There would be no vessel re- strictions expected during inclement weather or when (20) The principal anchorages for vessels seeking shel- the torpedo range is not in use. ter are Newport Harbor in the East Passage and Dutch (14) The Traffic Separation Scheme is not buoyed. A Island Harbor in the West Passage. These harbors af- group of buoys within the separation zone and the pre- ford anchorage with good holding ground for cautionary area mark the torpedo range; these buoys deep-draft vessels, and are sometimes used by coasting are not related to the Scheme. vessels on the passage between Vineyard Sound and (15) Narragansett Bay Entrance Lighted Whistle Buoy Long Island Sound. Good anchorage will be found al- (41°23'00\"N., 71°23'24\"W.) is at the north end of the most anywhere in the bay under the lee of islands or the separation zone and is equipped with a racon. shore, where vessels becalmed or at night frequently (16) A safety zone has been established about 2 miles anchor. Point Judith Harbor of Refuge is just west of northward of Buoy NB for Liquefied Petroleum Gas Point Judith. General and explosives anchorages are in (LPG) vessels. (See 165.20, 165.23, and 165.121, Narragansett Bay. (See 110.1 and 110.145, chapter 2, chapter 2, for limits and regulations.) for limits and regulations.) (17) In conjunction with various maritime interests, (21) Vessels approaching from eastward should shape the Coast Guard has developed a system of recom- their approach to pass well south of Seal Ledge and mended radiotelephone procedures for Narragansett Brenton Reef. Brenton Reef and other dangers on the and Mount Hope Bays that is designed to supplement easterly side of the entrance will be avoided by keeping the Vessel Bridge-to-Bridge Radiotelephone Regula- Castle Hill Light bearing eastward of 003° and passing tions (33 CFR 26) (see chapter 2). These voluntary pro- westward of the lighted whistle buoy and the gong buoy cedures consist of Security calls to be made by vessel off Brenton Reef and the bell buoy off Butter Ball Rock. masters, pilots, or operators on VHF-FM channel 13 Approaching from westward, from a position with (156.65 MHz) at designated points. The procedures are Point Judith Light bearing 344° distant 2 miles, vessels designed to give notice of unseen vessels, give notice of may steer 028° for about 9 miles to a position 0.5 mile intended movement, clear channel 13 of traffic unre- west of Castle Hill Light, thence follow the navigational lated to navigation, give each vessel information on all lights in the bay. The recommended route, however, for others in the immediate vicinity, and to do so at little deep-draft vessels is via the Narragansett Bay Approach cost and with as little radiotelephone traffic as possible. Traffic Separation Scheme, which is described earlier These recommendations do not relieve a master, pilot, in this chapter. or operator of any requirements of law or regulation. There is no guarantee that every vessel will follow (22) The tidal movement in Narragansett Bay with its them. vertical and horizontal constituents–tide and current, respectively–is a continuation of the tide wave of the (18) Inbound vessels should make Security calls when Atlantic Ocean. This wave sweeps into the three en- abeam of Narragansett Bay Entrance Lighted Horn trances between Sakonnet Point and Point Judith and Buoy NB, when off Castle Hill Light, and when at the continues up the bay and into each of its tributaries un- south end of Prudence Island (state whether bound for til stopped by rapids or other obstructions. As is usual Providence or Fall River). The call at Castle Hill Light when oceanic tidal movements enter inland waterways, alerts outbound vessels so that they can pass East Pas- the nature of the movement is modified by the sage Lighted Bell Buoy 11 close aboard, as during ebb current they tend to be set toward the center of the channel. Vessels bound for Providence should make Coast Pilot 2 - 32nd Ed. Wednesday, January 08, 2003 3:03:58 PM
Color profile: Generic CMYK printer profile Composite Default screen Narragansett Bay I Chapter 6 I 227 hydrographic features encountered. In this area the lo- currents. Also local wind conditions can cause the tide cal features are such that the current movement in par- to turn earlier or later than predicted in the tables. ticular is subject to considerable distortion. The mean range of the tide varies from about 3.5 feet at the en- (26) Pilotage is compulsory for foreign vessels and U.S. trance to 4.6 feet at Providence. (See the Tide Tables for vessels under register when entering and departing predictions.) Narragansett Bay and all ports of the waters of the State of Rhode Island. (23) The flood current in Narragansett Bay frequently has two maximums of velocity separated by a mini- (27) Pilots for Narragansett Bay are available from mum velocity which at times becomes an ebb flow. Northeast Marine Pilots, Inc., Newport, RI; telephone Over the greater part of the bay, the usual maximum 401-847-9050 (24 hours), 800-274-1216, FAX flood or ebb velocity is from 0.2 knot in the broad por- 401-847-9052, cable RISPILOT, Newport. tions of the waterways to 1.5 knots in the more con- stricted sections. Velocities of about 1.4 knots occur at (28) Pilots board vessels about 1.5 miles eastward of the bridges in Seekonk River, a velocity of about 1.7 Narragansett Bay Entrance Lighted Horn Buoy NB knots in the narrows at the mouth of Kickamuit River, within an area bounded by and a velocity of 2.3 to 2.7 knots at the bridges in Sakonnet River. In Sakonnet River, from the highway (29) 41°23.6'N., 71°22.4'W., bridge to its mouth, current velocities are small, being (30) 41°22.6'N., 71°22.0'W., generally less than 0.5 knot. (See the Tidal Current Ta- (31) 41°24.2'N., 71°20.0'W., bles for predictions, and the Tidal Current Charts, (32) 41°22.6'N., 71°20.6'W. This pilot boarding area is Narragansett Bay, for hourly velocities and directions of the current.) southward of a line extending from Point Judith to Sakonnet Point. Vessels arriving from sea should ap- (24) In the entrance to the bay and its approaches, fogs proach this boarding station via the Narragansett Bay are more prevalent from April to October. The fogs are Traffic Separation Scheme inbound traffic lane. brought in by winds from east through south to south- (33) Vessels bound for Long Island Sound ports may west and are cleared off by northerly and westerly board pilots in the vicinity of Point Judith Lighted winds. The usual duration of the fog is 4 to 12 hours, Whistle Buoy 2, within a 1-mile radius circle centered but periods of 4 to 6 days have been known with only in 41°17.2'N., 71°30.4'W. short clear intervals. The head of the bay will some- (34) Pilots board from the Northeast Marine Pilots, Inc. times be free from fog while the entrance is completely pilot boat NORTHEAST II, 49-foot, with grey hull and shut in. superstructure and the word PILOT on the side; or RHODE ISLAND PILOT, 35-foot, with black hull and (25) Navigation of the bay and its tributaries is some- white superstructure and the word PILOT on the side; times impeded by floating ice and in severe winters by or NORTHEAST I, 49-foot, similarly marked as the packs of field ice. The ice which breaks up in Provi- RHODE ISLAND PILOT. A vessel should confirm her dence River and Mount Hope Bay is set by north and ETA by VHF-FM radio at least 2 hours before arrival. northeast winds down the bay through East Passage. If The pilot office monitors channels 16, 10 and 14. The there is much ice, a gorge is sometimes formed at Fort pilot boats monitor channels 16, 10, 13, and 14, and Adams, but it is of short duration. The passages are work on 10. rarely closed for any length of time below Gould Island (35) Pilots for Narragansett Bay serving U.S. enrolled in the East Passage and Dutch Island in the West Pas- vessels in coastwise trade are available from the Con- sage. During January and February, Mount Hope Bay, necticut State Pilots (a division of Interport Pilots Bristol Harbor, Warren, Providence River, Greenwich Agency, Inc.), address: State Pier, New London, CT, Bay, and Wickford are usually closed to sailing vessels telephone 800-346-4877 or 908-787-5554 (24 hours), unaided by power. The inner harbor of Newport is also cable PORTPILOTS Port Monmouth, NJ. sometimes closed during these months with the excep- (36) Connecticut State Pilots board vessels from the pi- tion of a channel kept open by vessels. It can get nasty lot boat CONNECTICUT PILOT, 65 feet long with blue at the mouth of Narragansett Bay when strong winds hull and white superstructure, and from pilot boat oppose the currents. Rounding Point Judith can be CONNECTICUT PILOT II, 47 feet long with blue hull rough or interminable, due to the confluence of tidal and white superstructure. The boats monitor VHF-FM channels 16 and 13, 2 hours prior to the vessel’s sched- uled ETA, and work on channel 10. The pilots meet ships bound for Narragansett Bay off Point Judith. Coast Pilot 2 - 32nd Ed. Wednesday, January 08, 2003 3:03:58 PM
Color profile: Generic CMYK printer profile Composite Default screen 228 I Chapter 6 I Narragansett Bay (37) Vessels to be boarded should provide a ladder 3 feet by a double flood. (See the Tidal Current Tables for pre- above the water on the lee side. dictions, and the Tidal Current Charts, Narragansett Bay, for hourly velocities and directions of the cur- (38) Pilot services are generally arranged at least 24 rent.) Vessels usually pass through the draws near the hours in advance through ships’ agents or directly by times of slack water. shipping companies. (46) The river north of Fogland Point is usually closed by ice for short periods each winter. Ice packs occur at (39) Sakonnet River, on the easterly side of the railroad bridge. Narragansett Bay, is between the mainland and the (47) Vessels proceeding up Sakonnet River should fol- eastern shore of Rhode Island. The width of the river low a midriver course to the constricted part of the varies from 0.7 to 2 miles except at its northern end river, thence follow the channel marked by buoys into where a least width of 0.3 mile is found. The river is lit- Mount Hope Bay. tle used except by fishing vessels and small craft. A pri- (48) Sakonnet Harbor, a small-boat harbor on the vate light is about 75 yards north-northwest of the northerly side of Sakonnet Point, about 2 miles north- tower. eastward of the entrance lighted whistle buoy, is pro- tected by an 800-foot breakwater extending in a (40) The channel of Sakonnet River is good for a depth northerly and easterly direction from Breakwater of 18 feet from the mouth to Mount Hope Bay. There Point. A light marks the outer end. In July 1994, the are numerous shoals and outlying rocks, but the dan- harbor had a controlling depth of 6 feet except for gers are well marked by buoys. Except for the breakwa- shoaling to 5 feet along the southern edge and 2½ feet ter light off Sakonnet Harbor, no lighted aids are in the along the NW edge. The holding ground in the harbor river, and strangers should not attempt to navigate it at is reported to be poor. A marina on the southwest side night. of the harbor provides berths, gasoline, diesel fuel, and electricity. In August 1981, depths of 6 feet were re- (41) Good anchorage for vessels drawing up to 17 feet ported alongside the berths. can be had in midriver just below High Hill Point in (49) The western shore of Sakonnet River from the en- depths of 21 to 28 feet. Although open to the south- trance to Sandy Point should be given a berth of 0.4 ward, a heavy sea seldom reaches as far as this anchor- mile to avoid shoals with depths of 7 to 17 feet. Rocks age. In southeasterly gales the water is comparatively extend up to 500 yards offshore between Sachuest smooth inside the mouth of the river. Fishermen seek- Point and Flint Point, about 1 mile northward. Flint ing shelter frequently anchor on the flats in the bight Point Ledge, about 0.5 mile north-northeast of Flint northward of Fogland Point in depths of 10 to 14 feet. Point, has a least depth of 7 feet; a buoy marks the ledge. Black Point is a rocky bluff on the western side of (42) Sakonnet Point, at the eastern entrance to the river, 2.6 miles northward of Flint Point. Sandy Sakonnet River, is surrounded by bare and submerged Point and McCorrie Point, low and backed by high rocks. Several islets and islands are south of the point. land, are 3.9 and 5.4 miles, respectively, northward of Schuyler Ledge, with a least depth of 8 feet, is about 0.8 Flint Point. mile southward of the point, and is marked by a bell (50) The channel passes eastward of Gould Island, a buoy. A seasonal fishtrap area marked by private buoys high wooded island, 2.5 miles north-northeastward of is about 0.7 mile southwest of the point. McCorrie Point. This Gould Island should not be con- fused with one of the same name in East Passage. A (43) Cormorant Rock, a bare dark rock off the western rock with a depth of 1 foot is northwestward of the is- side of the entrance to the river, is about 0.8 mile south land and is marked by a buoy. of Sachuest Point, the southeastern extremity of (51) The eastern side of Sakonnet River is bolder than Rhode Island. Vessels should not pass between Cormo- the western side. The east shore should be given a berth rant Rock and Cormorant Reef, 0.3 mile southward of of 0.7 mile from Sakonnet Point to Church Point, a flat the rock. The least depth on the reef is 4 feet; it is point with bluffs at the water, about 2.8 miles north- marked by a bell buoy. ward of Sakonnet Point. Old Bull, with a depth of 1 foot, is about 0.5 mile southward of Church Point and (44) The mean range of tide at Sakonnet Point is 3.1 marked by a buoy. A church spire at Little Compton, feet. (See the Tide Tables for predictions.) about 1.7 miles east of Church Point, is prominent. High Hill Point, about 3 miles north of Church Point, (45) The two bridges and the remains of the abandoned is a prominent small hill with bluffs at the water. highway bridge at the north end of Sakonnet River act Fogland Point, about 0.9 mile northward of High Hill as dams to maintain the water at different levels on ei- ther side of them, causing dangerous currents through the openings. The currents change with great rapidity both in velocity and in direction, and are characterized Coast Pilot 2 - 32nd Ed. Wednesday, January 08, 2003 3:03:59 PM
Color profile: Generic CMYK printer profile Composite Default screen Narragansett Bay I Chapter 6 I 229 Point, is a projecting prominent point; the westerly and miles eastward of Newport Neck. A stone tower with a northerly sides should be given a berth of over 200 short spire at each corner can be seen from offshore, yards. Almy Rock, bare at low water, is 0.3 mile south- about 0.7 mile northward of Easton Point. Westward of west of Fogland Point. The broad bights between Easton Point is a bathing beach with a prominent pavil- Fogland Point and the bridge are shoal. ion. Several private landings are northward of Goose- berry Island, a small islet south of Newport Neck. Local (52) Nannaquaket Pond, on the east side of Sakonnet knowledge is required to proceed to the landings. River eastward of Gould Island, has a narrow entrance 8 (58) East Passage, the principal passage in feet deep crossed by a fixed bridge with a clearance of 12 Narragansett Bay, extends between Rhode Island on the feet. The deeper water in the entrance is along the east and Conanicut and Prudence Islands on the west. northern shore; several rocks are off the southern It is the most direct route to Newport, Bristol, Provi- shore. The currents have considerable velocity. The dence, Mount Hope Bay, and Taunton River. northern part of the pond has depths up to 26 feet; the (59) The Newport Bridge, a fixed highway suspension remainder has depths of about 3 feet. bridge, crosses East Passage about 3.6 miles above the entrance, between Jamestown and Newport. Clear- (53) The Cove, on the western side of the river south of ances through the 1,500-foot center span are 213 feet the bridges, has a depth of about 9 feet in the entrance; at the center, 205 for the mid 1,000 feet, and 194 feet for the 31-foot-wide fixed highway bridge across the en- the remainder of the center span. A privately main- trance has a clearance of 25 feet. Depths are generally 3 tained fog signal is sounded at the bridge. to 4 feet in the cove. (60) Brenton Point is the southwestern extremity of Rhode Island and the eastern entrance point of East (54) Tiverton is a town on the eastern bank of Sakonnet Passage. River north and south of the bridges. Oil tankers call at (61) Brenton Reef, bare in places, extends 0.5 mile Tiverton. The oil piers northward of the bridges have south-southwestward of the point and is marked by a reported depths of about 32 to 35 feet alongside. gong buoy. Another reef extends 0.5 mile offshore just eastward of the point; Seal Rock is at the southeastern (55) Small-craft facilities at Tiverton and at Almy Point end of the reef. on the west side of Sakonnet River across from Tiverton (62) Seal Ledge, about 0.5 mile south of Seal Rock, has can provide berths, electricity, gasoline, diesel fuel, wa- depths of 12 to 30 feet and is marked by a bell buoy. ter, ice, storage, marine supplies, a launching ramp, Haycock Ledge, 0.4 mile eastward of Seal Rock, has a and hull and engine repairs. Marine railways on both least depth of 11 feet. sides of the river, at Tiverton and Almy Point, can han- (63) Beavertail Point is the southern extremity of dle craft to 55 feet. Mobile hoists to 35 tons are available Conanicut Island, on the western side of the entrance at Almy Point. to East Passage. Beavertail Light (41°27.0'N., 71°24.0'W.), 64 feet above the water, is shown from a (56) The channel at the north end of Sakonnet River, 0.6 square granite tower attached to a white dwelling at mile above Gould Island, is restricted to a width of 100 Beavertail Point. A fog signal is at the light. Several an- feet between the abutments of a former highway tennas and radar towers are north of the light. Newton bridge. The fixed highway bridge, 0.8 mile to the north- Rock, a covered rock, is about 0.1 mile southward of ward, has a clearance of 65 feet. About 200 feet north of the point; a bell buoy is about 0.2 mile southwestward the highway bridge, a railroad bridge across the river of the rock. has a swing span with a clearance of 12 feet in the west (64) Hull Cove, about 1 mile northeastward of opening. (See 117.1 through 117.49, chapter 2, for Beavertail Light, is rocky and exposed to southerly drawbridge regulations.) In July 1991, the bridge was winds. Castle Hill, the westernmost point of Rhode Is- reported to be maintained in the open position. The land, is marked by Castle Hill Light; a fog signal is at overhead power cable at the railroad bridge has a clear- the light. Castle Hill Coast Guard Station is close east ance of 81 feet. of the light. Butter Ball Rock, about 0.2 mile south of the light and marked by a bell buoy, uncovers 1 foot. (57) The southern shore of Rhode Island is rocky with (65) Mackerel Cove indents the southern shore of numerous offlying rocks and ledges. Numerous promi- Conanicut Island about 1.6 miles northeastward of nent residences are on the eastern side of Newport Beavertail Light. A house with a cupola is prominent on Neck, the southwestern part of Rhode Island. A large Southwest Point, the eastern entrance point of the brick residence with several towers is on the southeast- cove. The cove is exposed to southerly weather and is ern point of Newport Neck. Easton Point is about 1.3 seldom used. The Jamestown Bridge shows Coast Pilot 2 - 32nd Ed. Wednesday, January 08, 2003 3:03:59 PM
Color profile: Generic CMYK printer profile Composite Default screen 230 I Chapter 6 I Narragansett Bay prominently over the bar at the head of the cove on en- rocks and ledges between Rose and Coasters Harbor Is- tering East Passage. Kettle Bottom Rock, about 0.2 lands. mile southeastward of Southwest Point, is bare and (73) The inner harbor has two entrances north and marked by a gong buoy. south of Goat Island. A fixed highway bridge with a (66) Bull Point, the southeastern point of Conanicut Is- 40-foot span and a clearance of 14 feet connects the land, is rugged and rocky, and fringed by shoals which Newport mainland to the northern part of Goat Island. are marked by buoys. Fort Wetherill is on the point. This bridge limits the size of vessels that can enter the The Dumplings, northeast of Bull Point, are numerous inner harbor from the northern approach. bare and covered rocks and islets. The most southerly (74) General anchorages are in the outer and inner har- islet has a tall house on it, covering almost the entire bor and, except in emergencies, vessels must anchor in islet. these areas. (See 110.1 and 110.145, (a) (1), (a) (3) (67) Fort Adams is on a peninsula off the north side of through (a) (5), and (d), chapter 2, for limits and regu- Newport Neck. The buildings and masonry of the fort lations.) Special anchorages are in Brenton Cove and are prominent on the western slope of the peninsula. A in the inner harbor east and northeast of Goat Island. dock extending northward from the fort is marked by a (See 110.1, 110.1a, and 110.46, chapter 2, for limits light and fog signal. and regulations.) Vessels of more than 18-foot draft an- (68) Newport Harbor, on the western shore of Rhode Is- chor in the outer harbor in depths of 36 to 100 feet with land and the eastern side of East Passage, 3.5 miles good holding ground. above Beavertail Light, is an important harbor of ref- (75) Good anchorage is in Brenton Cove, the bight east- uge for coasters, tows, and yachts. Its approach is well ward of Fort Adams, which is used frequently by yachts. marked by navigational aids, and the harbor is of easy When entering, the western shore should be given a access day and night. A State regulatory buoy in the en- berth of 200 yards. trance to the inner harbor marks a “5 mph no wake” (76) In 1981, the harbormaster requested that transient zone. Goat Island, 0.6 mile long in a north-south direc- craft anchor only in the northern part of the Brenton tion, is a major pleasure boating center and divides Cove anchorage and in the anchorage northeast of Newport Harbor into an outer and inner harbor. The Goat Island. outer harbor, on the western side of Goat Island, is (77) Shoals with little water over them make out nearly northward of The Dumplings and southward of Gould 300 yards from the southern shore of the inner harbor Island. The inner harbor is on the eastern side of Goat to Ida Lewis Rock and Little Ida Lewis Rock; the latter Island and extends along the western front of Newport. is marked by a daybeacon. (69) A marina, hotel, recreational and service facilities, (78) Goat Island is marked by a light at its northern end and marine supplies are available on Goat Island. and a light and fog signal at its southern end. Buoys (70) Newport, a city on the inner harbor, is one of the mark the shoals along the southeasterly and southerly principal summer resorts on the Atlantic Coast. Some sides of the island. coastwise traffic uses the port, but few foreign vessels (79) Rose Island, privately owned, is surrounded by a enter it. A Naval Education and Training Center is here, shoal with little water over it. The shoal extends about from which several Navy ships operate. 0.4 mile northeastward of the island where it rises abruptly from deep water. A rocky area extends south- (71) The following objects are prominent when ap- ward from Rose Island and is marked by a buoy. A pri- proaching Newport Harbor either from the southward vate light marks the southeast point of the island. or northward: a hotel on Goat Island; a white building Mitchell Rock, with a depth of 14 feet and marked by a of the yacht club near Ida Lewis Rock in the southerly gong buoy, is about 0.1 mile southeast of the dock on part of the harbor; church spires in the town; and the the southeast side of the island. Citing Rock, 2 feet buildings of the Naval Education and Training Center high, is 350 yards east of the north end of the island and and Naval War College on Coasters Harbor Island in the on the edge of the shoal surrounding Rose Island. north part of the harbor. To the westward on Conanicut Tracey Ledge, covered 10 feet, is about 0.3 mile east- Island are several large hotels and a standpipe. Numer- ward of Rose Island and marked by a buoy. ous navigational aids mark the passages through the (80) Gull Rocks are about midway between Rose Island harbor. and Coasters Harbor Island. Buoys mark the ends of the shoals and rocks that extend northward and southward (72) The entrance to the outer harbor from the south- of the rocks. There is deep water between Gull Rocks, ward is unobstructed; the entrance from northward, Rose Island, and Coasters Harbor Island. A rock, cov- passing either side of Gould Island, is clear, but the pas- ered 17 feet and marked by a buoy, is about 0.3 mile sage eastward of Rose Island is partly obstructed by the north-northwestward of Gull Rocks. Coast Pilot 2 - 32nd Ed. Wednesday, January 08, 2003 3:03:59 PM
Color profile: Generic CMYK printer profile Composite Default screen Narragansett Bay I Chapter 6 I 231 (81) Off the northern and southern sides of Coasters however, melting is usually rapid and snow cover rarely Harbor Island are numerous rocks and ledges. A pri- lasts more than a very few days. The greatest snowfall in vate light marks an obstruction in the channel south of a 24-hour period was 20.0 inches (508 mm) in February the island St. Patrick Rock, covered 5 feet, is about 0.3 1978. January is the snowiest month averaging over mile southeastward of the island. The island has nu- seven inches (178 mm). Snow is absent from May merous buildings. Two highway bridges connecting through September. An average of only five days each the island to Newport have 31-foot fixed spans with year has snowfall amounts greater than 1.5 inches (38 clearances of 3 feet. Overhead power cables of unknown mm). clearance cross the harbor 0.1 mile north of the north- ern bridge. (90) See Pilotage, Narragansett Bay and Other Rhode Is- land Waters (indexed as such), early this chapter. (82) The western portion of the outer harbor is gener- ally free of dangers northward of The Dumplings. (83) The mean range of tide is 3.5 feet. (See the Tide Ta- (91) (See chapter 3, Vessel Arrival Inspections, and ap- bles for predictions.) pendix for addresses.) (84) In the entrance off Bull Point the flood current is (92) Quarantine is enforced in accordance with regula- often irregular. There may be a long period of slack wa- tions of the U.S. Public Health Service. (See Public ter preceding the flood, or there may be a double flood. Health Service, chapter 1.) The flood reaches a strength of about 1.2 knots; the ebb is regular and averages 1.5 knots at strength. (93) Newport is a customs port of entry. (94) The Coast Guard vessel documentation office at (85) Northward of Bull Point, tidal current velocities seldom exceed 1 knot. In the inner harbor they are usu- Providence serves Newport. (See appendix for address.) ally less than 0.5 knot. (See the Tidal Current Tables for predictions, and the Tidal Current Charts, (95) The harbormaster, under the supervision of the Narragansett Bay, for hourly velocities and directions Recreation Department, is charged with the enforce- of the current.) ment of harbor regulations, the movement of vessels, and assignment of moorings and anchoring. The (86) The prevailing winds are southwesterly in the sum- harbormaster may be contacted through the Police De- mer and northwesterly in the winter. The heaviest gales partment. The speed limit inside the harbor is 5 mph. are usually from the northwest and northeast. (96) Facilities include a city wharf and numerous pri- (87) The harbor and its approaches are navigable vate piers. The depths alongside the principal piers throughout the year, although in severe winters ice range from about 7 to 18 feet. may interfere with navigation in the inner harbor for short periods. Vessels and tugs keep ice well broken up (97) Gasoline, diesel oil, diesel fuel, water, provisions, in the main channel through the inner harbor. and marine supplies may be obtained at Newport. (88) July is the warmest month with an average maxi- (98) Launch services are available in the harbor. mum of 79°F (26.1°C) and average minimum of 63°F (17.2°C). January is the coldest month, having normal (99) Newport has a commercial shipyard specializing in mean temperatures near freezing, that is, average max- repair, construction, and conversion of steel and alumi- imum of 38°F (3.3°C) and average minimum of 23°F num vessels. The marine railway is at the shipyard in (-5°C). The extreme maximum temperature for New- the inner harbor and can handle vessels to 330 feet port is 98°F (36.7°C) recorded in August 1975 while the long, 63 feet wide, and 21.6 feet in draft. Cranes to 60 extreme minimum is -9°F (-22.8°C) recorded in Janu- tons are available. ary 1982. (100) There are numerous facilities in Newport harbor. (89) Precipitation is fairly evenly distributed through- Mobile hoists up to 60 tons are available. Complete out the year averaging about 45 inches (1143 mm) in small-craft hull and engine repairs can be made. any given year. The wettest month is November averag- ing 4.57 inches (116 mm) and the driest month is July averaging only 2.94 inches (75 mm). Total snowfall for the winter season averages about 20 inches (508 mm); Coast Pilot 2 - 32nd Ed. Wednesday, January 08, 2003 3:03:59 PM
Color profile: Generic CMYK printer profile Composite Default screen 232 I Chapter 6 I Narragansett Bay (101) Newport has bus and rail transportation. In the (109) Halfway Rock and Fiske Rock are about 1.8 miles summer the ferry between Block Island and Providence northeastward of Gould Island, on a small ledge bare at calls at Newport. its southern end. Halfway Rock is marked by a daybeacon and Fiske Rock by a buoy. Strangers should (102) Jamestown is a town on the east side of Conanicut not pass between these aids. Island in a bight on the west side of East Passage. A standpipe in the southern part of the town and a hotel (110) An elevated tank on the high ground near the near the waterfront are prominent. The bight is a popu- southerly end of Prudence Island is prominent from lar summer anchorage for local craft. A marina basin East Passage. protected by a detached breakwater is in the center of the bight. Jamestown has two boatyards. The largest (111) A mussel farming area is about 1.3 miles northeast marine railway can handle craft to 80 feet, and the larg- of the breakwater at Coddington Cove in the vicinity of est lift is 50 tons. Berths, electricity, gasoline, diesel the pier at Lawtons. Submerged equipment and nu- fuel, water, ice, some marine supplies, and complete merous buoys extend several hundred yards offshore hull, engine, and electronic repairs are available. and for about 0.5 mile north and south of the pier. Cau- tion is advised in the area. (103) Potter Cove is about 1 mile above the marina basin just north of Taylor Point. This cove should not be con- (112) Dyer Island, about 0.8 mile eastward of the south- fused with the Potter Cove off Prudence Island. About 1 ern portion of Prudence Island, is low and brush cov- mile north of Taylor Point are the ruins of a pontoon ered. A reef, partly bare, extends 0.4 miles southward pier. and southwestward of the island, and is buoyed. Be- tween the shoal area south of Dyer Island and Rhode Is- (104) Coddington Point is about 0.5 mile northward of land is a bar with depths of 9 to 17 feet over it. North of Coasters Harbor Island on the east shore of East Pas- Dyer Island is a reef with depths of 6 to 18 feet. sage. Bishop Rock Shoal, 0.6 mile southwestward of the point, is covered 9 feet and marked by a lighted bell (113) Melville, a military fueling facility, is on the west buoy. The Sisters, rocks awash westward of the point, shore of Rhode Island, east of Dyer Island. Depths are marked by a buoy. alongside the fuel piers range from 40 to 45 feet. An ele- vated spherical tank, about 0.6 mile (105) Coddington Cove, eastward of Coddington Point, is south-southeastward of the fuel facility, is prominent. protected on its north side by a curving breakwater 0.7 mile long, marked at its end by a light and fog signal. (114) A small-craft facility is in a basin at Coggeshall Two long finger piers are inside the cove; the north side Point, just north of Melville. Berths, gasoline, diesel of the northerly pier is used by the Navy, and the south- fuel, electricity, water, ice, complete marine supplies, erly pier is used by a shipyard. Depths of 30 feet are re- and a 50-ton mobile hoist are available; engine, hull, ported alongside both piers. Navy buildings on shore and electronic repairs can be made. In July 1981, and buildings at the shipyard are conspicuous. depths of 9 to 15 feet were reported in the basin. (106) Coddington Cove is within a naval restricted area. (115) Near Arnold Point, about 2 miles north of Melville (See 334.81, chapter 2, for limits and regulations). on Rhode Island, is a large prominent lumber mill with a conspicuous stack. A privately dredged channel with a reported depth of about 29 feet in July 1981 leads to a 600-foot pier at the mill. In July 1981, the pier was not in use and was reported to be in disrepair. (107) A prohibited area surrounds Gould Island and ex- (116) Hog Island, about 1 mile north of Arnold Point, lies tends north to include waters between Conanicut Is- in the entrance to Bristol Harbor, dividing the waters land and Prudence Island. (See 334.80, chapter 2, for into two channels. The island has a rolling wooded ter- limits and regulations.) rain on which are a few houses and cottages. Shoal wa- ter surrounds the island extending as much as 0.4 mile (108) Gould Island, a military reservation, is about 2 southward and 0.8 mile northward. The shoal area is miles north of Rose Island and 0.8 mile east of marked by lights and buoys. Conanicut Island. A light is on the south end of the is- land. The island is sparsely wooded; a prominent tall (117) About 0.6 mile east-northeastward of Hog Island water tank is near the center of the island. In August Shoal Light is Musselbed Shoals, marked on the outer 1986, a submerged obstruction was reported about 0.7 end of a light. From the light structure a directional mile northeast of the island in about 41°32'37\"N., light is shown to mark the channel to Mount Hope Bay. 71°19'52\"W; caution is advised. Coast Pilot 2 - 32nd Ed. Wednesday, January 08, 2003 3:03:59 PM
Color profile: Generic CMYK printer profile Composite Default screen Narragansett Bay I Chapter 6 I 233 through the fill, 0.8 mile above Brayton Point, has a depth of 1 foot. (118) Mount Hope Bay, in the northeastern part of (126) A Federal project provides for a channel 35 feet Narragansett Bay, is the approach to the city of Fall deep through Mount Hope Bay to about 0.9 mile above River and Taunton River. There are two approaches to the Brightman Street Bridge across Taunton River at the bay. The approach from the Sakonnet River, previ- Fall River. (See Notice to Mariners and latest editions of ously discussed, is little used. The approach from East the charts for controlling depths.) Passage is well marked, and with care 34 feet can be carried in the channel into the bay. (127) A dredged side channel, about 0.2 mile north of Common Fence Point (41°39.3'N., 71°13.3'W.) at the (119) Fall River, on the eastern shore of the mouth of north end of Rhode Island, leads eastward from the Taunton River and head of Mount Hope Bay, is an im- main channel, thence along the North Tiverton water- portant manufacturing center as well as distribution front. In August-September 1983, the channel had a point of petroleum products. Principal products han- controlling depth of 33 feet except for shoaling along dled through the port are petroleum products, latex, the edges and shoaling to 20 feet near Tiverton Upper shellac, cotton, and some lumber. Channel Lighted Gong Buoy 3. (120) Somerset, about 5.3 miles, and Dighton, about 7.5 (128) A privately dredged side channel, about 3.3 miles miles above the Fall River, are towns on the west side of northeastward of Common Fence Point and marked by Taunton River. Taunton, a manufacturing city, is at the buoys and a 326° private lighted range, leads head of navigation about 12.5 miles above Fall River. northwestward from the main channel to a powerplant wharf on the east side of Brayton Point. In July 1998, (121) Mount Hope Bridge crosses the entrance to Mount the channel had a reported controlling depth of 34 feet, Hope Bay between Bristol Point and Rhode Island. The except for shoaling to 33 feet in the entrance widening bridge has two lighted towers which are visible for and 24 feet along the west edge of the widening. many miles in clear weather and a fog signal. It is a high-level suspension highway bridge with a clearance (129) The controlling depth in the channel in Taunton of 135 feet. River above Fall River is reported to be 7 feet to Peters Point, 6.7 miles above the Brightman Street Bridge, (122) Mount Hope is a prominent hill on the western side thence 4 feet to Taunton, 12.5 miles above Fall River. of the bay 2 miles northeastward of the suspension Local knowledge is required from Dighton to Taunton. bridge. The eastern and western slopes are wooded. Buoys mark the channel to about a mile beyond the Spar Island is a small, low island near the center of Berkley Bridge, about 3.5 miles below Taunton. Mount Hope Bay. (130) Fall River Harbor has no designated anchorages. (123) Borden Flats, the shoal area northward of the Vessels may anchor on either side of the dredged ap- channel in Fall River Harbor, is marked by a light proach channel in the outer harbor or at any locality in equipped with a fog signal. Mount Hope Bay where depth and bottom are suitable; the chart is the best guide. (124) Three shallow streams that empty into the north- ern part of Mount Hope Bay are entered only by local (131) At Fall River, two highway bridges cross Taunton small craft. Kickamuit River, the westerly one, has a River. The first, a fixed bridge at State Pier, has a clear- narrow buoyed entrance through which the currents ance of 135 feet; a privately maintained fog signal is have considerable velocity. The buoyed channel has a sounded from the bridge. The second, Brightman depth of about 6 feet. Cole River, the middle of the Street Bridge, about 1.1 miles above the fixed bridge at three, is buoyed on the east side of the entrance. South State Pier, has a bascule span with a clearance of 27 Swansea, on the west shore of Gardners Neck, has a feet. The bridgetender monitors VHF-FM channel 16 boatyard with a 25-ton mobile hoist and a marine rail- and works on channel 13; call sign WQA-833. In Octo- way that can handle craft up to 50 feet for hull, engine, ber 2000, a replacement bascule bridge was under con- and electronic repairs or storage. Berths, electricity, struction about 0.2 mile above the existing Brightman gasoline, diesel fuel, water, ice, and marine supplies are Street Bridge with a design clearance of 60 feet. available. In August 1981, a reported depth of 6 feet could be carried to the boatyard. (132) Between Fall River and Taunton, the river is crossed by three bridges. The highway bridge at (125) A highway bridge, about 1.5 miles above the en- trance, has a 41-foot fixed span with a clearance of 7 feet. Lee River, the easterly stream, is navigable to a fixed bridge about 1.2 miles above the entrance. A shoal in midchannel just north of the narrow opening Coast Pilot 2 - 32nd Ed. Wednesday, January 08, 2003 3:04:00 PM
Color profile: Generic CMYK printer profile Composite Default screen 234 I Chapter 6 I Narragansett Bay Berkley, about 5 miles above Fall River, has a swing are dispatched 24 hours a day. The tugs monitor span with a clearance of 7 feet. Weir Bridge, the fixed VHF-FM channels 10, 13, 16, and 18A, and use channel highway bridge at Taunton, has a clearance of 10 feet; 7A as a working frequency. the fixed railroad bridge, about 0.2 mile upstream from Weir Bridge, has a clearance of 9 feet. (See 117.1 (139) (See chapter 3, Vessel Arrival Inspections, and ap- through 117.59 and 117.619, chapter 2, for draw- pendix for addresses.) bridge regulations.) The overhead power cables cross- ing Taunton River have least clearances of 145 feet at (140) Fall River is a customs port of entry. Fall River and 65 feet near Taunton. (141) Quarantine is enforced in accordance with regula- (133) The fender protection on the southeast side of the tions of the U.S. Public Health Service. (See Public Brightman Street bridge has been destroyed, and the Health Service, chapter 1.) Fall River has several hospi- Captain of the Port, Providence, has ordered that out- tals. bound barges in excess of 1,000 gross tons pass (142) The Coast Guard vessel documentation office at through the bridge only on the flood tide. New Bedford, Mass., serves Fall River. (See appendix for address.) (134) The mean range of tide is 4.4 feet at Fall River and (143) The harbormaster can be contacted through Fall 2.8 feet at Taunton. (See the Tide Tables for predic- River City Hall. tions.) (144) The piers and wharves at Fall River are along the (135) In Taunton River the currents generally follow the Taunton and Sakonnet Rivers and in Mount Hope Bay. direction of the channel and, except at bridges, do not Only the deep-draft facilities are described. For a com- hinder navigation. The ebb is usually stronger than the plete description of the port facilities refer to Port Se- flood. (See the Tidal Current Tables for predictions, and ries No. 4, published and sold by the U.S. Army Corps of the Tidal Current Charts, Narragansett Bay, for hourly Engineers. (See appendix for address.) The alongside velocities and directions of the current.) depths are reported; for information on the latest depths contact the operator. All the facilities described (136) The prevailing winds are northeasterly for all but have highway connections. Fresh water is available at the summer months, when the direction is southwest- most of the piers and wharves. Cargo in the port is usu- erly. The heaviest gales are usually from the northwest. ally handled by ship’s tackle. The approach channel and harbor are generally free from ice and are navigable throughout the year. (145) The speed limit is 5 knots in the channel off the Taunton River is commonly closed from December to piers and wharves. March. During severe winters the harbor and Mount Hope Bay are occasionally frozen over, but the chan- (146) Facilities at Tiverton, R.I. (chart 13221): nels to the principal wharves are kept open by vessels (147) Texaco Inc. Tiverton Terminal: (41°38'50\"N., and tugs operating in the harbor. 71°12'40\"W.); 50-foot face, 721 feet with dolphins; 35 (137) See Pilotage, Narragansett Bay and Other Rhode Is- feet alongside; deck height, 11 feet; receipt of petro- land Waters (indexed as such), early this chapter. leum products; owned by Texaco, Inc.; not being oper- ated in 1983. (138) Tugs to 2,200 hp are available at Fall River and tugs (148) Northeast Petroleum Corp., Pier 1: about 250 yards to 3,300 hp are available from Providence for use at Fall north of Texaco Inc. Terminal; 120-foot face, 700 feet River. Vessels are usually met 2 miles below their berth. with dolphins; 32 feet alongside; deck height, 9 feet; re- Large vessels normally require tugs for docking and ceipt of petroleum products; owned and operated by undocking. Arrangements for tug service should be Northeast Petroleum Corp. made at least 6 hours in advance, usually through (149) Northeast Petroleum Corp., Pier 2: about 250 yards ships’ agents or directly by shipping companies. Tugs north of Northeast Petroleum Corp., Pier 1; 40-foot face, 700 feet with dolphins; 34 feet alongside; deck height, 9 feet; receipt of petroleum products; owned and operated by Northeast Petroleum Corp. (150) Fuel Storage Co., Tiverton Terminal Pier: east side of Mount Hope Bay, 1.5 miles northward of Northeast Petroleum Corp., Pier 2; 50-foot face, 795 feet with dol- phins; 35 feet alongside; deck height, 9 feet; receipt of Coast Pilot 2 - 32nd Ed. Wednesday, January 08, 2003 3:04:00 PM
Color profile: Generic CMYK printer profile Composite Default screen Narragansett Bay I Chapter 6 I 235 petroleum products; owned and operated by Fuel Stor- repairs to wooden, steel, and aluminum vessels at their age Co. berths. The southerly yard specializes in the construc- (151) Facilities at Fall River, east side of Taunton River tion and conversion of steel vessels. Cranes to 250 tons (chart 13227): Borden and Remington Corp. Wharf: are available for hauling out vessels. In August 1981, (41°42'10\"N., 71°10'09\"W.); 380-foot face, 28 feet depths of 22 to 23 feet were reported alongside. alongside; deck height, 10 feet; receipt of latex and caustic soda; owned by Tillotson Co. and operated by (161) Small-craft facilities are at Fall River, Somerset Borden and Remington Corp. opposite Fall River, Taunton, and at Dighton. Berths, (152) State Pier: 0.2 mile northeast of Borden and electricity, gasoline, water, ice, storage, launching Remington Corp. Wharf; 398-foot face, 18 to 35 feet ramps, marine supplies, and hull and engine repairs alongside; lower side 620 feet long, 35 feet alongside; are available. The largest marine railways, at Dighton, deck heights, 17 feet; 85,000 square feet covered stor- can handle craft to 55 feet; mobile hoists to 35 tons are age, about 7 acres of open storage; receipt and ship- also available at Fall River. ment of general and roll-on/roll-off cargo; owned by the Commonwealth of Massachusetts, operated by Fall (162) Fall River has railroad freight service and bus ser- River Line Pier, Inc. vice. (153) The battleship USS MASSACHUSETTS, World War II memorial, and three other U.S. Navy vessels are (163) Bristol Harbor, between Bristol Neck on the east berthed just northward of the State Pier. end and Popasquash Neck on the west, is in a cove (154) Shell Oil Co. Wharf: about 2 miles above State Pier; about 2 miles long and 1.3 miles wide at its southern 570-foot face, 700 feet with dolphins; 30 feet alongside; end, narrowing to 0.4 mile wide at its northern end. deck height, 13 feet; receipt and shipment of petroleum The harbor proper, the northern part of the cove, has products, receipt of naphtha; owned and operated by depths of 15 to 17 feet. Shell Oil Co. (155) Facilities on west side of Taunton River (chart (164) Bristol is a town on the eastern side of the harbor. 13227): In approaching the harbor the most prominent mark is (156) Brayton Point Station Dock: (41°42'33\"N., Mount Hope Bridge. Also prominent are the navigation 71°11'21\"W.); 1,017 feet long; 34 feet alongside; deck lights, a stone tower, a stack, and an elevated tank on height, 15 feet; coal unloading tower serves conveyor high ground back of the town. The town has bus ser- belt system, unloading rate 1,000 tons per hour; receipt vice. A ferry operates daily from Bristol to Prudence Is- of fuel oil and coal; owned and operated by New Eng- land, and summer ferry service is available to Hog land Power Co. Island. (157) Montaup Electric Co. Wharf: about 2.5 miles above Brayton Station Dock; 645 feet long, 34 feet alongside; (165) Hog Island is in the middle of the entrance to Bris- deck height, 10 feet; two coal unloading towers serve tol Harbor. A natural channel with depths of 19 to 25 conveyor belts, combined unloading rate 1,200 tons feet extends on each side of the island. Excellent an- per hour; receipt of coal and fuel oil; owned and oper- chorage may be found in the harbor abreast the town in ated by Montaup Electric Co. depths of 15 to 17 feet, soft bottom. A general anchor- age is in Bristol Harbor. (See 110.1 and 110.145 (c) (158) Provisions, marine supplies, gasoline, diesel fuel, and (d), chapter 2, for limits and regulations.) and water can be obtained in Fall River. Water is avail- able at most of the berths. (166) Usher Rocks, about 0.7 mile northeastward of Popasquash Point, are bare at low water. A buoy is east- (159) Fall River has no drydocking or major repair facili- ward of the rocks and on the western side of the west- ties for deep-draft vessels; the nearest such facilities are ern passage to the harbor. at Boston, Mass. (167) The mean range of tide at Bristol is 4.1 feet. (160) Fall River has two small shipyards, on the west side (168) Depths alongside the piers and wharves range from of the harbor about 0.6 mile above the fixed bridge and on the east side of the harbor about 0.9 mile below the 9 to 13 feet. fixed bridge. The northerly shipyard has a marine rail- (169) A Coast Guard vessel is moored at Bristol. The way that can handle vessels to 100 feet long with drafts of 7 feet forward and 13 feet aft. The yard can make Coast Guard pier is marked by a light. (170) A marina and yacht club are on the west side of the harbor. Guest moorings, electricity, water, ice, marine Coast Pilot 2 - 32nd Ed. Wednesday, January 08, 2003 3:04:00 PM
Color profile: Generic CMYK printer profile Composite Default screen 236 I Chapter 6 I Narragansett Bay supplies, and hull and engine repairs are available. A about 1 knot. Strong currents may be encountered in mobile hoist at the marina can handle craft to 42 feet Barrington River. long. Launching ramps are available on the east side of (180) The harbormaster controls docking, mooring, and the harbor. In 1993, a reported depth of about 8 feet anchoring, and can be contacted through the Warren could be carried to the marina. Police Department. (171) Potter Cove, on the northeast side of Prudence Is- (181) A shipyard on the east side of the Warren River at land, is a small nearly landlocked harbor. Buoys mark Warren has a hydraulic lift that can handle vessels to the entrance channel off Gull Point. In November 300 tons or 130 feet long. In August 1981, a reported 2002, a sunken wreck in about 41°38.2'N., 71°19.2'W. depth of 7 feet could be carried to the shipyard. was about 0.75 mile southeast of the entrance to Potter (182) Berths, electricity, gasoline, diesel fuel, water, ice, Cove. The north and south ends of Prudence Island are and marine supplies are available in Warren. Depths re- a State park. Ohio Ledge, about 2.5 miles northward of ported alongside the major wharves range from 7 to 20 Potter Cove, has a least depth of 8 feet and is marked on feet. A yacht club is on the point near the confluence of its southeast side by a bell buoy. the two rivers. Several boatyards are in the vicinity; (172) Warren River, emptying into the head of mobile hoists to 25 tons are available. Covered storage Narragansett Bay westward of Bristol Neck, is the ap- and complete engine, electronic, and hull repairs are proach to the towns of Warren and Barrington, and available. Barrington River, which joins Warren River at Warren. A church spire in Warren is prominent. (183) Providence River, which empties into the head of (173) From the bay, the channel to Warren passes be- Narragansett Bay between Nayatt Point and Conimicut tween numerous shoals and rocks and is crooked and Point, is the approach to the city of Providence, numer- winding, but well marked. A depth of about 9 feet is in ous towns and villages, and to Seekonk River. the channel to the lower wharves at Warren, and the same depth is in Barrington River to the fixed highway (184) Providence is at the head of navigation on the Prov- bridge about 0.5 mile above the entrance. idence River, about 7 miles above the entrance, at the (174) In November 2002, a sunken wreck in about junction of the Providence and Seekonk Rivers. The 41°43.65'N., 71°17.25'W. is on the west side of Warren port area includes both sides of the upper navigable River. channel of the river. The port’s chief waterborne com- (175) A State regulatory buoy, about 0.9 mile above the merce is in petroleum products, cement, lumber, steel mouth of Warren River, marks a “Slow no wake” zone. scrap metal, general cargo, and automobiles. (176) An excellent anchorage may be found at the mouth of the Warren River about 0.2 mile from the eastern (185) Occupessatuxet Cove, on the west side of the river shore in depths of 14 to 15 feet, soft bottom. There is north of Conimicut Point, is a shallow bight south of not room for anchorage in the river for any but small Gaspee Point. The cove is frequented only by small craft. Abreast the lower end of Warren the channel is craft with local knowledge. about 0.1 mile wide, with depths of 13 to 17 feet in midchannel, and small vessels can anchor temporarily (186) Pawtuxet Cove, used by pleasure and fishing craft, at this point. on the west side of Providence River, is entered about 1 (177) Vessels approaching the river must take care to mile northward of Gaspee Point through a dredged avoid Rumstick Shoal, which extends nearly 0.6 mile channel. The entrance channel leads westward to the south of Rumstick Point, the southernmost point of cove, thence the channel turns northward and leads to Rumstick Neck and the western entrance point of the a turning basin at the head of the cove. An anchorage river. The shoal has depths of 2 to 12 feet and is marked basin extends southward from the entrance channel. by buoys. Rumstick Rock, 6 feet high, and Rumstick The entrance channel is marked by lighted and Ledge, with rocks that uncover 1 to 5 feet, are on the unlighted buoys. A State regulatory buoy, at the junc- westerly side of the shoal. tion of the entrance channel and the channel to the (178) About 0.5 mile above the mouth of Barrington head, marks a slow-no-wake zone. In September 1998, River is a fixed highway bridge with a clearance of 9 the controlling depths were 3.6 feet (4.6 feet at feet; about 100 yards upstream from the highway midchannel) in the entrance channel, thence 0.9 foot bridge is a fixed bicycle bridge with a 30-foot span on at midchannel to the turning basin at the head of the the east side of the river and a clearance of 5 feet. In cove with 1 to 4 feet in the basin; 4.1 to 4.3 feet was 1978, rocks were reported under the bicycle bridge. available in the anchorage basin southward of the en- (179) The mean range of tide at Warren is 4.6 feet. The trance channel, thence 1½ feet at midchannel to the tidal current off the town of Warren has a velocity of turning basin at the head of the cove with 1 to 4 feet in Coast Pilot 2 - 32nd Ed. Wednesday, January 08, 2003 3:04:00 PM
Color profile: Generic CMYK printer profile Composite Default screen Narragansett Bay I Chapter 6 I 237 the basin; 4 to 6 feet was available in the anchorage ba- engine repairs. A flatbed trailer at the marina can haul sin southward of the entrance channel. In 1976, a rock out craft to 40 feet long. In July 1981, a reported depth awash was in about 41°45'25\"N., 71°23'10\"W., on the of 12 feet was available alongside the marina berths. west edge of the anchorage basin. A 12-foot-high pro- tective dike along the east side of the anchorage basin (192) Conimicut Light (41°43.0'N., 71°20.7'W.), 58 feet extends southward from Marsh Island, on the south above the water, is shown from a white conical tower on side of the entrance channel, to Rock Island. Pawtuxet a brown cylindrical pier on the west side of the en- is a village on the west side of the cove. trance to Providence River. A fog signal is sounded at (187) The harbormaster in the cove controls anchoring the light station. An abandoned lighthouse on Nayatt and berthing; he can be contacted through the Point is also prominent in the approach to the river. Warwick City Hall. Berths, electricity, gasoline, diesel fuel, water, ice, marine supplies, and a 15-ton mobile (193) The Federal project for Providence River provides hoist are available. A flatbed trailer can haul out craft to for a channel 40 feet deep from just below Prudence Is- 50 feet long for complete hull and engine repairs. land Light to Fox Point near the junction of Provi- (188) A yacht club is on the west side of Providence River dence and Seekonk Rivers. (See Notice to Mariners and about 1 mile northward of the entrance to Pawtuxet latest editions of the charts for controlling depths.) The Cove. Gasoline and guest berths are available. channel is well marked with navigational aids. (189) A privately dredged channel leads from the main channel in Providence River, eastward of Pawtuxet, to a (194) A hurricane barrier crosses the Providence River small-craft facility about 0.45 mile southwestward of about 200 yards above Fox Point. The barrier includes Fields Point (41°47.2'N., 71°22.9'W.). The channel is three gates which normally will be kept in the opened marked by buoys and, in December 1998, had a re- position until the approach of hurricane weather. The ported controlling depth of 8 feet. The ruins of the piers clearances at each of the three river gates are: horizon- of a former Naval Reserve facility on the south side of tal, 20 feet; vertical (gate fully opened), 21 feet at mean Fields Point immediately eastward of the yacht club; high water; and depth over the gate sill, 12.9 feet at this area should be avoided. mean low water. Red lights mark the channel ends of (190) Bullock Cove, on the east side of Providence River each gate. 2 miles north of Conimicut Point, is the scene of con- siderable pleasure boat activity. A dredged channel (195) Seekonk River empties into the easterly side of leads from the Providence River to a mooring basin on Providence River at Fox Point. A marked dredged chan- the east side of Bullock Point, thence northward 0.5 nel leads from Cold Spring Point, about 1.3 miles mile to a mooring and turning basin. In July 1995, the above Fox Point, to a point about 150 yards southward controlling depths were 4 feet at midchannel to the of Division Street Bridge at Pawtucket, about 2.9 miles mooring basin east of Bullock Point; thence in 1990, 3 above Cold Spring Point. The lower section of the river, to 6 feet in the basin, thence 2 feet to the upper basin from Fox Point to Cold Spring Point, is crooked and and 1 to 3 feet in the basin. The entrance channel is winding and marked by buoys. Local knowledge and marked by buoys and daybeacons. In September 1982, use of the chart are required to carry the best water. a sunken wreck was reported on the west side of the Three areas of submerged boulders with angle iron channel at Bullock Point. There are numerous protrusions, the remains of the approaches and pivot small-craft facilities in Bullock Cove. The largest ma- pier of a former swing bridge, are in the river channel rine railway, on Bullock Neck about 300 yards north- at Cold Spring Point in about 41°49'36\"N., ward of Bullock Point, can handle craft up to 60 feet; 71°22'49\"W., 41°49'36.5\"N., 71°22'50\"W., and berths, electricity, gasoline, diesel fuel, water, ice, stor- 41°49'37\"N., 71°22'51\"W. The shoreward areas have a age, launching ramps, marine supplies, a 45-ton mo- least depth of 3½ feet, and the area at about midchannel bile crane, a 60-ton mobile hoist, and hull and engine has a least depth of 12 feet. In May-August 1999, the repairs are available. Sail and electronic repairs can be controlling depths were 4.3 feet (8.1 feet at arranged nearby. midchannel) to Buoy 27, thence 2.4 feet (4.2 feet at (191) Seekonk River, which branches off northeasterly midchannel) to the head of the head of the project just from Providence River at Providence, is the approach below Division Street Bridge. A 5 mph no wake zone, to Phillipsdale and Pawtucket. The head of navigation marked by State regulatory buoys, is in the entrance is at Pawtucket, 5 miles above the mouth. Commerce channel and above Cold Spring Point. on the river is chiefly in petroleum products. A marina at Pawtucket can provide berths, electricity, water, gas- oline, storage facilities, marine supplies, and hull and Coast Pilot 2 - 32nd Ed. Wednesday, January 08, 2003 3:04:00 PM
Color profile: Generic CMYK printer profile Composite Default screen 238 I Chapter 6 I Narragansett Bay (196) Vessels anchor as directed by the harbormaster on (201) The mean range of tide at Providence is 4.6 feet, the edge of the channel between Fields Point and Fox and the maximum range due to the combined effect of Point. Eastward of Fox Point, a few vessels may anchor wind and other causes may reach 8 feet or more at in the area where a portion of Green Jacket Shoal was times. removed. Preferred small-craft anchorages are in Bull- ock Cove and Pawtuxet Cove. (202) Tidal currents are weak in the approach channel and the harbor, except in the constricted parts of (197) Numerous rocks and ledges border Providence Seekonk River. At India Street Bridge the tidal currents River Channel on either side. Navigational aids mark have velocities of about 1.4 knots. In Seekonk River the the shoal areas off Bullock Point, about 1.5 miles above double flood is very pronounced. The velocity near the the mouth; off Sabin Point, about 3 miles above the middle of the flood period is generally less than 0.5 Mouth; off Pomham Rocks, about 3.5 miles above the knot and is sometimes in an ebb direction. (See the mouth; off Fuller Rock, about 5 miles above the mouth Tidal Current Tables for predictions, and the Tidal Cur- and Green Jacket Shoal, east of Fox Point about 7.4 rent Charts, Narragansett Bay, for hourly velocities and miles above the mouth. directions of the current.) (198) Providence River channel, between Narragansett (203) The proximity of Narragansett Bay and the Atlantic Bay Entrance Lighted Horn Buoy NB and Fox Point, is Ocean plays an important part in determining the cli- a regulated navigation area. (See 165.1 through mate for Providence and vicinity. In winter, the temper- 165.13, and 165.122, chapter 2, for limits and regula- atures are modified considerably, and a good many of tions.) the major storms drop their precipitation in the form of rain, rather than snow. In summer, many days that (199) There are no bridges over Providence River be- would otherwise be uncomfortably warm are cooled by tween the mouth and the principal wharves. Point refreshing seabreezes. At other times of the year, sea Street Bridge, about 0.3 mile above Fox Point, has a fog may be advected over land by onshore winds. In swing span with a clearance of 9 feet. (See 117.1 fact, most cases of dense fog are produced in this way; through 117.59 and 117.907, chapter 2, for draw- but the number of such days is few, averaging 2 or 3 bridge regulations.) The swing span has been reported days per month. fixed in the closed position since 1966. In August 1998, a replacement fixed bridge with a design clearance of 8 (204) The temperature for the entire year averages feet was under construction. Two overhead power ca- around 51°F (10.6°C). January is the coldest month av- bles cross the river between this bridge and the Fox eraging 29°F (-1.7°C), and July the hottest month aver- Point Hurricane Barrier about 300 yards to the south- aging 73°F (22.8°C). Freezing temperatures occur on ward; least clearance is 60 feet. A fixed highway bridge the average about 117 days per year and the days with about 300 yards north of Point Street Bridge has a minimums below 5°F (-15°C) average six each year. An clearance of 26 feet. average nine days each year record maximums in ex- cess of 90°F (32.2°C). The all-time maximum for Provi- (200) In Seekonk River, an overhead power cable cross- dence is 104°F (40°C) recorded in August 1975 and the ing at India Point, 0.5 mile above the mouth, has a all-time minimum is -13°F (-25°C) recorded in January clearance of 130 feet. Just above India Point several 1976. bridges cross the river within 0.9 mile. The name of the bridge, type, and clearance follows: Washington Bridge (205) Measurable precipitation occurs on about 178 days South, bascule span maintained in closed position, 40 each year. November is the wettest month averaging feet; Washington Bridge North, fixed span, 42 feet; Tun- 4.48 inches (114 mm) and June the driest averaging nel Bridge, bascule span, 17 feet; and New Red Bridge, 2.89 inches (74 mm). Average annual precipitation is fixed span, 42 feet. Just below the State Pier at 45.12 inches (1144 mm). Pawtucket are overhead power cables with clearances of 125 feet. (See 117.1 through 117.49, chapter 2, for (206) Thunderstorms are responsible for much of the drawbridge regulations.) rainfall from May through August. They usually pro- duce heavy, and sometimes even excessive, amounts of rainfall; but since the duration is relatively short, dam- age is ordinarily light. The summer thunderstorms are frequently accompanied by extremely gusty winds, Coast Pilot 2 - 32nd Ed. Wednesday, January 08, 2003 3:04:01 PM
Color profile: Generic CMYK printer profile Composite Default screen Narragansett Bay I Chapter 6 I 239 which may cause some damage to property, especially (215) (See chapter 3, Vessel Arrival Inspections, and ap- small pleasure and fishing craft. pendix for addresses.) (207) The first measurable snowfall of winter usually co- mes in October. The month of greatest snowfall is usu- (216) Quarantine is enforced in accordance with regula- ally February which averages about ten inches (254 tions of the U.S. Public Health Service. (See Public mm). It is unusual for the ground to remain well cov- Health Service, chapter 1.) ered with snow for any long period of time. The average annual snowfall total is 45 inches (1143 mm). Snow has (217) Providence has several hospitals. fallen in every month, October through May. About seven days each year has snowfall greater than 1.5 (218) A marine safety office is in Providence. (See appen- inches (38 mm). dix for addresses.) (208) In early fall, severe coastal storms of tropical origin sometimes bring destructive winds to this area. Even at (219) Harbor regulations are enforced by the other times of the year, it is usually coastal storms that harbormaster/port director, whose headquarters are at produce the most severe weather. Since 1871, twelve the municipal wharf. The harbormaster regulates the tropical storms have come within 25 miles of Provi- movement and anchoring of vessels in the harbor. The dence. The most recent was Hurricane Bob in August speed limit in the harbor is 5 knots. 1991. Hurricane Bob passed within 20 miles east of the city with 85-knot winds. Only twelve hours earlier, Bob (220) The piers and wharves of the port of Providence are was packing winds in excess of 100 knots. In September along both sides of the Providence River below Fox 1960, Hurricane Donna passed about 20 miles west of Point. Only the deep-draft facilities are described. For a the city. At the time, Donna had maximum winds of 90 complete description of the port facilities refer to Port knots. Coastal areas of Rhode Island, Connecticut, and Series No. 4, published and sold by the U.S. Army Corps Long Island were raked with winds in excess of 100 of Engineers. (See appendix for address.) The alongside knots compliments of Hurricane Donna. depths are reported; for information on the latest depths contact the operator. All the facilities described (209) The approach channel and the harbor are generally have highway connections, and most have rail connec- free of ice and navigable throughout the year. During tions. Water is available at most of the piers and severe winters, the harbor and several miles of Provi- wharves. Cargo in the port is usually handled by ship’s dence River and Upper Narragansett Bay are occasion- tackle. Cranes to 200 tons are available. ally broken over, but the ice is usually broken up in the channels to the principal wharves by the traffic in the (221) Facilities on the east side of Providence River: harbor. (222) Mobil Oil Corp. Wharf: (41°46'56\"N., 71°22'19\"W.); (210) The National Weather Service maintains an office 1,225-foot face, 700 feet of berthing space; 20 to 38 feet at the T.F. Green State Airport; barometers may be alongside; deck height, 8 feet; pipelines to storage compared here. (See appendix for address.) tanks; receipt and shipment of petroleum products, bunkering vessels; owned and operated by Mobil Oil (211) (See page T-3 for the Providence climatological ta- Corp. ble.) (223) Amoco Oil Co. Wharf: at Kettle Point about 0.9 mile above Mobil Oil Corp. Wharf; 500-foot face, 700 (212) See Pilotage, Narragansett Bay and Other Rhode Is- feet with dolphins; 36 feet alongside; deck height, 12 land Waters (indexed as such), early this chapter. feet; receipt and shipment of petroleum products, bunkering vessels; owned by Amoco Oil Co., operated (213) Tugs up to 3,300 hp are available at Providence. by Amoco Oil Co. and Atlantic Richfield Co. Large vessels normally require tugs for docking and (224) Wilkes-Barre Pier: about 2 miles above Mobil Oil undocking. Arrangements for tug service should be Corp. Wharf; 75-foot face, 700 feet of berthing space made 4 hours in advance, and usually through ships’ with dolphins; 40 feet alongside; deck height, 9 feet; re- agents or directly by shipping companies. Tugs are dis- ceipt of petroleum products and naphtha; owned by patched 24 hours a day. Tugs monitor VHF-FM chan- Providence and Worcester Railroad Co., operated by nels 10, 13, 16, and 18, and use channel 7A as a working Union Oil Co. of California, Getty Refining and Mar- frequency. keting Co., and Astroline Corp. (225) In January 1982, fill operations and pier construc- (214) Providence is a customs port of entry. tion were in progress at the site of the future rail/ship cargo terminal just south of the Wilkes-Barre Pier. Coast Pilot 2 - 32nd Ed. Wednesday, January 08, 2003 3:04:01 PM
Color profile: Generic CMYK printer profile Composite Default screen 240 I Chapter 6 I Narragansett Bay (226) Facilities on the west side of Providence River: 11 feet; receipt of petroleum products; owned and oper- (227) Municipal Wharf, Berths 5 and 6 (41°47'25\"N., ated by Northeast Petroleum Corp. (236) C. H. Sprague & Son Co. Pier: about 1.25 miles 71°22'54\"W.); 1,283-foot face; 35 to 40 feet alongside; above Municipal Wharf; north side 500 feet long, 520 deck height, 10½ feet; two 45-ton container cranes; 60 feet with platforms, 37 feet alongside; deck height, 12 acres open storage; electrical shore power connections; feet; receipt and shipment of petroleum products; receipt and shipment of general and containerized bunkering vessels; owned and operated by C. H. cargo and heavy equipment; owned by city of Provi- Sprague & Son Co. dence, operated by Cranes Associates. (237) The principal wharves at Pawtucket have depths of (228) Municipal Wharf, Berths 1, 2, 3, and 4: immediately 9 to 14 feet alongside. NW of Berths 5 and 6; 2,190-foot face, 35 to 40 feet alongside; deck height, 10½ feet; cranes to 200 tons; (238) Gasoline, diesel fuel, diesel oil, bunker fuels, provi- 47,000 square feet of covered storage; 12 acres open sions, and marine supplies of all kinds are available. Oil storage; electrical shore power connections; receipt bunkering facilities, for deep-draft vessels, are available and shipment of general cargo, lumber, paper prod- at most of the petroleum companies facilities in Provi- ucts, automobiles, petroleum products, liquefied pe- dence. Fuel tank barges are also available for bunkering troleum gas, scrap metal, pig iron, and caustic soda; vessels anywhere in the harbor. Water is available at owned by city of Providence; various operators. most of the wharves and piers. (229) New England Bituminous Wharf: about 500 yards above Municipal Wharf; 384-foot face, 30 feet along- (239) Providence has no facilities for drydocking side; deck height, 10½ feet; receipt of asphalt; owned deep-draft vessels; the nearest such facilities are at and operated by New England Bituminous, Division of Boston, Mass. Repairs to boilers, machinery, electrical John J. Hudson, Inc. equipment, and hull can be obtained in the port. Sev- (230) Lehigh Portland Cement Co. Wharf: about 600 eral well-equipped machine and welding shops are also yards above Municipal Wharf; 350-foot face, 20 feet available. Some of these concerns also maintain porta- alongside; deck height, 10½ feet; receipt of bulk ce- ble equipment for making above-waterline repairs to ment; owned by city of Providence, operated by Lehigh vessels at their berths. Portland Cement Co. (231) Lone Star Industries Wharf: about 750 yards above (240) Small-craft facilities at Bullock Cove and Pawtuxet Municipal Wharf; 210-foot face, 28 to 30 feet alongside; have been discussed earlier in this chapter. A marina on deck height, 12 feet; receipt of bulk cement; owned and the west side of Providence River between Pawtuxet operated by Lone Star Industries, Inc. and Fields Point can provide berths, electricity, gaso- (232) Algonquin LNG Wharf: about 0.4 mile above Mu- line, diesel fuel, water, ice, storage, marine supplies, nicipal Wharf; 450-foot face, 25 feet alongside; deck and hull and engine repairs; a flatbed trailer can haul height, 12 feet; receipt of liquefied natural gas; owned out craft to 60 feet long. In July 1981, 10 feet was re- by Providence Gas Co., operated by Algonquin LNG, ported in the approach to the marina, with 3 to 6 feet Inc. alongside. (233) Texaco U.S.A., Harbor Junction Pier: about 0.7 mile above Municipal Wharf; 80-foot face, south side 1,040 (241) Providence is served by rail, bus, and air. A ferry op- feet long, 720 feet usable, 32 feet alongside; north side erates daily in the summer to Newport and Block Is- 1,040 feet long, 600 feet usable, 25 feet alongside; deck land. height, 9 feet; receipt and shipment of petroleum prod- ucts, bunkering vessels; owned and operated by Texaco, (242) West Passage, between Conanicut and Prudence Inc. Islands on the east and Boston Neck on the west, is the (234) Promet Marine Services Pier: about 1 mile above approach to Dutch Island Harbor, Wickford, Quonset Municipal Wharf; 120-foot face, 37 to 31 feet alongside; Point, and East Greenwich. Vessels may also go to Prov- south side 596 feet long, 22 feet alongside; north side idence by West Passage, although the route through 596 feet long, 37 feet alongside; deck height, 12 feet; cranes to 100 tons; 11 acres of open storage; receipt and shipment of general cargo and dry bulk materials; re- pairs to vessels; owned and operated by Promet Marine Services Corp. (235) Northeast Petroleum Corp. Pier: about 1.2 miles above Municipal Wharf; south side 620 feet long, 600 feet of berthing space; 30 feet alongside; deck height, Coast Pilot 2 - 32nd Ed. Wednesday, January 08, 2003 3:04:01 PM
Color profile: Generic CMYK printer profile Composite Default screen Narragansett Bay I Chapter 6 I 241 East Passage is deeper and generally used. The follow- along the inner face. The buildings of the university, a ing directions for West Passage to Providence River are church spire, and a standpipe are prominent from good for a draft of 19 feet, but local knowledge is re- southward to north of Dutch Island. quired for a draft greater than 12 feet. Approaching (248) Fox Hill, on the southern side of the entrance to from the eastward, pass clear of Brenton Reef Light and Dutch Island Harbor, 2.5 miles north of Beavertail steer for the lighted gong buoy off Whale Rock until Point, is a point which terminates to the northward in southwest of Beavertail Light, and thence lay down a Beaverhead, a bluff rocky face. northerly course in midchannel with Dutch Island (249) Dutch Island Harbor is in the West Passage of ahead. On the southward approach from off Point Ju- Narragansett Bay about 3 miles north of Beavertail dith Light, a north-northeasterly course will bring the Light. The harbor is a semicircular indentation 0.5 by 1 vessel to the lighted gong buoy off Whale Rock. (See mile in extent in the west side of Conanicut Island. also chart 13218). At night a careful study of the light (250) A boatyard in the southeastern part of the harbor characteristics is necessary as the lights marking East has a marine railway that can handle craft up to 50 feet Passage will be seen on the starboard bow when ap- for hull and engine repairs. Berths, electricity, gaso- proaching from Point Judith. line, diesel fuel (by truck), water, ice, storage, a launch- (243) The course should pass westward of, and 500 yards ing ramp, some marine supplies, and a 20-ton lift are off, Dutch Island; thence through the James- available. town-NorthKingston Bridge opening; and thence (251) Dutch Island, a State park about 3.2 miles north of northerly until about 0.8 mile westward of, and abeam, Beavertail Point, is surrounded by shoals and foul the south tangent of Hope Island. From here a ground. A bell buoy is off the northern end of the island north-northeasterly course will make the buoys mark- and a lighted gong buoy is off the southern end. A ing the entrance of the natural channel westward of square white tower on the southern end of the island is Pine Hill Point on Prudence Island. Then a heading to- prominent. ward Warwick Light until abeam the lighted bell buoy (252) Dutch Island Harbor may be approached from off Northwest Point on Patience Island will bring the northward or southward. The southward entrance is vessel in position to swing northeasterly and easterly to good for a depth of about 28 feet; the northern entrance the dredged channel to Providence. has an extensive shoal with depths of 15 to 18 feet. As (244) Narragansett Pier, on the west side of West Passage the harbor is of easy access, it is frequently used as a about 3 miles west-southwestward of Beavertail Point, harbor of refuge. Excellent anchorage may be had in is a summer resort. The large hotels and a square gran- depths of 12 to 48 feet, sticky bottom. A harbormaster ite tower are prominent. A municipal bathing beach controls all mooring and berthing. Vessels of over and pavilion at the Upper Pier are prominent from an 18-foot draft seeking anchorage should give the eastern easterly direction. shore of the harbor a berth of at least 0.4 mile. The east- (245) River Ledge, about 0.9 mile northeastward of ern shore of Dutch Island should be given a berth of Narragansett Pier, has a least depth of 9 feet and is 100 yards. marked by a buoy. Whale Rock, on the western side of (253) General anchorages are in West Passage of the passage about 0.8 mile northeast of River Ledge, is Narragansett Bay. (See 110.1 and 110.145 (b) and (d), marked by a daybeacon, and a lighted gong buoy is to chapter 2, for limits and regulations.) the eastward. Little Whale, covered 4 feet, is about 200 (254) A bell buoy marks the shoal area off the northern yards north of Whale Rock. Strangers should pass east- side of Dutch Island. The piers off the east side of the is- ward of the lighted gong buoy off Whale Rock. land are in ruins. A shoal extends about 200 yards west- (246) Bonnet Shores Beach is on the north shore of the ward and 350 yards northward of Beaverhead. At its bight formed by Bonnet Point, the point about 1.5 northern extremity this shoal rises abruptly from miles north of Whale Rock. A bathing pavilion at the depths of about 40 feet to a depth of 8 feet; a buoy marks beach is prominent from a southeasterly direction. the shoal. The southeastern part of the harbor has a (247) The Bonnet, a prominent hill with the shoreward shallow cove. face bold and rocky, is north of Bonnet Point. The shore (255) Tidal currents of from 1 to 1.5 knots may be en- between Bonnet Point and South Ferry, 1.3 miles countered in the vicinity of Dutch Island. Elsewhere in northward, should be given a berth of 400 yards. Pil- West Passage velocities are usually less than 1 knot. ings extend 130 yards eastward just south of the old (See the Tidal Current Tables for predictions, and the pier at South Ferry. A 200-foot L-shaped pier of the Uni- Tidal Current Charts, Narragansett Bay, for hourly ve- versity of Rhode Island is about 150 yards southeast- locities and directions of the current.) ward of the old pier. In July 1981, depths of 20 feet were reported along the outer face with 10 feet reported Coast Pilot 2 - 32nd Ed. Wednesday, January 08, 2003 3:04:01 PM
Color profile: Generic CMYK printer profile Composite Default screen 242 I Chapter 6 I Narragansett Bay (256) Saunderstown is on the western shore of West Pas- the northward, Mill Cove to the northwestward, and sage abreast Dutch Island. A former ferry dock off the Wickford Cove to the southwestward. A State regula- town is in ruins. A yacht club is at Saunderstown. tory buoy just inside the jetties marks a “Slow no wake” zone. (257) The Jamestown-North Kingstown Bridge crossing (263) Wickford Cove is the scene of considerable plea- the passage from just north of Plum Beach has a fixed sure-boat activity. A dredged channel in the cove ex- span with a clearance of 134 feet; a private fog signal is tends between flats, many of which are dry at low water, sounded from the west pier of the main channel open- to a highway bridge about 0.9 mile above the breakwa- ing. A replacement fixed highway bridge with a clear- ters. Numerous piles, used as moorings, border the ance of 135 feet is about 300 feet north of the channel for about 0.35 mile below the highway bridge. aforementioned highway bridge. The northerly fixed In 1993, the channel had a controlling depth of 5.9 feet. highway bridge will replace the current southerly fixed (264) A marked dredged channel in Mill Cove leads to an highway bridge at an unspecified future date. anchorage basin about 0.7 mile above the breakwaters. In 1993, the channel had a controlling depth of 10 feet (258) From the bridge northward, Great Ledge extends to the dock off of Cedar Tree Point, thence 6½ feet to along the west shore of Conanicut Island for about 1.5 the head of the project, except for a 1 foot spot on the miles. This ledge is from 175 to 500 yards offshore, cul- right side of the channel between Cornelius Island and minating in America Ledge at its northern end. Nu- Point Wharf in about 41°34'40\"N., 72°26'53\"W. The an- merous rocks are on Great Ledge. Between Plum Beach chorage basin had depths of 4½ to 6 feet. and Rome Point, on the west side of the passage, 1.2 (265) Good anchorage may be had in the middle and miles north of the bridge, are several rocks, including southern parts of outer Wickford Harbor in depths of Red Rock and Old Sergeant. Bare and covered rocks 14 to 17 feet. The northern part of the outer harbor has are northeastward and eastward of Rome Point. numerous rocks and ledges with a depth of 6 feet. Gen- eral Rock, with a depth of 9 feet over it, is the southerly (259) Fox Island, 0.4 mile northeast of Rome Point and limit of this shoal, 0.9 mile north-northeastward of Fox southward of Wickford Harbor, is small and low. A Island. A rock with a depth of 8 feet over it is about 500 shoal with numerous submerged rocks including Seal yards westward of General Rock. Brig Ledge, about 0.5 Rock extends southward of the island. A narrow chan- mile north of General Rock, is covered 9 feet. The nel, suitable only for small craft, is between this shoal southern shore of the outer harbor is foul. Charles and the shoals extending northeastward of Rome Point. Rock, with a depth of 4 feet, is just inside of the north- Halfway Ledge with a depth of 18 feet is about 0.5 mile ern breakwater and marked by a buoy. east of Fox Island. (266) Vessels approaching Wickford Harbor from the southward, after passing through the main span of the (260) Wickford Harbor, on the western side of Jamestown-North Kingston Bridge, steer 340°. When Narragansett Bay 8 miles above Beavertail Light, com- northeastward of Fox Island, steer for Wickford Harbor prises an outer and an inner harbor. The outer harbor is Light on any bearing between 313° and 290°, anchor- a broad bight between Quonset Point on the north and ing 0.2 mile or more southeastward of the light in Wild Goose Point, about 0.6 mile westward of Fox Is- depths of 13 to 15 feet, soft bottom. land, on the south. The entrance is about 2 miles wide. (267) In severe winters the inner harbor is closed by ice, Depths in the middle and southern parts of the outer but the outer harbor is usually open although drift ice harbor average 13 to 17 feet. The inner harbor entrance is occasionally encountered. is between Poplar Point, 1.3 miles northwest of Fox Is- (268) Wickford has several small-craft facilities and land on the south, and Sauga Point, about 0.4 mile boatyards. The largest marine railway, on the east of north of Poplar Point, on the north. The harbor is used Wickford Cove, can handle craft up to 60 feet. Berths, chiefly by recreational craft, and by oyster and lobster electricity, gasoline, diesel fuel, water, ice, marine sup- boats. The town of Wickford is on the southwestern plies, a launching ramp, mobile hoists to 30 tons, and side of the inner harbor. hull, engine, and electronic repairs are available; wet and dry storage is also available. In July 1981, a re- (261) Several prominent landmarks are visible when ap- ported depth at about 7 feet could be carried to the ma- proaching Wickford Harbor. A standpipe at North rine railway at Wickford Cove. Kingston (chart 13221), and a church spire in Wickford (269) Quonset Point, on the north side of Wickford Har- may be seen for many miles. An abandoned lighthouse bor, is marked by elevated tanks. Near the eastern end on Poplar Point and the light off the point are promi- of the point are the conspicuous buildings of the Quon- nent. set Point Industrial Park. The piers at Quonset Point, (262) The channel to the inner harbor, marked by buoys, is restricted to a width of about 150 yards by the break- waters and the shoals off Sauga and Poplar Points. The north breakwater is marked by a light. The channel leads to the junction of three coves, Fishing Cove to Coast Pilot 2 - 32nd Ed. Wednesday, January 08, 2003 3:04:04 PM
Color profile: Generic CMYK printer profile Composite Default screen Narragansett Bay I Chapter 6 I 243 and at Davisville, about 1.5 miles northward, are usu- (275) The natural channel of West Passage extends be- ally approached from East Passage until north of tween the shoal area eastward of Round Rock and the Conanicut Island, thence through a buoyed dredged shoal area westward of Patience Island. The channel channel to a turning basin off the point from which a has depths of 21 to 70 feet. Buoys mark the entrance channel leads to the piers at Davisville. A depth of about from the southward, and a lighted bell buoy marks the 33 feet can be carried in the channel to the turning ba- northwestward edge of the shoal off Patience Island. sin. With the exception of 27- and 30-foot spots, depths The channel is the approach from southward to Green- of 32 to 35 feet are available throughout the basin; wich Bay, Warwick Point, and the channel from West depths of 30 feet are reported alongside the pier. In De- Passage to Providence River. cember 1965, the controlling depth in the channel to Davisville was 31 feet, thence 27 feet in the turning ba- (276) Patience Island, 0.2 mile west of the northern end sin or 28 feet for a middle width of 800 feet through the of Prudence Island, is surrounded by shoals and foul basin to the piers; depths of 29 feet were available on ground. The island is a State park and estuarine sanctu- the southwest side of Pier 1 and in the slip between ary. Piers 1 and 2. (270) Hope Island, about 1.6 miles north of Conanicut (277) Warwick Point, the southernmost point of Point, has low grassy hills with a few trees. The island is Warwick Neck, 0.7 mile northwest of Patience Island, is a State estuarine sanctuary and is off limits to visitors marked by a light and fog signal. during the bird nesting season. Bare and submerged rocks surround the island for about 0.2 mile. Despair (278) Greenwich Bay, at the northwestern end of Island is on the outer end of a rocky ledge extending Narragansett Bay, is entered between Warwick Neck 0.2 mile northeastward of Hope Island; a buoy is off the and Potowomut Neck. Shoal water borders the shore of northeast side of the ledge. Scup Rock and Round the bay, but the general depths are 10 feet or more. Rock are off the eastern side of Hope Island, and Goose- berry Island and Seal Rock are off the western side. A (279) Warwick Cove, between Warwick Neck and Horse hazardous reef with piles and a boiler awash on it is Neck, is in the northeastern part of Greenwich Bay. A about 0.4 mile southwestward of the southwest point of marked dredged channel leads from the bay to an an- Hope Island; a lighted buoy marks the area. chorage basin at the head of the cove; other anchorage (271) Allen Harbor is 2 miles north of Quonset Point. basins in the cove are on the west side of the channel, The harbor is entered through a buoyed channel which 0.5 mile above the channel entrance, and on each side has a depth of about 8 feet. Depths of 8 to 10 feet are in- of the channel 0.7 mile above the channel entrance. A side. State regulatory buoy off Horse Neck marks a 5 m.p.h. (272) Calf Pasture Point is on the north side of the en- speed limit. In August 2000, the controlling depths trance to Allen Harbor. Abreast the point and for some were 4.7 feet (6 feet at midchannel) in the channel from distance northward of it, a shoal extends 0.5 mile from the entrance to the anchorage basin at the head of the shore. cove, except for shoaling to 0.7 foot in the left outside quarter of the channel between Buoy 3 and Buoy 7. The (273) Potowomut River, entering the west side of West anchorage basin, 0.5 mile above the entrance, had Passage, 1.7 miles north of Calf Pasture Point, is sepa- depths of 4 to 6 feet and the two anchorage basins, 0.7 rated from Greenwich Bay on the north by Potowomut mile above the entrance, had depths of 6 feet. The an- Neck. A depth of about 4 feet can be carried over the bar chorage basin at the head of the cove had a depth of a 6 at the entrance and into the narrow crooked channel feet with gradual shoaling to 2 feet towards the north- inside. Caution is necessary to avoid rocks with depths east end. The cove is the scene of considerable pleasure of 1 foot over them in the entrance. Strangers should boat activity. not enter the river. (280) The harbormaster in the cove controls berthing (274) Round Rock, about 0.7 mile eastward of and anchorage; contact can be made through the Potowomut River entrance, uncovers 3 feet and is Warwick City Hall. The cove has several marinas and marked by a seasonal lighted buoy close eastward. Sev- boatyards. Berths, electricity, gasoline, water, ice, stor- eral other rocks, awash and submerged, lie between age, launching ramps, marine supplies, and hull and Round Rock and the entrance to the river; caution is engine repairs are available. The largest mobile hoist, advised. on the west side of the cove about 0.8 mile above the mouth, can handle craft up to 20 tons. (281) Brush Neck Cove, about 0.5 mile west of Warwick Cove, is fronted by a flat with a general depth of about 2 feet. This channel is used by small local craft at high water as far as the pier at Oakland Beach. Oakland Beach, on Horse Neck, between Brush Neck and Coast Pilot 2 - 32nd Ed. Wednesday, January 08, 2003 3:04:04 PM
Color profile: Generic CMYK printer profile Composite Default screen 244 I Chapter 6 I Narragansett Bay Warwick Coves, is a summer resort with bus communi- anchorage may be had off some of the small-craft facili- cation. ties on the west side of the cove in depths of 8 to 11 feet. (282) Apponaug Cove, in the northwestern part of (285) The mean range of tide is 4.0 feet. Greenwich Bay, is entered through a marked dredged (286) The cove has several boatyards. Berths, electricity, channel that leads from the bay to an anchorage basin gasoline, water, diesel fuel, ice, marine supplies, wet on the southwest side of the channel just below a fixed and dry storage, launching ramps, lifts to 21 tons, and railroad bridge about 0.7 mile above the channel en- complete engine and hull repairs are available. The trance. A State regulatory buoy at the entrance to the harbormaster in the cove controls anchoring and cove marks a 5 mph speed zone. In 1996, the control- berthing; contact can be made through the Warwick ling depth was 6 feet to buoy 8, thence 3½ feet to the City Hall. head of the channel, about 150 yards below the railroad (287) From Sandy Point, the eastern extremity of bridge. The anchorage basin had depths of 4½ to 5½ Potowomut Neck, shoals with depths of 2 to 9 feet ex- feet. In 1979, depths of less than 1 foot were above the tend northeasterly for about 0.6 mile. Extensive shoals bridge. There are several small-craft facilities in the extend off the eastern side of Warwick Neck to Ohio cove and at the west end of Greenwich Bay just south- Ledge. Rocky Point is on the eastern side of the neck, westward of the entrance channel to the cove. Berths, 1.7 miles north-northeastward of Warwick Point. electricity, gasoline, water, ice, storage facilities, (288) The natural channel between the shoals off launching ramps, mobile hoists up to 35 tons, and ma- Warwick Neck and the shoals northward of Patience rine supplies are available; hull and engine repairs can and Prudence Islands has depths of 19 to 50 feet. A buoy be made. The berths and anchorage in Apponaug Cove marks the shoal off Providence Point, the northern- are under the control of a harbormaster; he can be con- most point of Prudence Island. tacted through the Warwick City Hall. (283) Chepiwanoxet Island, on the western side of the (289) The shoreline of Point Judith Neck between West bay northward of the entrance to Greenwich Cove, is a Passage and Point Judith should be given a berth of at small neck of land with a yellow bluff facing eastward. least 0.6 mile. From Narragansett Pier to Black Point, a From this island, shoals with little water over them ex- rocky promontory 1.9 miles southward, the shoreline tend about 500 yards northward and 300 yards east- is a rugged rocky ledge with deep water close inshore. ward and southeastward. Shoals extend about 300 The waters between Black Point and Point Judith are yards northward and westward of Long Point, the boulder-strewn and shoal up gradually. northwestern extremity of Potowomut Neck. (284) Greenwich Cove, in the southwest end of Green- (290) Three very prominent landmarks are Point Judith wich Bay, is about 1.3 miles long and 300 to 600 yards Light, the elevated water tank 1.7 miles north of Point wide. Buoys mark the entrance channel into the cove. Judith, and Hazard’s Tower, a high, square stone tower State regulatory buoys at the entrance marks a “Slow 0.5 mile south of Narragansett Pier. Closer inshore the no wake” zone. On the western shore is the town of stone bathing pavilion at the State-operated East Greenwich. Depths of about 7 to 11 feet are avail- Scarborough Beach, 0.5 mile south of Black Point, and able in the cove to about 0.5 mile from the head. Good an open stone tower on a house 0.4 mile north of Black Point are prominent. Coast Pilot 2 - 32nd Ed. Wednesday, January 08, 2003 3:04:04 PM
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