Harbor Safety Committee - May 30, 2012

Annual Hurricane Season Kick-off

The next Harbor Safety Committee meeting will be held at 1:30 p.m. on Wednesday, May 3oth at the Jaxport Security Operations Center on New Berlin Ct.  This is the Coast Guard's annual hurricane briefing.  We will also have a presentation from Meteorologist Al Sandrik of the National Weather Service.  If you have an questions, please contact our committee chair Captain Mike Getchell.

St. Johns River Navigation Guidelines Modified

In a letter to the Captain of the Port, the St. Johns Bar Pilot Association modified their Navigation Guidelines as follows:

"Vessels that have called at the port and have proven to have exceptional handling characteristics, transiting to Trapac or Blount Island Terminals, with a fresh water draft of 34 feet or less, may start in at anytime and any stage of the tide.  The same vessels with a fresh water draft of 35 feet or less shall start in no sooner than 30 minutes before flood on the bar.  Stop taking in these vessels with a draft of 35 feet or less 30 minutes before start of the ebb on the bar.  Modifications or factors affecting any of these vessels’ characteristics shall cause the vessel to notify the Pilot Office at least 24 hours prior to the arrival for reconsideration of start-in time.”

Added Paragraph:

“Outbound vessels that have proven to have exceptional handling characteristics sailing between Talleyrand Terminals and buoy “59” that are over 36 of draft (at their berth) shall sail no sooner than 1.5 hours after the start of flood current on the bar.  Vessels sailing from these same berths that are over 32 feet of draft (at their berth), during times of ebb current in Chaseville Turn, will take a tug escort if required by the pilot, depending upon conditions.  Cut off time for sailing vessels over 36’ of draft is the beginning of ebb current on the bar.”

The above modifications are based on the Bar Pilot Association’s review of post dredge surveys.  These changes eliminate draft restriction on existing liner services for vessels transiting to and from Talleyrand Terminals until they reach drafts over 34 feet (fresh water) inbound and 36 feet outbound.

Manatee Protection Program in Effect

With the arrival of warm weather, the manatees have moved back into the northern stretches of the St. Johns River and are at risk from injury or death from vessel operations.  The JMTX cooperative agreement "JMTX Manatee Protection Program" among commercial port stakeholders is currently in effect. 

All mariners are cautioned to keep a sharp look out for manatees and report any sightings to other vessels operating in the area.  Informational placards specifically developed for commercial vessels are available by contacting Mike Getchell.

Please see the attached manatee sightings map for the most recent snapshot of where manatees are located.  Please note that this map is just a snapshot and as the manatee is a mobile animal, it does not reflect where manatees are currently located.