Port Access Routes Study; In the Approaches to Chesapeake Bay, VA

AGENCY:

Coast Guard, DHS.

ACTION:

Notice of study results.

SUMMARY:

The Coast Guard announces the completion of a Port Access Route Study that evaluated the need for modifications to current vessel routing and traffic management measures in the approaches to Chesapeake Bay, Virginia. The study was completed in June 2003. This document summarizes the study recommendations, which include enhancements and modifications to existing vessel routing measures and the creation of a new offshore anchorage area.

ADDRESSES:

Comments and material received from the public, as well as the actual study and other documents mentioned in this document, are part of docket USCG-2002-12876 and are available for inspection or copying at the Docket Management Facility, U.S. Department of Transportation, room PL-401, 400 Seventh Street, SW., Washington, DC, 20590-0001, between 9 a.m. and 5 p.m., Monday through Friday, except Federal holidays. You may also find this docket on the Internet at http://dms.dot.gov.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT:

For further information on this document, contact John Walters, Aids to Navigation and Waterways Management Branch, Fifth Coast Guard District, telephone 757-398-6230, e-mail Jwalters@lantd5.uscg.mil; or George Detweiler, Office of Vessel Traffic Management, Coast Guard, telephone 202-267-0416, e-mail Gdetweiler@comdt.uscg.mil. For questions on viewing the docket, contact Andrea M. Jenkins, Program Manager, Docket Operations, telephone 202-366-0271.

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION:

You may obtain a copy of the Port Access Route Study by contacting either person listed under the FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT section. A copy is also available in the public docket at the address listed under the ADDRESSES section and electronically on the DMS Web site at http://dms.dot.gov.

Definitions

The following definitions are from the International Maritime Organization's (IMO's) “Ships’ Routeing Guide” (except those marked by an asterisk) and should help you review this notice:

Deep-water route means a route within defined limits, which has been accurately surveyed for clearance of sea bottom and submerged obstacles as indicated on nautical charts.

Offshore anchorage area means an anchorage area located in the 3-to-12-nautical-mile belt of the territorial sea in which vessels directed by the Captain of the Port (COTP) to await further orders before entering a U.S. port may stand-by or anchor.

Precautionary area means a routing measure comprising an area within defined limits where vessels must navigate with particular caution and within which the direction of traffic flow may be recommended.

Recommended track means a route which has been specifically examined to ensure so far as possible that it is free of dangers and along which vessels are advised to navigate.

Separation Zone or separation line means a zone or line separating the traffic lanes in which vessels are proceeding in opposite or nearly opposite directions; or separating a traffic lane from the adjacent sea area; or separating traffic lanes designated for particular classes of vessels proceeding in the same direction.

Traffic lane means an area within defined limits in which one-way traffic is established. Natural obstacles, including those forming separation zones, may constitute a boundary.

Traffic Separation Scheme or TSS means a routing measure aimed at the separation of opposing streams of traffic by appropriate means and by the establishment of traffic lanes.

Vessel routing system means any system of one or more routes or routing measures aimed at reducing the risk of casualties; it includes traffic separation schemes, two-way routes, recommended tracks, areas to be avoided, inshore traffic zones, roundabouts, precautionary areas, and deep-water routes.

Background and Purpose

When Did the Coast Guard Conduct This Port Access Route Study (PARS)?

We announced the PARS in a notice published in the Federal Register on July 26, 2002, (67 FR 48837) and completed the PARS in June 2003.

What Is the Study Area?

The study area encompassed the area bounded by a line connecting the following geographic points (All coordinates are NAD 1983.):

The study area included the Eastern and Southern approaches to Chesapeake Bay used by commercial and public vessels.

Why Did the Coast Guard Conduct This PARS?

The approaches to Chesapeake Bay were last studied in 1989, and the final results were published in the Federal Register on April 28, 1994 (59 FR 21937). The study primarily examined the Southern Approach to determine its ability to accommodate vessels requiring a deep-water route. The PARS concluded that the Eastern Approach and Precautionary Area should remain unchanged and proposed the creation of the current deep-water route of the Southern Approach.

On April 12 through 17, 2001, the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA) conducted a hydrographic data survey of the area. The survey indicated that Nautilus Shoal, which borders the northern edge of the Eastern Approach, is slowly moving southward and is encroaching on the inbound traffic lane. This limits the use of this traffic lane to vessels with drafts less than 27 feet (8.2 meters). Because of this encroachment, the current PARS evaluated changes to the Eastern Approach that would better accommodate deeper-draft, inbound vessels. Also, we decided to review the location of the Southern Approach, particularly in light of the many existing and proposed improvements to the ports of Hampton Roads, Baltimore, and Richmond that will directly affect the numbers, size, and types of vessels using these approaches.

These improvements include dredging and expanding the Norfolk International Terminal, improving the Portsmouth Marine Terminal, completing the Baltimore Harbor Anchorages and Channels improvement project, deepening portions of the James River, improving the Port of Richmond wharf, and completing the 55-foot anchorage for Hampton Roads. Future projects include building a new Virginia Port facility at Craney Island, improving the Pinners Point facility, reopening the Cove Point liquefied natural gas facility, deepening the inbound segment of Thimble Shoals Channel from 45 to 50 feet, and deepening the outbound segment of Thimble Shoals Channel from 50 to 55 feet. Projections for the Port of Hampton Roads forecast a 5% growth rate in container shipping for 2003. In 2002, 24 cruise ships visited downtown Norfolk. Thirty-four cruise ships were scheduled to arrive in Norfolk during 2003. It is anticipated that passenger numbers will increase from 20,000 in 2001 to 80,000 in 2004. The size of vessels calling on these ports should also grow. The “S” class container ships, currently in use by Maersk Sealand, may soon call on the Port of Virginia. These massive container vessels are 1,138 feet in length, 140 feet wide, draft almost 48 feet when fully loaded, and have a capacity for 7,100 twenty-foot equivalent units (TEUs). Considering this projected growth in Hampton Roads and the potential growth in other ports accessed via the entrance to Chesapeake Bay, increases in all types of commercial vessel traffic is almost certain.

One potential study recommendation listed in the Notice of Study published July 26, 2002, in the Federal Register (67 FR 48837) was to disestablish Chesapeake Light. The PARS confirmed that this light should not be disestablished. Chesapeake Light has proved itself invaluable as a visual reference for inbound, outbound, and maneuvering vessel traffic as well as a platform that can be used to gather meteorological data.

How Did the Coast Guard Conduct This PARS?

First, we announced the start of the study through a Notice of Study published July 26, 2002, in the Federal Register (67 FR 48837). This notice identified potential study recommendations and solicited comments concerning these recommendations as well as answers to questions provided in the notice. Second, we considered previous studies, analyses of vessel traffic density, and agency and stakeholder experience in vessel traffic management, navigation, ship handling, and the effects of weather. The recommendations of this PARS are based mainly on comments received to the docket and the results of the previous studies, analyses, and agency and stakeholder experience.

Study Recommendations

The PARS recommendations include the following:

1. Modify the location of the existing Eastern Approach TSS;

2. Modify the regulations for the Southern Approach TSS to allow vessels with a draft of 42 feet (12.8 meters) or greater to use the deep-water route;

3. Retain the Chesapeake Light; and

4. Establish an offshore anchorage area.

This PARS recommendation was not previously identified as a potential study recommendation in the Notice of Study published July 26, 2002, in the Federal Register (67 FR 48837). This offshore anchorage area is for vessels that are unable or not approved to enter port.

Next Steps

A brief synopsis of how the PARS recommendations will proceed towards implementation follows:

1. Changes to the TSSs will require approval by the International Maritime Organization (IMO). Any changes to the TSSs will be accomplished through the rulemaking process.

2. The establishment of an offshore anchorage area will be accomplished through the rulemaking process.

3. Changes to aids to navigation resulting from the above actions will be accomplished through the following established procedures—notification of proposed changes in the Local Notice to Mariners with an opportunity for comment and notification of the final changes in the Local Notice to Mariners.

Conclusion

We appreciate the comments we received concerning the PARS. We will provide ample opportunity for additional comments on any recommended changes to existing routing or operational measures that require codification through notices of proposed rulemakings (NPRMs) published in the Federal Register.