[Federal Register: April 8, 2004 (Volume 69, Number 68)]
[Rules and Regulations]
[Page 18476-18478]
From the Federal Register Online via GPO Access [wais.access.gpo.gov]
[DOCID:fr08ap04-7]
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DEPARTMENT OF HOMELAND SECURITY
Coast Guard
33 CFR Part 167
[USCG-2001-11201]
Port Access Routes Study; Along the Sea Coast and in the
Approaches to the Cape Fear River and Beaufort Inlet, NC
AGENCY: Coast Guard, DHS.
ACTION: Notice of study results.
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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 along the sea coast and in the
approaches to the Cape Fear River and Beaufort Inlet, North Carolina.
The study was completed in February 2004. This notice summarizes the
study recommendations, which include the creation of a traffic
separation scheme and an offshore anchorage area in the approach to the
Cape Fear River and an offshore anchorage area in the vicinity of
Beaufort Inlet, North Carolina.
ADDRESSES: Comments and material received from the public, as well as
the actual study and other documents mentioned in this notice, are part
of docket USCG-2001-11201 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
notice, 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:
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.
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 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 width in which one-way
traffic is established. Natural obstacles,
[[Page 18477]]
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 January 18, 2002, (67 FR 2616). This notice had a comment submission
deadline of March 19, 2002. On April 16, 2002, we reopened the comment
period in a notice published in the Federal Register (67 FR 18527). The
submission deadline for this comment period was May 19, 2002.
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.):
------------------------------------------------------------------------
Latitude Longitude
------------------------------------------------------------------------
34[deg]40' N.............................. 77[deg]00' W
34[deg]40' N.............................. 76[deg]15' W
34[deg]10' N.............................. 76[deg]15' W
33[deg]15' N.............................. 77[deg]30' W
33[deg]00' N.............................. 78[deg]20' W
33[deg]50' N.............................. 78[deg]20' W
33[deg]50' N.............................. 77[deg]55' W
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The study area encompasses the approaches to the Cape Fear River
and Beaufort Inlet, as well as the area offshore of North Carolina used
by commercial, private, recreation, fishing, and public vessels
transiting to and from these ports.
Why Did the Coast Guard Conduct This PARS?
The approaches to the Cape Fear River and Beaufort Inlet, NC were
last studied in 1981, and the final results were published in the
Federal Register on July 22, 1982 (47 FR 31766). The study concluded
that ``there is no need to impose new ship routing measures such as
TSS's or shipping safety fairways where fixed structures would be
prohibited, in any'' area off the North Carolina coast.
Vessel size, traffic density and channel depth and width have
changed since the 1981 study. Major channel depth, width and alignment
changes are currently underway in the Cape Fear River and port of
Wilmington, NC. A PARS was initiated in 1996 (61 FR 35703; July 8,
1996), but was not completed due to personnel and funding issues. The
U.S. Army Corps of Engineers' (ACoE) report, ``Waterborne Commerce of
the United States'' reports that, from 1981 to 1999, annual trips to
and from the Port of Wilmington, NC, increased from 10,060 to 24,190 or
140% and the number of trips to and from Morehead City, NC, decreased
from 7,842 to 3,388 or 57%.
Since 1981 the North Carolina State Ports Authority (NCSPA) has
initiated a capital improvement program to reinvest in its ports. The
entire Cape Fear River Channel has been deepened to 42 feet with
portions of the channel to be widened for a passing lane in 2005. The
approaches over Bald Head Shoals have been realigned to take advantage
of the original riverbed with depths of 44 feet. The new alignment at
the approaches was opened to marine traffic in December 2003. In
addition to the ACoE's newly deepened channel, the U.S. Coast Guard has
made improvements to 8 aids to navigation ranges, and is planning to
improve an additional 13 ranges to enhance the safety of marine
navigation on the river. The ACoE expects the deepening project to
produce estimated annual benefits of $34 million per year compared to
the estimated annual cost of $26 million. Additionally, NCSPA estimates
the deepened channel will allow container ships to carry up to an
additional $12 million of cargo to and from the port of Wilmington. The
NCSPA is expecting shipping companies not now calling at Wilmington to
consider making Wilmington a regular call due to the deepened channel.
The Port of Wilmington opened a new facility to handle the export
and import of grain and other bulk commodities in May 2003. The port of
Wilmington has four container cranes with capacity up to 50 long-tons,
four gantry cranes with capacity up to 225 tons, one 140 ton mobile
crane, 59 lift trucks with 3,000 to 52,000 pound capacities, nine top-
lift container handlers and two 30-ton mobile cranes.
The Port of Morehead City has recently been receiving cargoes of
domestic scrap metals via ocean barges or vessels for transshipment via
river barge to mills via the Intracoastal Waterway and is planning
improvements to the Radio Island property. This port has one 40 long-
ton container crane, two 115-ton capacity gantry cranes, and 36 lift
trucks with 4,000 to 70,000 pound capacities. Both ports have truck and
rail connections.
The safety and security of the United States is a top priority for
our nation. As the awareness of threats to this country increases, the
plans for preparedness and prevention of emergency situations have
evolved to address threats against America's shorelines. Since every
scenario cannot be perfectly planned for, it is important to provide
flexibility for alternatives. As an example, if an inbound vessel is
denied permission to enter the Cape Fear River or Beaufort Inlet, that
vessel needs a designated place to anchor or maintain station so as not
to introduce an increased navigational threat to other vessels
transiting the approaches. In a designated area, the position and
status of a vessel may be monitored and easily accessed by security or
inspection personnel.
Within the study area, there exist grounds that could support
anchoring any of the largest vessels that call upon the Port of
Wilmington now or in the future. No designated anchorages exist off
Beaufort Inlet that can be used by naval and commercial vessels. An
existing anchorage ground adjacent to the Cape Fear River became
obsolete since available water depths are less than the drafts of
current and expected larger ships of the future. An offshore anchorage
area off the Cape Fear River approaches should be established for
munitions ships to await favorable conditions to berth at the U.S.
Army's Military Ocean Terminal Sunny Point. Designating an anchorage
area off Beaufort Inlet also provides a temporary place for vessels
carrying munitions or other hazardous cargoes to be directed. Both
anchorages will provide a temporary place for vessels to be directed
while the appropriate authorities determine their situation under the
authority of the Magnuson Act.
How Did the Coast Guard Conduct This PARS?
First, we announced the start of the study through a Notice of
Study published in the Federal Register on January 18, 2002, (67 FR
2616). 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. This PARS recommendations are based mainly on
[[Page 18478]]
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. Establish a Precautionary Area near the approaches to the Cape
Fear River. A pilot transfer area will be located inside the
precautionary area.
2. Establish a Traffic Separation Scheme (TSS) near the approaches
to the Cape Fear River.
3. Establish offshore anchorage areas near the approaches to the
Cape Fear River and Beaufort Inlet, NC.
Next Steps
A brief synopsis of how the PARS recommendations will proceed
towards implementation follows:
1. Establishing a TSS will require approval by the International
Maritime Organization (IMO). The addition of the TSS to the Code of
Federal Regulations (CFR) will be accomplished through the rulemaking
process.
2. The establishment of offshore anchorage areas 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.
Dated: March 31, 2004.
Howard L. Hime,
Acting Director of Standards, Marine Safety, Security & Environmental
Protection.
[FR Doc. 04-7956 Filed 4-7-04; 8:45 am]
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