The Captain of the Port established a fourth channel, the Fort McHenry Limited Access Channel (LAC), with a controlling depth of a minimum of 35 feet, a 300-foot horizontal clearance, and a vertical clearance of 214 feet. Additional restrictions for transits are outlined in MSIB 043-24, including weather limitations which may impact the transit window. The primary purpose of this LAC is to allow the ships that have remained within the Port of Baltimore since the March 26 incident to leave.
The 35-foot-deep Fort McHenry Limited Access Channel closed on April 29 at 06:00 by the USCG as operations to remove the M/V DALI require suspension of transits. Once deemed safe, the channel will reopen for commercial traffic, estimated May 10th.
The three other temporary channels currently in use (the 20, 14, and 11-foot deep channels) will remain available and commercial vessels should plan to utilize those channels so as not to impede vessel traffic that must use the 35-foot deep channel.
Unified Command’s current timeline for the restoration for the Port of Baltimore is to reopen the permanent, 700-foot-wide, 50-foot-deep, and 214 feet air draft clearance federal navigation channel by the end of May.
PORT CONDITION:
The Captain of the Port (COTP) has established a temporary alternate channel near Sollers Point for commercially essential vessels on the northeast side of the main ship channel in the vicinity of the Francis Scott Key Bridge. This temporary channel has a controlling depth of 11 feet, a 264-foot horizontal clearance, and vertical clearance of 95 feet.
The Captain of the Port (COTP) has established a second temporary alternate channel near Hawkins Point for commercially essential vessels on the southwest side of the main ship channel in the vicinity of the Francis Scott Key Bridge. This temporary channel has a controlling depth of 14 feet, a 280-foot horizontal clearance, and vertical clearance of 124 feet.
The Captain of the Port (COTP) established a Two-Day Opportunity for Commercially Essential Vessels on Saturday, April 20th and Sunday, April 21st at the Fort Carroll Temporary Alternate Channel, located just southwest of the Sollers Point Temporary Alternate Channel. The temporary channel has a controlling depth of 20 feet, 300 horizontal clearance, and vertical clearance of 135 feet.
The Captain of the Port established a fourth channel, the Fort McHenry Limited Access Channel, with a controlling depth of a minimum of 35 feet, a 300-foot horizontal clearance, and a vertical clearance of 214 feet. Additional restrictions for transits are outlined in MSIB 043-24, including weather limitations which may impact the transit window.
These temporary channels are marked with government lighted aids to navigation and will be limited to transit at the discretion of the COTP and during daylight hours only.
To obtain permission to enter the safety zone and transit through the temporary alternate channel, you must, as early as possible but no less than 4 hours prior to getting underway, contact the Marine Transportation System Recovery Branch at (505) 203-8141. Movements are subject to response and recovery efforts.
Apr 30, 2024