Coast Guard advises mariners to transit with extreme caution around Merrimack River entrance jettys due to the scheduled maintenance and repairs

Construction platforms perform jetty repairs while anchored off the Merrimack River North Jetty in Salisbury, Mass., May, 21, 2015. The Merrimack River entrance north jetty is 3,100-feet-long and will be under repair for a year. (Coast Guard Photo by Steven Noyes)

June 2, 2015

 

The Merrimack River North Jetty in Salisbury, Mass., and the South Jetty in Newburyport, Mass. are undergoing scheduled maintenance and repair through April 2016.

For the safety of construction workers and mariners, an advisory to use extreme caution, reduce wake, and transit at the slowest safe speed has been issued, especially at times of reduced visibility.

The Number Four fixed Aid to Navigation Tower and Light at the seaward end of the jetty, and the Rough Bar Guide Light on the inland end of the jetty will be temporary removed during North Jetty repairs. The duration of the temporary removal will be published in the Local Notice to Mariners and during scheduled “Notice to Mariners” broadcasts on VHF-16.

During the year-long construction project, multiple barges and support vessels will be anchored/spud down, or transiting in and around the navigational channel from buoy Number Seven to the entrance of the Merrimack River. These barges may partially obstruct the navigational channels causing the width of the channel to decrease.

U.S. Army Corps of Engineers, Harbor Masters, and the Coast Guard will have regular meetings to monitor the navigational situation in the channel.

For emergencies, contact Coast Guard Station Merrimack River via VHF-16 or 978-465-0731.  For nonemergency questions or concerns regarding navigation issues associated with this jetty repair project contact Mark Cutter at Coast Guard Sector Boston, 617-447-1620, or email: mark.e.cutter@uscg.mil