Navigation hazard

[Auzzee]

Looking out to sea from Hillsborough inlet near Fort Lauderdale, I have seen today two large vessels under tow. One appeared to be a derelict freighter, one an LNG tanker. Both were out to sea and travelling behind ocean going tugs in a southeasterly direction.

There is nothing on the USCG website and nowhere can I find any notices of hazard to mariners. I suspect a new reef may be about to be made. Has anyone got any details?

Cheers.

[redbopeep]

Sounds like reefmaking indeed.

[piclarke]

Originally Posted by Auzzee

Looking out to sea from Hillsborough inlet near Fort Lauderdale, I have seen today two large vessels under tow. One appeared to be a derelict freighter, one an LNG tanker. Both were out to sea and travelling behind ocean going tugs in a southeasterly direction.

There is nothing on the USCG website and nowhere can I find any notices of hazard to mariners. I suspect a new reef may be about to be made. Has anyone got any details?

Cheers.

Ask the Fort Lauderdale Harbor master.

[Auzzee]

Very helpful..............

[redbopeep]

I bet you never did figure it out, did ya? We've seen a lot of odd things with no notice to mariners nor anything on the VHF radio from the local USCG. This fall, we waited for 40 minutes while an irrigation pipe was pulled across and blocking the entire Sacramento river with nary a mention of it happening on the radio. When we called the USCG Rio Vista (only about 5 miles from the spot where the river was completely blocked off) they had NO idea. None of the work boats had their radios on (seriously) and we were drifting about while talking to the USCG as well as a nearby dredging crew to try and figure out what was going on. Finally as we were about to launch the dingy to go interrogate the workboats, they finished their pull of the pipe and we were able to go through. In that case, it was likely some farmer who was supposed to get a permit and didn't do so.

[Auzzee]

In this incidence, the boats were large and well out to sea; and outside the influence of the local harbour authority. It did provide some interesting speculation from the locals and caused me to spend a very pleasant hour with coffee, cake and a pair of binoculars.