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316 ¢ U.S. Coast Pilot 5, Chapter 7 Chapter 5, Pilot Coast U.S. Chart Coverage in Coast Pilot 5—Chapter 7 89°30'W 89°W 88°30'W 88°W 87°30'W NOAA’s Online Interactive Chart Catalog has complete chart coverage Mobile http://www.charts.noaa.gov/InteractiveCatalog/nrnc.shtml ALABAMA 90°30'W 90°W MISSISSIPPI P E A 11380 R 30°30'N L OUISIANA L R I Biloxi V 11372 E Gulfport R 11369 Pascagoula ST. LOUIS BAY MOBILE BAY LAKE MAUREPAS MISSISSIPPI SOUND 11375 11374 LAKE PONCHARTRAIN 11377 11376 New Orleans 11363 30°N 11371 Chandeleur Islands CHANDELEUR SOUND M I S S I 11353 S S I P P I 29°30'N R I V E R BARATARIA BAY BRETON SOUND 11364 GULF OF MEXICO PASS A LOUTRE 29°N SOUTH PASS SOUTHWEST PASS 11361 19 SEP2021 19 SEP 2021 U.S. Coast Pilot 5, Chapter 7 ¢ 317 Mobile Bay to Mississippi River (1) This chapter describes the coasts of Alabama, normal and 15 inches of rain. Of all the storms that Mississippi and Louisiana bordering the Gulf of have affected this coast, about 45 percent occurred in Mexico from Mobile Bay to the Mississippi River and September; about one-half of these were hurricanes. the numerous bodies of water emptying into the Gulf, Most tropical cyclones approach from southeast through including Breton Bay, Mobile Bay, Mississippi Sound, southwest. The two most devastating storms to hit this Lake Borgne, Lake Pontchartrain, Chandeleur Sound, coast in recent years were hurricanes Katrina, in August Breton Sound and their tributaries. Also discussed are 2005, and Ivan, in September 2004. Mobile, Pascagoula, Biloxi, and Gulfport and other (9) smaller ports and landings. ENCs - US5AL1AM, US4AL11M, US5AL11M, US- (2) The Intracoastal Waterway for this section of the 4AL12M, US5AL12M coast is described in chapter 12. Charts - 11376, 11378 (3) COLREGS Demarcation Lines (10) Mobile Bay, 40 miles west of Pensacola and 90 (4) The lines established for this part of the coast are miles northeast of South Pass, Mississippi River, is the described in 33 CFR 80.815, chapter 2. approach to the city of Mobile and to the Alabama and (5) Tombigbee Rivers. The bay has depths of 7 to 12 feet Weather outside the dredged channels. The entrance is 3 miles (6) The warm, temperate climate of the coast from wide between Mobile Point on the east and Pelican Point Mobile Bay to the Mississippi River is influenced by the on the west, but most vessels will prefer to follow the Gulf of Mexico, which is partly responsible for the warm, dredged channel rather than chance passage between the humid summers and the relatively mild winters. During breakers and shoals that extend 4 miles south on both spring and summer, the Bermuda High generates moist sides. southeast to south winds that keep the temperatures cooler (11) than those farther inland and also aids in thunderstorm Shipping Safety Fairways development. Cold continental air pushes far enough (12) Vessels should approach Mobile Bay through south in winter to occasionally drop temperatures below the prescribed Safety Fairways. (See 33 CFR 166.100 freezing and even produce some snow. Cold spells usually through 166.200, chapter 2.) last about 3 days. (13) (7) About 15 to 20 significant frontal systems penetrate Prominent features the Gulf of Mexico each year, bringing cool air and strong (14) The general appearance of the land is a guide to north winds. The collision of this air with the warm air to finding the entrance to Mobile Bay. For a distance of 40 south sometimes generates strong low-pressure systems. miles east of the entrance, the shore, although low, is This pattern continues until the Bermuda High begins populated with high-rise condominiums. For 50 miles to exert its influence in spring. At sea, gales blow about west of the entrance there is a chain of islands which, 1 percent of the time from November through March, although wooded in places, is generally low and bare. while waves of 8 feet or higher are encountered 4 to 6 (15) The most conspicuous landmark near the entrance is percent of the time. Fog is also a problem in winter and the 131-foot black conical tower (30°11.3'N., 88°03.0'W.), spring, particularly when warm air invades the region which was the base for the former Sand Island Light. and moves over relatively cooler water. Near shore, (16) Fort Morgan, an historic state shrine, is on Mobile visibilities drop below 2 miles from 2 to 7 percent of the Point on the east side of the entrance. The walls of time from December through April; January and March this old brick pentagon-shaped fort are conspicuous are the worst months. when approaching the entrance. Mobile Point Light (8) While tropical cyclones can affect this coast at (30°13'41"N., 88°01'27"W.), 125 feet above the water, any time, late May to early November is considered the is shown from a skeleton tower on Mobile Point. A hurricane season. A tropical cyclone (tropical storm or lighted range light (rear) is shown below and on the same hurricane) moves across this stretch of coast every other structure as Mobile Point Light. year, on the average, while the hurricane frequency is (17) The concrete gun emplacements of later fortifications about once in 5 years. Intense hurricanes can generate east of the old fort are also conspicuous. 175-knot winds, 40-foot seas, tides 10 to 25 feet above 318 ¢ U.S. Coast Pilot 5, Chapter 7 19 SEP 2021 (18) Fort Gaines, an historic landmark and museum on (See 33 CFR 166.100 through 166.200, chapter 2.) The the east end of Dauphin Island, is on the west side of the best anchorages in the lower bay for deep-draft vessels entrance. A spherical elevated tank is 2 miles west of the are found north and northwest of Mobile Point in depths fort. ranging from 20 to 45 feet with excellent holding ground. (19) This anchorage is secure, but during a norther a short COLREGS Demarcation Lines heavy choppy sea is raised that may be uncomfortable (20) The lines established for Mobile Bay are described for small vessels. A circular explosives anchorage in 33 CFR 80.815, chapter 2. is just north of Mobile Point. (See 33 CFR 110.1 and 110.194, chapter 2, for limits and regulations.) A general (21) anchorage for unmanned and other nondescript vessels Channels is near Cedar Point. (See 33 CFR 110.1 and 110.194a, (22) Main Ship Channel leads from the Gulf and across chapter 2, for limits and regulations.) the bar, just west of Mobile Point—federal project depth (30) Vessels are not permitted to anchor in the Bar is 47 feet. (See Notice to Mariners and latest editions of Channel, Mobile Bay Channel or Mobile River Channel. charts for controlling depths.) The channel is marked by (31) In emergencies, light-draft vessels can anchor in lighted buoys and a 020.7° lighted range on Mobile Point. Mobile River above Cochrane (U.S. Route 90) highway The rear range light is on the same structure and below bridge with permission of the harbormaster. Mobile Point Light. The wreck of the MAGNOLIA is on (32) Small boats sometimes anchor north and east of the east side of the channel, 0.7 mile southwest of Mobile Fort Morgan in Navy Cove. Several piles and other Point. obstructions are in this locality. (23) From west, boats drawing up to 6 feet can enter Mobile Bay via Pelican Bay. Local knowledge is (33) necessary, owing to the shifting character of the bottom. Dangers The best water can be found by passing to the south of (34) The wreck of the Civil War vessel TECUMSEH Dauphin Island Spit before shaping a course north into is north of Mobile Point Light in 30°13'47.5"N., Mobile Bay. 88°01'37.5"W. The wreck is marked by a buoy. The vessel (24) Mobile Bay Channel extends from the lower is reported to be in an unstable condition, and ammunition anchorage off Fort Morgan through Mobile Bay to and powder aboard the wreck could be detonated if the Mobile river. The federal project depth is 45 feet to and vessel shifts. Mariners are cautioned not to anchor in in a turning basin off Magazine Point at the head of the area of the buoy and to reduce speed producing as Mobile Ship Channel. Although the channel is subject little wake as possible when transiting Mobile Channel to shoaling, the project depth is generally maintained. between Buoys 15 and 17. For detailed channel information and minimum depths as reported by the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers (USACE), (35) A nearly continuous spoil bank extends along either use NOAA Electronic Navigational Charts. Surveys and side of the bay channel from just inside Mobile Bay channel condition reports are available through a USACE entrance to the mouth of Mobile River. Through these hydrographic survey website listed in Appendix A.The spoil banks are several charted openings for passage to channel is well marked with lighted ranges, lights and various points in Mobile Bay. lighted and unlighted buoys. (36) (25) Fish havens Caution (37) Fish havens, consisting of concrete pipe, lie within a (26) The Coast Guard advises vessels exercise particular 3.5-mile-square area that extends offshore from 2.7 miles caution where the channel intersects the Intracoastal to 6.2 miles east of Mobile Point.