310 ¢ U.S. Coast Pilot 2, Chapter 9 Chapter 2, Pilot Coast U.S. 74°W 73°30'W 12363 12369 Bridgeport H Y ORK U W NE D 12368 CONNECTICUT S O Norwalk N R LONG ISLAND SOUND NE Stamford W I NE Y W J E R S EORK V E 12367 Greenwich Y R 41°N Old Field Point 4 HUNTINGTON BAY 1236 OYSTER BAY SMITHTOWN BAY MAMARONECK HARBOR New Rochelle 12364 12342 12365 Port Washington HEMPSTEAD HARBOR EAST RIVER 12366 12339 L ONG ISLAND Manhattan 12335 12338 12363 New York City Chart Coverage in Coast Pilot 2—Chapter 9 19 SEP2021 Brooklyn NOAA’s Online Interactive Chart Catalog has complete chart coverage http://www.charts.noaa.gov/InteractiveCatalog/nrnc.shtml 19 SEP 2021 U.S. Coast Pilot 2, Chapter 9 ¢ 311 Western Long Island Sound (1) This chapter describes the western part of Long Island small craft that, especially at night, should proceed with Sound along the north shore from Bridgeport to Throgs caution when crossing oyster areas. Neck, the south shore from Old Field Point to Willets (10) Point and the East and Harlem Rivers. Also described Anchorages are the many bays and their tributaries that make into this (11) There is anchorage for large vessels in the bight part of the sound including Bridgeport Harbor, Stamford between the entrance channels of Bridgeport Harbor Harbor, Captain Harbor, Mamaroneck Harbor, Norwalk and Black Rock Harbor. Cockenoe Harbor is sometimes Harbor, Eastchester Bay, Huntington Bay, Oyster Bay, used by small vessels, but Sheffield Island Harbor is Hempstead Harbor, Manhasset Bay, Flushing Bay and preferred and is sometimes used by tows. Westward of New Rochelle Harbor and the commercial and small-craft Norwalk Islands, seagoing vessels can anchor toward facilities found in these waters. the north shore and, with good ground tackle, hold on in (2) northerly winds. Captain Harbor affords good shelter but COLREGS Demarcation Lines is rarely used except by local vessels. On the south shore, (3) The lines established for Long Island Sound are Huntington Bay and Hempstead Harbor are available for described in 33 CFR 80.155, chapter 2. large vessels; Oyster Bay is also used, and Manhasset Bay (4) is available for light-draft vessels. City Island Harbor is a No-Discharge Zone fine resort for coasters. (12) (5) The States of New York and Connecticut, with the Several general anchorages are in Long Island approval of the Environmental Protection Agency, have Sound. (See 33 CFR 110.1 and 110.146, chapter 2, for established a No-Discharge Zone (NDZ) covering all limits and regulations.) coastal waters described in this chapter east of the Hell (13) Gate Bridge. Tides (6) Within the NDZ, discharge of sewage, whether (14) The time of tide is nearly simultaneous throughout treated or untreated, from all vessels is prohibited. Long Island Sound, but the range of tide increases from Outside the NDZs, discharge of sewage is regulated by about 2.5 feet at the east end to about 7.3 feet at the west 40 CFR 140 (see chapter 2). end. Daily predictions of the times and heights of high and low waters are available at the tide prediction service at (7) tidesandcurrents.noaa.gov. Links to a user guide for this ENC - US4NY13M service can be found in chapter 1 of this book. Chart - 12363 (15) The effect of strong winds, in combination with the regular tidal action, may at times cause the water to fall (8) Western Long Island Sound is that portion of several feet below the plane of reference of the charts. the deep navigable waterway between the shores of Connecticut and New York and the northern coast of Long (16) Island westward of the line between Bridgeport and Old Current Field Point. (17) About 1.3 miles northward of Eatons Neck Light the ebb runs about 5 hours longer than the flood. The current (9) This region has boulders and broken ground, with little or no natural change in the shoals. The waters are has a velocity of 1.4 knots; the flood sets 283° and the well marked by navigational aids so that strangers should ebb sets 075°. experience no difficulty in navigating them. As all broken (18) The direction and velocity of the currents are affected ground is liable to be strewn with boulders, vessels should by strong winds that may increase or diminish the periods proceed with caution when in the vicinity of broken areas of flood or ebb. Currents in East River are described in where the charted depths are within 8 feet of the draft. the latter part of this chapter. All of the more frequented places are entered through (19) dredged channels. During fog, vessels are advised to Weather, Western Long Island Sound and vicinity anchor until the weather clears before attempting to (20) These waters are more protected than the eastern enter. The numerous oyster grounds in this region are Sound resulting in fewer gales. However, winters are usually marked by stakes and flags. These stakes may colder and summers warmer due to this sheltering become broken off and form obstructions dangerous to effect. Fog is not so frequent either and tends to burn 312 ¢ U.S. Coast Pilot 2, Chapter 9 19 SEP 2021 off quicker than farther east. Winter winds of 16 knots (32) or more are likely about 12 to 15 percent of the time Pilotage, Western Long Island Sound and are predominantly from the west through northwest. (33) Pilotage by a state-licensed pilot is compulsory Harbors such as Cold Spring, Oyster Bay, Hempstead in Long Island Sound for foreign flag vessels and U.S. and Manhasset offer additional shelter. In summer vessels that are under register (i.e., engaged in foreign thunderstorms may develop on 4 to 5 days per month. trade), Enrolled vessels (i.e., U.S. vessels engaged in These are most likely during the afternoon or evening. coastwise trade) may be required to have a U.S. Coast (21) In Long Island Sound the north and south shores are Guard federally licensed pilot unless the master has equally subject to fog, except that on spring and summer recency for the intended area. For vessels entering Long mornings, when there is little or no wind, fog will often Island Sound from the east (from sea via Block Island hang along the Connecticut shore while it is clear offshore Sound) see Pilotage, Long Island Sound (indexed as and southward. such), chapter 8. For vessels entering Long Island Sound (22) In the western end of Long Island Sound, although from the west (East River) see Pilotage, New York and fogs are liable to occur at any time, they are not Approaches to New York (indexed as such), chapter 11. encountered so often nor do they generally last so long (34) as farther eastward. ENCs - US5CN12M, US5CN10M (23) Charts - 12369, 12364 Ice (24) In ordinary winters the floating and pack ice in Long (35) Bridgeport Harbor, on the north side of Long Island Sound, while impeding navigation, does not render Island Sound north-northwestward of Stratford Shoal it absolutely unsafe. In exceptionally severe winters, (Middle Ground) Light and about 52 miles from New waterways may become impassable for some vessels. York, consists of two widely separated units. The main (25) Drift ice, which is formed principally along the harbor and its branches serve the east and central portions northern shore of the sound under the influence of the of the city of Bridgeport, and Black Rock Harbor and prevailing northerly winds, drifts across to the southern its tributaries serve the western part. Black Rock Harbor side and accumulates there, massing into large fields, and and Cedar Creek are described under separate headings. remains until removed by southerly winds that drive it Waterborne commerce at Bridgeport consists mostly of back to the northerly shore. petroleum products, lumber, sand and gravel, building (26) In ordinary winters ice generally forms in the western materials and scrap iron. end of the sound as far as Eatons Neck; in exceptionally severe winters ice may extend to Falkner Island and (36) farther eastward. Prominent features (37) The large red and white horizontally banded stack (27) of a powerplant on Tongue Point is the most prominent Effects of winds on ice landmark in this area. Other prominent landmarks include (28) In Long Island Sound northerly winds drive the ice to several church spires, the radio towers at Pleasure Beach the southern shore of the sound and southerly winds carry and Bridgeport Harbor Light 7. An aerolight about 1.3 it back to the northern shore. Northeasterly winds force miles northwestward of Stratford Point can be seen from the ice westward and cause formations heavy enough to offshore. prevent the passage of vessels of every description until the ice is removed by westerly winds. These winds carry the ice eastward and, if of long enough duration, drive it (38) Bridgeport Harbor Light 7 (41°09'24"N., through The Race into Block Island Sound, from where 73°10'47"W.), 50 feet above the water, is shown from a it goes to sea and disappears. black skeleton tower with small white house, on a black base, on the west side of the entrance channel near the (29) In Bridgeport Harbor winds from north to northwest clear the harbor of drift ice, and those from southeast end of the west breakwater. through south to southwest force the ice into the harbor (39) from the sound. The outer buoys may be carried out of Channels position by heavy ice during severe winters.