Gulf of Alaska
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224 ¢ U.S. Coast Pilot 9, Chapter 5 26 SEP 2021 154°W 153°W 152°W Chart Coverage in Coast Pilot 9—Chapter 5 NOAA’s Online Interactive Chart Catalog has complete chart coverage http://www.charts.noaa.gov/InteractiveCatalog/nrnc.shtml KAMISHAK BAY 156°W 155°W Cape Elizabeth C OOK INLET 59°N 16580 Cape Douglas Barren Islands L A S U 16604 N I T Shuyak Island N I 16605 E A P R T S N 16576 F A O K D K N I A S L L S A E I 16594 Marmot Island K L H A S N A G O F A MARMOT BAY 58°N 16597 16595 16598 Kodiak 16599 16599 D 16596 AN SL I K 16599 IA Cape Igyak D O K Cape Ikolik UGAK BAY 16593 16591 Sitkalidak Islands 57°N 16592 16601 S ITINA K STR AIT 16590 Trinity Islands 56°N Chirikof Island GULF OF ALASKA 16580 26 SEP 2021 U.S. Coast Pilot 9, Chapter 5 ¢ 225 Kodiak Island (1) This chapter describes Afognak and Kodiak Islands (9) and the numerous smaller off-lying islands which Weather, Kodiak Island surround their shores. Also described are the various (10) On Afognak Island the prevailing winds are northeast passes and straits leading between these islands, the port except in spring and again in late summer when they shift of Kodiak and the numerous other fishing villages. to southwest and west directions. At Kodiak, the winds, (2) usually northwest in late fall, winter and spring, shift Caution to the northeast in early summer and then to southeast (3) Certain areas of the marine environment along the until the end of September. The average wind speed is northeast sides of Kodiak Island may contain munitions nine knots at Kodiak, and the area is subject to violent and explosives of concern (unexploded ordnance). These williwaws. areas are within the dashed black lines shown on the chart. (11) Annual precipitation averages 65 inches (1651 mm) Mariners are cautioned against anchoring, dredging or on Kodiak Island, and 53 inches (1346 mm) on Afognak trawling within these areas. Island. Annual snowfall averages 75 inches (1905 mm) at Kodiak, and measurable snow has been recorded in every (4) month of the year except July and August. ENCs - US3AK5KM, US4AK5KM (12) Mean annual temperature is 41 °F (5 °C) at Kodiak. Chart - 16580 Extreme temperatures noted were 86 °F (30 °C) in June (1953) and -16 °F (-26.7 °C) in January (1989). Water (5) Kodiak Island and Afognak Island, close together temperatures are about 1 °F (17.2 °C) lower than air and separated from the mainland southwest of Cook Inlet temperatures in summer, and 1 ° and 2 °F (17.2 ° and 16.7 by Shelikof Strait, are large and have numerous small °C) higher in late fall, winter and early spring. Womens islands along their shores. The group is about 54 by 155 Bay, on the northeast coast of Kodiak Island, is frequently miles in extent, with its greatest length in a southwest blocked by ice in midwinter. direction. The land is rugged and mountainous, with (13) Fogs are common over the area and are most frequent elevations of 2,000 to 3,000 feet along the shores and at Kodiak in June and July. Cloudiness is considerable. more than 4,500 feet in the interior. The rocky shores are (14) indented by deep, narrow inlets. ENC - US4AK5TM (6) Kodiak, on Kodiak Island, is the principal business center in the area. Afognak Island, mostly timbered, is Chart - 16604 a government forest reserve. Some cattle and sheep are raised, and a few mineral prospects have been located. (15) Shuyak Island appears as part of the north end of Salmon canneries operate during the fishing season. The Afognak Island but is separated from it by Shuyak Strait. crab, halibut and herring fisheries also are important; the The south portion is densely wooded, with the higher hills halibut fleet operates on Albatross and Portlock Banks. showing bare rocky outcrops. Proceeding north the trees The periods of good weather are longer on these islands gradually disappear and the north part is entirely grass than on the adjacent mainland, and considerable success covered. has been attained in growing vegetables. (16) Stevenson Entrance, the passage between the (7) Afognak Island is separated from Kodiak Island by Barren Islands and Shuyak Island (see chapter 4), is Marmot Bay, Kupreanof Strait and the passages on either navigable in clear weather. Kennedy Entrance, the side of Whale Island. These waters provide a direct route passage north of the Barren Islands, is generally used if from Kodiak Harbor to Shelikof Strait. Kodiak, on the bound for Shelikof Strait from the east. northeast coast of Kodiak Island, lies behind the islands (17) Latax Rocks, the northernmost feature of the in the northwest part of Chiniak Bay; one approach is Kodiak-Afognak-Shuyak group, are three rocky islets from the north, and the other is from the southeast through lying in line of the trend of the west coast of Shuyak Chiniak Bay. Island. They are 32, 27 and 20 feet high, respectively, (8) The earthquake of December 1999 may have caused the outer one being the lowest and the most ragged. A bottom uplift in and around all Kodiak Island coastal rock, which uncovers 7 feet, is about 0.5 mile north of the waters; shoaling and new dangers may exist requiring outermost rock, and a reef, which uncovers 6 feet, is about extreme caution until a complete survey is made of the 0.4 mile west of the outermost rock. Several detached entire area. shoals are in the vicinity of Latax Rocks. Ships using 226 ¢ U.S. Coast Pilot 9, Chapter 5 26 SEP 2021 Stevenson Entrance should pass north of Latax Rocks. (29) Temporary anchorage during south weather appears Latax Rocks Light (58°41'29"N., 152°29'01"W.), 40 feasible 1 mile west-southwest of the west end of feet above the water, is shown from a tower with a red Perevalnie Islands. and white diamond-shaped daymark on the north end of (30) Point Banks, an island about 0.4 mile long and 130 the northernmost rock. feet high, is entirely grass covered. The narrow passage (18) between it and the northeast end of Shuyak Island has Currents several rocks and is choked with kelp. (31) (19) In the vicinity of Latax Rocks it has been noted that Sentinel Island, a rock 33 feet high 0.9 mile the current flows in a west direction on a rising tide and northwest of Point Banks, is a good landmark from the east on a falling tide with velocities reaching about 3 to 4 east or west. Its sides are nearly vertical. knots. The current appears to be less in the deeper water (32) Fronting the east coast of Shuyak Island, 1.5 to 3.5 in the passage north of Latax Rocks. (See chapter 4.) miles offshore, are a series of reefs and rocks separated (20) Tide rips in the vicinity of Latax Rocks are by broken bottom areas and extending 7 miles in an particularly heavy and should be avoided by small approximately true south direction from a 2½-fathom vessels. (See caution as to tide rips in the locality of the reef, 1.4 miles southeast of Point Banks, to the vicinity Barren Islands, chapter 4.) of a bare rock 52 feet high. A similar series crosses the (21) Party Cape is the northwest end of Shuyak Island. former in the latitude of Sea Otter Island. It is 178 feet high and grass covered for 1 mile or more (33) back. Routes (22) Dark Island, between Party Cape and Latax Rocks, (34) Vessels using the passage along the east coast of is about 0.8 mile in diameter, 115 feet high, and grass Shuyak Island, inside the series of reefs and rocks, should covered. Several large black rocks are off the southwest proceed with caution. The bottom in this passage is end of Dark Island. Starr Rocks, which uncover 6 feet, extremely broken. The known dangers may be avoided by are between Dark Island and the east part of Party Cape. rounding the southeast end of Point Banks Island by 0.5 (23) Currents observed during one-half day in June on the mile until the east end of the island bears true north. Then southwest side of Dark Island set west on the flood with proceed 5.8 miles on course 175° until the prominent a velocity of 1.3 knots. The ebb velocity was 1 knot. group of rocks, highest 15 feet, are a little less than 0.8 (24) The passage between Latax Rocks and Dark Island mile to the west, then steer 205° into Perenosa Bay. Tidal has a 5¼-fathom shoal near the middle where the currents currents are very strong. and tide rips may appear heavier than elsewhere in the (35) The main approach from seaward to Andreon Bay, passage. The passage can be used by well-powered Shuyak Strait and Perenosa Bay is south of the rocks vessels by keeping 0.45 mile north of Dark Island on a southeast of Sea Otter Island and between the 52-foot due east or west course, with careful attention to the set bare rock and Seal Islands, but its use by large vessels from the strong currents. cannot be recommended. Indications of shoals along the (25) Dark Passage, between Starr Rocks and Party Cape, approach are numerous and there are evidently pinnacle may be navigated by keeping 0.4 mile off the cape and formations in this region.