The Army Corps has informed the Pilots that maintenance dredging in the Arthur Kill has been only partially completed and that the previously shoaled areas in and adjacent to Port Socony and Port Reading Reaches have not yet been returned to full project depth.
Based upon dredging completed thus far Sandy Hook Pilots are able to modify the restrictions on draft previously announced in September 2013.
Advice to mariners
For vessels due to transit the waters from south of Motiva and/or Woodbridge Creek in the Arthur Kill to north of Tufts Point, or vice versa, the maximum draft will be 32' at low water and 36'6" at high water.
Pilots advise that the Sandy Hook Channel Start-in and Sailing Guidelines should be used by reducing available draft by one(1') foot if transiting through that area. Controlling depth for this area is essentially 34' MLW as per recent surveys (February 2014).
Maintenance dredging is due to resume in July 2014 once environmental windows expire.
Source: Notice from Sandy Hook Pilots/GAC