LEWIS OFFSHORE LTD.

Near Bahamas Update
Update for Near Bahamas - 4th edition, revised 2nd printing, Dec 2007

NOTICE TO EXPLORERS April 2008 (Older editions are obsolete and should be replaced with the 4th edition.)
Print out these sheets and insert them in your existing chartbooks for future reference. Buy the latest revision: Exumas and Ragged Islands, 5th edition January 2007; Far Bahamas, 4th edition December 2007; Near Bahamas, 4th edition, revised second printing, December 2007.

  • p. 3 Customs Article -- Change area code for U.S. Customs at Port Canaveral to 321.
    Posted 4/1/08
  • p. 19 CHART AB 1 -- Tide at Great Sale Cay averages 2 hours later than Nassau tide.
    Posted 4/1/08
  • p. 34 – CHART AB 15 – Don’t Rock Passage shoaling to 1 meter near 26° 41.6’ N/77° 15.4’ W and less than 1.5 meter near 26° 42.2’ N/77° 16’W.  Breakers often occur in these areas when ocean swells are present.  Shallow routes shown near Whale Cay are usually safer.
    Posted 4/1/08
  • p. 36 – CHART AB 16 – Two poles with FL2s lights shown near
    26° 39.6’ N/77° 16.2’ W are missing.
    Treasure Cay basin:  anchoring fee not being charged. Free wifi from Treasure Cay Marina.
    Posted 4/1/08
  • p. 39 – CHART AB 19 – Eight new lighted buoys have replaced the pole markers in the channel to the Port of Marsh Harbour.
    Posted 4/1/08
  • p. 43 Hopetown -- HT Fire & Rescue monitors VHF 16 & 80.
    Hope Town Coffee Company opened with free wifi hotspot next to Fantasy Boutique.
    Posted 4/1/08
  • p. 44 – CHART AB 22 – A new submarine cable has been laid between Lubbers Quarter and Elbow Cay near 26° 30.2’N.  Look for cable before anchoring.
    Posted 4/1/08
  • p. 47-48 – CHARTS GB 1, GB 2 and GB 2A – Lights at the entrance to Old Bahama Bay Marina at West End Point are fixed, not flashing.
    Posted 4/1/08
  • NOTE:  Excellent Hub of Abaco weather report at 1930 on VHF 07 from Don at Man o War Cay on Weather or Not.
    Posted 4/1/08
  • p. 56 – CHART BER 1 – Partially submerged wreck reported near 26 °44.56’N/77 °56.33’W.
    Posted 4/1/08

  • p. 57 – CHART BER 3 – Partially submerged wreck of twin-engine plane reported near 25° 45.75’ N/77° 52.7’ W.  Another partially submerged wreck reported near 25° 45.5’ N/77° 52.5’ W.
    Posted 4/1/08
  • p. 62 CHART BER 8 -- New channel marker installed at entrance to Chub Cay Marina.  Two poles with Fl G “1” and Fl R “2” have been placed near 25° 24.44’ N/77° 54.75’ W.  A red buoy marks the east edge of the channel in between these two positions.  The range shown at the marina entrance has been removed.
    Posted 4/1/08

    NOTE:  A $100 landing fee has been requested for visits ashore for vessels not paying dockage at the Chub Cay Marina.  This applies also to making a temporary stop to clear Customs.  Dockage is currently $2.80/ft/day but will increase to $3.50/ft/day when marina construction is completed.

CAUTION: The position of all noted features is approximate. The publisher assumes no liability for the accuracy of any information, positions, courses or distances and advises that any use for navigating purposes is done at the mariner's risk.

NOTICE TO EXPLORERS March 2007 (Older editions are obsolete and should be replaced with the 4th edition.)
Print out these sheets and insert them in your existing chartbooks for future reference. The following revisions apply to the Near Bahamas Chartbook 4th Edtion printed January 2006 and have been included in the revised 2nd edition printed November 2007.

  • Inside Front Cover -- Alligator Bay Marina not completed.  Entrance only 0.9 meters inside. No markers.
  • p. 11 CHART 3 and p. 19 CHART AB 1 -- Course between Little Sale Cay and Sale Cay Rocks should read 5.47 nm.

  • p. 16 CHART 6 -- pole with light near 25° 30'N/78° 13.95'W is missing as of 3/06.
  • p. 48 CHART GB 2 -- pole east of Indian Rock waypoint missing 3/06.
  • NOTE:  Excellent Hub of Abaco weather report at 1930 on VHF 07 from Don at Man o War Cay on Weather or Not.
  • p. 51 CHART GB 6 and Need-to-Know Info -- Lucayan Marina Village has changed its name to Grand Bahama Yacht Club.
  • p. 54 CHART BIM 3 -- The channel leading into Bimini Harbour was dredged in 2006 and marked by plastic buoys.  The approach is straightforward and the controlling depth is over 3 meters.  A new waypoint west of the channel entrance at 25° 42.60' N, 79° 18.48' W is recommended.  From this position the new channel begins approximately 0.1 nm on a course of 070°T.  At the time of our recent survey 2 green and 2 red plastic buoys (numbered "3", "4", "5", and "6") were marking the channel dredged through Henry Bank.  A daymarker (Red "8") is located on the east side of the channel east of Entrance Point.  The lead green buoy had been damaged by an apparent collision from a vessel and was half submerged.  With typical daylight conditions the channel can easily be seen through the normally clear water.  The sand bars on both sides of the channel are known as Henry Bank and is composed of fluid, live sand and has been shifting continuously in recent years.  Mariners should be alert for moved or missing buoys and the possibility of future shifting or shoaling of the dredged channel.  Use of the old approach on the range (2 orange and white poles) is no longer recommended. 

    Click Here to view and print Chart BIM 3, updated April 17, 2007

 

  • p. 73 CHART NP 2 -- Unmarked shoal near 25° 04.55' N/77° 17.35' W. New construction, bulkhead and jetty on south shore on east end of Paradise Island. (posted 3/5/07)

  • TIDE TABLES -- Tide tables for 2007 will need to be adjusted for new daylight savings time beginning March 11 and ending November 4, 2007.

CAUTION: The position of all noted features is approximate. The publisher assumes no liability for the accuracy of any information, positions, courses or distances and advises that any use for navigating purposes is done at the mariner's risk.