Near Bahamas Update

NOTICE TO EXPLORERS March 2007 (Older editions are obsolete and should be replaced with the 4th edition.)

• 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. 43 Hopetown -- HT Fire & Rescue monitors VHF 16 & 80

• p. 48 CHART GB 2 -- pole east of Indian Rock waypoint missing 3/06.

• 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. 62 CHART BER 8 -- Chub Cay Marina has been open since June 2006.

• 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.