WILMINGTON, N.C. — Coast Guard Sector North Carolina is scheduled to temporarily discontinue numerous navigation aids Thursday in the vicinity of Hatteras Inlet due to shoaling.

Recent hydrographic surveys indicate shoaling in Hatteras Inlet between Buoy 9 and Buoy 13.  The current navigational aids in this section of the waterway do not accurately mark navigable water due to limited channel depth and reduced channel width.  

Mariners are advised to use the preferred alternate routes known as Barney Slough and South Ferry Channel to enter or depart the ocean inlet.

Due to the potential for increased shoaling and changes in channel depths and widths in the Hatteras Inlet Channel, use of regional and local navigation information is highly encouraged.

The following navigation aids, found on Hatteras Inlet Channel chart 11555, will be temporarily discontinued:

28669 – Buoy 9
28730.1 – Channel Lighted Buoy 11A
28670 – Buoy 9A
28730.15 Channel Buoy 11AA
28724 – Lighted Buoy 9B
28730.2 – Channel Lighted Buoy 11B
28726 – Lighted Buoy 10
28733 – Channel Lighted Buoy 12AA
28726.1 – Buoy 10A
28733.1 – Channel Lighted Buoy 12B
28726.2 – Lighted Buoy 10B
28733.2 – Channel Lighted Buoy 12C
28729 – Lighted Buoy 11
28735.2 – Channel Lighted Buoy 13

The Coast Guard will continue to monitor the conditions of the waterway and update mariners as necessary.  For any questions or concerns, please contact the Sector North Carolina Command Center at 910-343-3880.

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