CHESAPEAKE, Va. - The Coast Guard Captain of the Port of Hampton Roads advises all local mariners and vessel operators that scheduled repairs to the Gilmerton Lift Bridge fendering system will result in restricted operation October 2 through 12.

The repairs will replace the temporary fenders that have been in place since the tug Steve McAllister allided with the bridge Aug. 13, damaging the west-side fendering system.

The repairs will replace the temporary fendering system which has been in place since the allision.

During the restricted operating times, the drawbridge will open once every two hours, on the hour, which will allow recreational and passenger vessels to pass.

The drawbridge will be opened upon request at any time by piloted commercial vessels, but will require a two-hour advance notification to the drawbridge operator, who can be reached at (757) 545-1512.

Restricted operations are scheduled to occur:

8 p.m. Oct. 2 through 5 a.m. Oct. 5
Oct. 5 through Oct. 8 from 8 p.m. to 5 a.m.  each night.
Oct. 9, 2009 from 8 p.m. through 5 a.m. Oct. 12.
"The replacement is imperative to the support structure of the bridge," said Lt. Tiffany Duffy, chief of waterways management at Sector Hampton Roads. "Should a vessel allide with the supports, they could cause significant damage to the stability of the bridge."

LYNNHAVEN INLET, Va. - A Good Samaritan and the crew of a Coast Guard cutter rescued six people from a sinking boat one and a half miles northeast of Lynnhaven Inlet at 12:15 p.m. Sunday.

The crew of the Canyon Express relayed the 28-foot Carolina Classic boat, Fishbones, initial distress to the Coast Guard at about 8:30 a.m. as they were taking on water about 30 miles east of Elizabeth City, N.C. They were only able to control flooding by accelerating up on plane.  The crew of the fishing boat Going Deep escorted them to Lynnhaven Inlet where they slowed down and sank.  The crew of Going Deep and the Coast Guard Cutter Sea Horse, an 87-foot patrol boat, each rescued three people from the water.

A Station Little Creek 45-foot response boat crew transferred all six people to shore where they were checked and cleared by EMS.

"We heard about them on the radio this morning and had been following the case all day," said Master Chief Petty Officer William James, captain of the Sea Horse. "When we heard they were going to Lynnhaven Inlet, we decided to patrol in that area in case anything went bad - and it did. Just after they passed us we heard their distress call and we turned around and picked them up."

YORKTOWN, Va. - The Coast Guard rescue helicopter crew medically evacuated a boat captain in the Chesapeake Bay near York Spit Channel Tuesday night.

At aproximately 6 p.m., the crew of a 32-foot sailing vessel called Coast Guard watchstanders at Sector Hampton Roads stating that the 64-year-old captain was suffering from numbness in the left side of his body and slurred speech. After consulting the Coast Guard flight surgeon, it was determined that the man needed immediate medical care.

A rescue helicopter crew from Air Station Elizabeth City, N.C., as well as a rescue boat crew from Station Cape Charles, the Coast Guard Cutter Seahorse from Porstsmouth, Va., a Coast Guard Auxiliary rescue boat crew, and a Navy helicopter crew were launched to assist the distressed boaters.

The Air Station Elizabeth City rescue helicopter crew hoisted the captain, and transported him to Riverside Hospital in Newport News.

The Coast Guard Auxiliary crew towed the sailing vessel to Dare County due to the passenger having limited sailing experience.

ATLANTIC CITY, N.J. - The Coast Guard is urging divers, both experienced and inexperienced, to use caution while diving.

The Coast Guard has responded to three diving accidents off the New Jersey coast in 2009 all resulting in fatalities.

Both civilian and Coast Guard divers agree that training is one of the top priorities to be taken for diving.

"The number one thing is proper training and not diving beyond your means," said Steve Gatto, a 30-year veteran of diving off the New Jersey coast. "It is more difficult the deeper you go."

"Make sure you are certified through one of the recognized dive instruction certification programs," said Lt. Alan Fitzgerald, the command diving officer of the Coast Guard Maritime Security Response Team in Chesapeake, Va.

Some of the recognized organizations that conduct dive instruction certification programs are:

Professional Association of Diving Instructors http://www.padi.com/scuba/

National Association of Underwater Instructors http://www.naui.org/

Scuba Schools International http://www.divessi.com/

Some safety tips to remember before and during a dive are:

-Get a medical examination from your doctor to ensure your body is physically capable of handling the conditions of the ocean.

-Never dive by yourself. Ensure you have a dive plan and a diving "buddy." There is safety in numbers.

-File a float plan, which includes the name of the charter vessel, with a family member or nearby marina. If you decide to deviate from your original intended plan, proper notification of the change should be made as soon as possible.

-Check your dive equipment carefully and check how the equipment functions, especially if the equipment is rented. Ensure inspections are done annually on diving gear.

-New Jersey state law requires that you mark the diving area with a dive flag and requires boats to stay at least 50 feet away from the flag if displayed from a buoy, boat or float. For more information regarding New Jersey dive laws click here.

-Know the signs and symptoms of diver distress such as heat exhaustion, hypothermia and dehydration, as well as procedures for emergency treatment.

-Check the local weather conditions before your dive or begin the trip to your dive site.

-Remember, taking all the basic safety precautions while diving will increase your chance of surviving a potential diving accident.

ABSECON INLET, N.J. - The Coast Guard rescued four people Friday near Absecon Inlet, N.J., after the 35-foot boat they were aboard ran aground.

The Coast Guard received a call at 2:43 a.m. from a crew member aboard the Tri-Sail reporting they had run aground.

A rescue helicopter crew from Coast Guard Air Station Atlantic City, N.J., arrived on scene and hoisted two of the men and transported them to awaiting emergency medical personnel at Coast Guard Station Atlantic City while a Coast Guard rescue swimmer stayed aboard the boat. The rescue helicopter crew returned to the boat and hoisted the remaining two men and the rescue swimmer aboard. The two men were transported to Station Atlantic City.

"The running lights were working and all the guys had life jackets and safety gear," said Petty Officer 2nd Class Tye Conklin, a rescue swimmer at Air Station Atlantic City. "There was a positive outcome because of all the safety gear they had aboard."

There are no injuries reported.

Video Link

FORTESCUE INLET, N.J. - The Coast Guard and a Good Samaritan rescued three people Friday five miles southeast of Fortescue Inlet, N.J., after their 22-foot boat was taking on water and sank.

The Coast Guard received a call at 10:04 a.m. from a crew member aboard the Big Trout reporting they were taking on water. A Good Samaritan aboard the Serenity reported to the Coast Guard they rescued two of the three people from the water.

A rescue boat crew from Coast Guard Station Fortescue Inlet, and a rescue helicopter crew from Coast Guard Air Station Atlantic City, N.J., arrived on scene.

 The boat crew rescued the remaining person from the water at approximatley 11:00 a.m.

All three people were transferred to the Coast Guard boat and transported to Anchor Marina in Maurice River, N.J.

No injuries were reported.

"It is always a good idea to make sure all your gear is in working order before you leave the dock," said Petty Officer 2nd Class Joshua Cooklin, a crew member aboard the rescue boat. "Their GPS was not functioning properly, and it took a little longer to find them."