PublicationBNational Ocean ServiceBU.S. Coast Pilot 1, Atlantic Coast:
Eastport to Cape Cod, 2008 (38^th^) Edition. Change No. 18.

Coast Pilot 1 38^th^ Ed 2008 Corrections

Page 140-Paragraph 45 through Paragraph 112, read:

**North Atlantic Right Whales**

The North Atlantic right whale is one of the world\'s most endangered
large whale species. North Atlantic right whales are found primarily in
continental shelf waters between Florida and Nova Scotia. They migrate
annually along the east coast between the feeding grounds off New
England and Canada and the calving grounds off Florida, Georgia and
South Carolina. Because right whales mate, rest, feed and nurse their
young at the surface, and often do not move out of the way of oncoming
ships, they are highly vulnerable to being struck. Pregnant females and
females with nursing calves appear to be particularly vulnerable to
collisions with ships. Ship strikes and fishing gear entanglements are
the two known sources of human-related mortality. Intentionally
approaching within 500 yards of right whales is prohibited and is a
violation of federal law. (See **50 CFR 224.103,** chapter 2 for limits,
regulations and exceptions.)

**Description of North Atlantic right whale:** Right whales are large
baleen whales. Adults are generally 45 to 55 feet in length and can
weigh up to 70 tons. The body is mostly black, but irregularly shaped
white patches may be present on the ventral surface. The best field
identification marks are a broad back with no dorsal fin, irregular
bumpy white patches (callosities) on the head, and a distinctive
two-column V-shaped blow when viewed from directly behind or in front of
the whale. The whales have broad, paddle-shaped flippers and a broad,
deeply notched tail. (See following diagrams and photographs.) Right
whales are slow moving and seldom travel faster than 5 or 6 knots. They
can stay submerged for 10 to 20 minutes and may appear suddenly when
surfacing to breathe. They are often seen alone or in small groups. At
times, right whales form large courtship groups of 20 to 30 animals.

**Seasonal occurrence of North Atlantic right whales:** During seasons
and in areas where right whales may occur, vessel operators should
maintain a sharp lookout for whales and reduce speeds when consistent
with safe navigation. In any given year oceanographic variability may
affect the seasonal distribution of right whales. In 1986, right whales
were frequently sighted within the Stellwagen Bank National Marine
Sanctuary throughout the summer, and in the early spring of 1998 a large
number of right whales were documented near the Narragansett/Buzzards
Bay Traffic Separation Scheme. Three areas in U.S. waters have been
designated as critical habitats for North Atlantic right whales. The
northern critical habitats, the Great South Channel (east of Cape Cod)
and Cape Cod Bay extending into Massachusetts Bay, are feeding and
nursery grounds. The southern critical habitat, off coastal Florida and
Georgia (Sebastian Inlet, Florida to the Altamaha River, Georgia), is a
calving area. (See **50 CFR 226.203,** chapter 2 for limits, regulations
and exceptions).

+-----------------------+---------------+------------------------------+
| Seasonal occurrence   |               |                              |
| of North Atlantic     |               |                              |
| right whales          |               |                              |
+=======================+===============+==============================+
| Location              | Season        | Comments                     |
+-----------------------+---------------+------------------------------+
| Central Gulf of Maine | D             |                              |
|                       | ecember-March |                              |
| (Jordan Basin, Cashes |               |                              |
| Ledge)                |               |                              |
+-----------------------+---------------+------------------------------+
| Cape Cod Bay          | December-May  |                              |
+-----------------------+---------------+------------------------------+
| Great South Channel,  | March - July  |                              |
|                       |               |                              |
| Northern Edge of      |               |                              |
| Georges Bank          |               |                              |
+-----------------------+---------------+------------------------------+
| Bay of Fundy, Scotian | July -        | Most of the population can   |
| Shelf (Browns Bank,   | October       | be found in this area during |
| Roseway Basin)        |               | this time                    |
+-----------------------+---------------+------------------------------+
| Jeffreys Ledge        | Oct           | Whales are frequently        |
|                       | ober-December | sighted in this area         |
+-----------------------+---------------+------------------------------+
| Stellwagen Bank       | Year-round    | Peak sightings occur in the  |
| National Marine       |               | early spring with infrequent |
| Sanctuary             |               | sightings in the summer      |
+-----------------------+---------------+------------------------------+
| New York to North     | N             | The migration corridor       |
| Carolina              | ovember-April | between right whale habitats |
|                       |               | is within 30 miles of the    |
|                       |               | Atlantic coast               |
+-----------------------+---------------+------------------------------+
| South Carolina,       | N             | Calving right whales have    |
| Georgia and Florida   | ovember-April | been sighted as far north as |
| Calving Area          |               | Cape Fear, NC and as far     |
|                       |               | south as Miami, FL with rare |
|                       |               | sightings in the Gulf of     |
|                       |               | Mexico                       |
+-----------------------+---------------+------------------------------+

**Mandatory Speed Restrictions:** Vessels 65 feet or greater in length
overall (L.O.A.) are subject to mandatory speed restrictions of 10 knots
or less in seasonal management areas (SMA) along the U.S. East Coast
during times when right whales are likely to be present (See following
maps for locations of SMAs). The Northeastern SMA speed restrictions are
in place from January 1 through May 15 in Cape Cod Bay, from March 1
through April 30 off Race Point, and from April 1 through July 31 in the
Great South Channel. Speed restrictions in the Mid-Atlantic U.S. SMAs
are in place from November 1 to April 30 and include Block Island Sound,
entry into the Ports of New York/New Jersey, Delaware Bay, Entrance to
Chesapeake Bay, and the Ports of Morehead City and Beaufort, NC, and
within a continuous boundary approximately 20 nautical miles from shore
around the major ports of Wilmington, NC, Charleston, SC and Savannah,
GA. Speed restrictions are in place in the Southeastern U.S. SMA from
November 15 to April 15; this area extends from shore approximately 30
nautical miles eastward and contains the major ports of Brunswick, GA,
Fernandina Beach, FL and Jacksonville, FL. (See **50 CFR 224.105,**
chapter 2 for regulations, limitations, and exceptions and complete
description of the SMAs.) NOAA Fisheries may also establish voluntary
Dynamic Management Areas (DMAs) when right whales are present in areas
and times not covered by the SMAs. Information about established DMAs
will be announced over NOAA's customary maritime communication media.
Mariners are encouraged to avoid or reduce speeds to 10 knots or less
while transiting through DMAs.

**Early Warning and Sighting Advisory Systems:** As weather and
conditions permit, dedicated seasonal programs of aerial and vessel
surveys are conducted in the Northeast and Southeast U.S. to provide
whale sighting information to mariners. Surveys typically occur in the
following locations at the specified times: a) Cape Cod Bay, the Gulf of
Maine, the Great South Channel, and Rhode Island, Block Island, and Long
Island Sounds from January through July; b) South Carolina/North
Carolina border south to Crescent Beach, FL from December through March.
Survey planes occasionally use VHF-FM channel 16 to contact ships
directly if whales have been spotted in close proximity to that vessel.
However, many right whales go undetected by surveys. Seasonal right
whale advisories and sighting reports are broadcast periodically for
these and surrounding areas by Coast Guard Broadcast Notice to Mariners,
NAVTEX, NOAA Weather Radio, Cape Cod Canal Vessel Traffic Control, the
Bay of Fundy Vessel Traffic Control, and are included in the return
message from the Right Whale Mandatory Ship Reporting (MSR) systems.
General sighting information may be obtained by sending an e-mail to
ne.rw.sightings@noaa.gov (Northeast) or se.rw.sightings@noaa.gov
(Southeast).

![](media/image1.jpeg){width="3.263888888888889in"
height="2.8979166666666667in"}

**Precautions when transiting right whale habitat and areas of recently
reported right whale sightings:**

NOAA recommends the following precautionary

measures be taken to avoid adverse interactions with North Atlantic
right whales:

Before entering right whale habitat (See "Seasonal Occurrence" table),
check Coast Guard Broadcast Notices to Mariners, NAVTEX, NOAA Weather
Radio, Mandatory Ship Reporting (MSR) system, Cape Cod Canal Vessel
Traffic Control, the Bay of Fundy Vessel Traffic Control, as well as
other sources for recent right whale sighting reports. Local ship pilots
also have information on whale sightings and safe local operating
procedures.

Review right whale identification materials and maintain a sharp watch
with lookouts familiar with spotting whales. Although right whales are
large, their dark color and lack of a dorsal fin can make them difficult
to spot.

Avoid transiting through the right whale habitats and areas where right
whales have recently been sighted. If transiting between ports within
critical habitats, minimize transit distance. Route around observed or
recently reported right whales and anticipate delays due to prudent
seamanship in response to whale sightings. Avoid transits at night or
during periods of low visibility.

If a right whale is sighted from the ship or reported along the intended
track of the ship, mariners should exercise caution, post a lookout and
reduce speed to 10 knots when consistent with safe navigation. If a
right whale is sighted, a vessel must steer a course away from the right
whale and immediately leave the area at slow safe speed. Do not assume
right whales will move out of the way of an approaching vessel. Mariners
should keep in mind that it is illegal to approach a right whale closer
than 500 yards. (See **50 CFR 224.103,** chapter 2 for limits,
regulations and exceptions.)

Any whale accidentally struck, dead whale carcass, and sighting of an
injured or entangled whale should be reported immediately to the Coast
Guard or NOAA National Marine Fisheries Service noting the precise
location, date, and time of the accident or sighting. Call 978-281-9351
for reports to NOAA for the area from Virginia to Maine, or 877-433-8299
for the area from North Carolina to Florida. In the event of a strike or
sighting of a dead, injured or entangled whale, the following
information should be provided:

location, date, and time of the accident or sighting of a carcass or an
entangled whale,

speed and course of the vessel,

vessel specifications such as size and propulsion,

water depth,

environmental conditions such as visibility, wind speed and direction,

description of the impact,

fate of the animal, and

species and size, if known.

**Recommended Two-Way Routes to Avoid Whales:** To reduce the
possibility of vessel strikes with right whales, Two-Way Routes were
developed for vessels entering and transiting through Cape Cod Bay and
arriving and departing the ports of Brunswick, GA, Fernandina Beach, FL
and Jacksonville, FL. The routes were developed from an analysis of
historical right whale sightings and are designed to reduce the
likelihood of adverse interactions between large vessels and right
whales. The routes are found on the latest NOAA Nautical Charts. In July
2007, the northern leg of the Boston Traffic Separation Scheme (TSS) was
shifted to direct ship traffic away from an area of high whale density.
Use of the modified TSS is expected to considerably reduce the risk of
striking a whale.

Mandatory Ship Reporting Systems (MSR) WHALESNORTH and WHALESSOUTH

Mandatory Ship Reporting (MSR) systems require all vessels, 300 gross
tons or greater, to report to the U.S. Coast Guard upon entering two
designated reporting areas off the east coast of the United States. (See
**33 CFR 169,** chapter 2, for limits and regulations.) Sovereign immune
vessels are exempt from the requirement to report, but are encouraged to
participate.

The two reporting systems will operate independently of each other. The
system in the northeastern United States will operate year round and the
system in the southeastern United States will operate each year from
November 15 through April 15. Reporting ships are only required to make
reports when entering a reporting area during a single voyage (that is,
a voyage in which a ship is in the area). Ships are not required to
report when leaving a port in the reporting area nor when exiting the
system.

Mariners should check all MSR messages carefully before transmittal to
ensure the message includes the correct address and format. Additional
greeting or comments in the message will preclude message receipt by the
MSR system. Failure to receive a timely return message from the MSR
system that provides locations of recent right whale sightings and
precautionary guidance should be reported to the local Marine Safety
Office of the U.S. Coast Guard.

**Northeastern reporting system/Southeastern reporting system** (See
**33 CFR 169.105 and 169.115,** chapter 2, for limits.)

Vessels shall make reports in accordance with the format in IMO
Resolution A.858 (20) in accordance with the International Convention
for the Safety of Life at Sea 1974 (SOLAS 74). (See **33 CFR 169.135 and
169.140,** chapter 2, for additional information.) Vessels should report
via INMARSAT C or via alternate satellite communications to one of the
following addresses:

Email: RightWhale.MSR@noaa.gov or Telex: 48156090.

Vessels not equipped with INMARSAT C or Telex should submit reports to
the U.S. Coast Guard\'s Communication Area Master Station Atlantic
(CAMSLANT) via HF voice frequencies on 2182 kHz, 4125 kHz, 6215 kHz,
8291 kHz, 12290 kHz, and 16420 kHz or by calling 1-800-742-8519x0.
Vessels equipped only with VHF-FM voice communications should submit
reports to the nearest U.S. Coast Guard activity or group.

Example Reports:

**WHALESNORTH**

WHALESNORTH//

M/487654321//

A/CALYPSO/NRUS//

B/031401Z APR//

E/345//

F/15.5//

H/031410Z APR/4104N/06918W//

I/BOSTON/032345Z APR//

L/WP/4104N/06918W/15.5.//

L/WP/4210N/06952W/15.5//

L/WP/4230N/07006W/15.5//

**WHALESSOUTH**

WHALESSOUTH//

M/412345678//

A/BEAGLE/NVES//

B/270810Z MAR//

E/250//

F/17.0//

H/270810Z MAR/3030N/08052W//

I/MAYPORT/271215Z MAR//

L/RL/17.0//

(DD 12622)

Page 144-Paragraph 117, lines 7-8; read:

whales in the summer and fall (peak season: July through October).

(DD 12622)

Page 144-Paragraph 122, lines 6-8; read:

late fall (peak season: October through December, although right whales
have been sighted in this area year-round).

(DD 12622)

Page 144-Paragraph 123, lines 4-7; read:

feeding area for endangered North Atlantic right whales year-round. Peak
sighting occur in the early spring, with infrequent sighting in the
summer.

(DD 12622)

Page 145-Paragraph 131, line 3; read:

March through July).

(DD 12622)

Page 146-Paragraph 159, lines 8-9; read:

spring (peak season: March through July).

(DD 12622)

Page 147-Paragraph 174, lines 2; read:

year-round in the Gulf of Maine (peak season: December through March).

(DD 12622)

Page 166-Paragraph 18, line 2; read:

endangered North Atlantic right whales (peak season: July through
October). Mother and \...

(DD 12622)

Page 166-Paragraph 18, lines 7-8; read:

close to shore from White Head to Swallowtail. (See \...

(DD 12622)

Page 175-Paragraph 4, line 3; read:

July through October) and includes the Grand \...

(DD 12622)

Page 382-Paragraph 100, lines 2-14; read:

in the Stellwagen Bank and Jefferys Ledge area year-round (peak season
for Jefferys Ledge: October through December; peak season in the
Stellwagen Bank: early spring). This area has been designated as the
**Gerry E. Studds-Stellwagen Bank National Marine Sanctuary** and
includes a portion of the Cape Cod Bay Critical Habitat. (See **50 CFR
226.203(a) and (b)**, chapter 2, for limits and regulations.) The Boston
Pilots distribute educational material to mariners in an effort to
reduce right whale ship strikes. (See North Atlantic Right Whales,
indexed as such, in chapter 3 for more information on right whales and
recommended measures to avoid collisions with whales.)

All vessels 65 feet or greater in length overall (L.O.A.) and subject to
the jurisdiction of the United States are restricted to speeds of 10
knots or less in two Seasonal Management Areas. The first area is
defined as all waters of Cape Cod Bay with a northern boundary of
42º04\'56.5\"N., 70º12\'W., to 42º12\'N., 70º12\'W., thence due west
back to shore and the restrictions apply between January 1 and May 15.
The second area, off Race Point, is defined as the waters bounded by:

42º04\'56.5\"N., 70º12\'W.

42º12\'N., 70º12\'W.

42º12\'N., 70º30\'W.

42º30\'N., 70º30\'W.

42º30\'N., 69º45\'W.

41º41\'N., 69º45\'W.; thence due west to the shore and the restrictions
apply between March 1 and April 30. (See **50 CFR 224.105** in chapter 2
for regulations, limitations, and exceptions.)

(FR 10/10/08)

Page 399-Paragraph 50, read:

**North Atlantic Right Whales**

Except for a narrow area along the west side, almost all of Cape Bay
lies within the federally designated critical habitat for North Atlantic
right whales. The designated Northern critical habitat is a primary
winter/spring feeding area, and may be inhabited by right whales
year-round (peak season: December through May). (See **50 CFR 226.101,
226.203(b)**, chapter 2 for habitat boundary and regulations.) It is
illegal to approach closer than 500 yards of any right whale (see **50
CFR 224.103(c)**, chapter 2, for limits and regulation).

(FR 10/10/08; DD 12622)

Page 400-Paragraph 51, lines 2-3; read:

have been established in Cape Cod Bay to reduce the likelihood of ship
strikes of endangered North Atlantic \...

(FR 10/10/08)

Page 400-Paragraph 52, line 3 through Paragraph 56, read:

during the period of peak right whale occurrence. When the area cannot
be avoided, precautionary measures should be taken to reduce the risk of
ship strike. (See North Atlantic Right Whales, index as such, in chapter
3 for more information on right whales and recommended measures to avoid
collisions with whales.)

All vessels 65 feet or greater in length overall (L.O.A.) and subject to
the jurisdiction of the United States are restricted to speeds of 10
knots or less in the Cape Cod Bay Seasonal Management Area between
January 1 and May 15. The area is defined as all waters of Cape Cod Bay
with a northern boundary of 42º04\'56.5\"N., 70º12\'W., to 42º12\'N.,
70º12\'W., thence due west back to shore. (See **50 CFR 224.105** in
chapter 2 for regulations, limitations, and exceptions.)

(FR 10/10/08)

Page 411-Paragraph 172, lines 5-6; read:

recommended measures to avoid collisions.)

All vessels 65 feet or greater in length overall (L.O.A.) and subject to
the jurisdiction of the United States are restricted to speeds of 10
knots or less in two Seasonal Management Areas. The first area is
defined as all waters of Cape Cod Bay with a northern boundary of
42º04\'56.5\"N., 70º12\'W., to 42º12\'N., 70º12\'W., thence due west
back to shore and the restrictions apply between January 1 and May 15.
The second area, off Race Point, is defined as the waters bounded by:

42º04\'56.5\"N., 70º12\'W.

42º12\'N., 70º12\'W.

42º12\'N., 70º30\'W.

42º30\'N., 70º30\'W.

42º30\'N., 69º45\'W.

41º41\'N., 69º45\'W.; thence due west to the shore and the restrictions
apply between March 1 and April 30. (See **50 CFR 224.105** in chapter 2
for regulations, limitations, and exceptions.)

(FR 10/10/08)