DIFFERENT TIDES

Have you ever wondered why at times you can see land along the causeway on the island side for a couple of hundred yards. These are very low tides but they don’t happen all the time. There is a formula of the sun and moon in a certain phase to cause these which is too complicated to explain here, but basically when the moon is the closest to the earth (at perigee) the tides will be at it’s greatest ranges. This is when it gets very low. Conversely, when the moon is farthest from the earth (at apogee) the tide range is at the least. On the other hand, when the moon earth and sun are all lined up, it is called a spring tide and tides will higher than normal and lower than normal. On these very low tides, be very careful in shallow shoals and edges of channels. A lower end can be very costly. Checking the tides before going out in the bay, especially south bay, is strongly recommended. A yearly tidal chart can be copied from the Internet, which I carry on my boat all the time. Go to N.O.A.A. and look through their site for it. As always, be safe and see ya on the water.

THE CHART

In my class room, the new students ask me about all the maps on the walls. Well, I politely ask them where? There they say, on the walls. I reply by telling them that those are charts, not maps. There is a lot of difference. Before I went to maritime school, I was the same way. A chart was used just for telling people where I caught the big fish by pointing to the spot. If I ever go beyond the jetties on an over night trip in the Gulf, a chart will be with me. It has a treasure of information on it that can save your life. The local charts tells you which buoy has a bell or a gong or a whistle on it so you can find your way back in the fog. Another sweet item it has is which one of the buoys has a light on it and how it is flashing as to distinguish between others that are flashing. Another bit of information on the chart is that it is adjusted to be on a flat surface. That kind of map is called a Mercator Map. It is kind of stretched out and warped a bit to lay flat and to be worked with. The only difference is, now you need to use a true reading. You cannot simply use your compass and set your course across the Gulf. You will be way off. There is a formula to convert your compass to a true and that makes it good so all you sailors out there, use the formula. Chapmans Seamanship Book has all of these and other formulas you may need to plot your next course.
As always be safe and see you on the water.


TWIC OFFICE NOW OPEN

This information will most definitely upset most Captains around here. There is a new i.d. that every merchant mariner will have to acquire before September 28th 2008 and this will be enforced. Basically it is a card that will allow you to enter the port area or any port for that matter and work there. Here are some excerpts from the Coast Guard I received. TWIC is a common identification credential for all personnel requiring unescorted access to secure areas of MTSA-regulated facilities and vessels, and all mariners holding Coast Guard-issued credentials. TSA (Transportation Security Administration) will issue workers a tamper-resistant “Smart Card” containing the worker’s biometric (fingerprint template) to allow for a positive link between the card itself and the individual. The TWIC will cost $132.50 and is payable by Credit Card, Money Order or Certified Check. Those who hold a valid MMD issued after February 3, 2003, MML issued after January 13, 2006, HME issued after May 31, 2005, or a FAST card, may pay a reduced fee of $105.25. Those applicants choosing to pay the reduced fee must present an MML, MMD, HME, or FAST card at the time of enrollment. If the reduced fee is paid, the TWIC expiration date will be 5 years from the issuance date of the supporting MML, MMD, HME, or FAST card. Captains, this means you can bring your captains license and get the reduced price. TWIC enrollment at the Port of Brownsville starts on December 5, 2007
-Location: 1000 Foust Road
Brownsville, TX 78521-1000
-Hours of Operation: Monday – Friday: 8:00 AM – 4:30 PM

To schedule an appointment and save time during enrollment, you can still pre-enroll online at www.tsa.gov/twic or call 1-866-347-8942 (TWIC). By the way T.W.I.C. means Transportation Worker Identification Credential.
As always, be safe and see you on the water.

BANANA BOATS BEWARE

This is an advisory regarding the use of a jet ski pulling a banana boat. It has come to my attention that the local MSD (marine safety department) has in an effort to ensure the safety of passengers participating in water-based activities, will enforce this in an elevated level. The letter came out August 10th and was hand delivered to my office for dissemination to as many people as I could contact. I was aware of this rule for many years, but they will clamp down on this rule and will close your business down until they decide to re-open it. They will need to show proof of first-aid and currently enrolled in a drug and alcohol testing program. They also said in the letter which is available at my office that you have until January 1st 2008 to obtain the appropriate Coast Guard credential.
This is not a sales pitch, however a warning to all the companies that run banana boats along the surf and bay. Come by the office and get a copy. To get a complete guide call the MSD at 956-546-2786. Captains, get ready to dish out another $150 to get a Port Entry I.D. This will be an I.D. that you must carry if you go into the port. It is not optional.
As always, see you on the water.

Written by Captain Alan Stewart of the Laguna Madre Maritime Training Center
For Information on the Laguna Madre Maritime Training Center please call 956-639-8697

To see archived articles by Captain Alan Stewart please click the link below:

January 2006 articles
February 2006 articles
August 2006 articles
September 2006 articles
January 2007 articles
April 2007 articles
December 2007 articles
Texas Clipper Article