Mobile, Ala. – The Alabama Port Authority announced that the Mobile Bar and Mobile River channels will be closed to commercial traffic Friday morning as the former aircraft carrier USS Enterprise begins its tow into the city’s harbor.
Schedule and coordination
The tow is set to start at 6 a.m., weather permitting, and is expected to take eight to ten hours, depending on port conditions. The harbormaster’s office is working closely with the U.S. Coast Guard, the U.S. Navy and other stakeholders to monitor conditions throughout the operation.
Extent of the closure
All commercial vessels will be barred from the stretch that runs from Mobile Lighted Buoy 1 to the Cochrane Bridge. While some harbor traffic may continue as the ship moves through Mobile Bay, the Coast Guard will halt all vessel movement once the Enterprise reaches the harbor until it is safely moored.
Traffic on the Gulf Intracoastal Waterway will also stop at its crossing with the ship channel until the carrier passes.
Safety zones
A moving 500‑yard naval protection zone will surround the Enterprise from the moment it enters the Coast Guard’s Captain of the Port Mobile zone until it is berthed at Modern American Recycling Services, located at 701 S. Royal St. Vessels within 500 yards must travel at the minimum speed necessary to maintain a safe course, and entry within 100 yards is prohibited without explicit Coast Guard authorization.
After the ship is moored for dismantling, a fixed safety zone outside the Mobile River federal channel will replace the moving zone. The U.S. Army Corps of Engineers expects the fixed zone to have no impact on commercial traffic.
What mariners need to know
Commercial mariners and recreational boaters are urged to monitor VHF Channel 16 for Coast Guard instructions and to request authorization before entering any restricted area. Recreational boaters should also anticipate law‑enforcement patrols along the route and follow directions from on‑water officers.
Updates to the schedule will be posted on alports.com and shared by Coast Guard Sector Mobile. Questions can be directed to the Sector Mobile Command Center at 251‑266‑5888. Safety‑zone boundaries are detailed in Corps of Engineers Navigation Bulletins 26‑143 and 26‑144.
Why the tow matters to Mobile
The arrival of the former USS Enterprise marks a significant event for the Mobile area, bringing attention to the city’s maritime infrastructure and the collaborative effort between local, state and federal agencies to ensure a safe and orderly operation. Residents and businesses that rely on the channel are encouraged to plan accordingly and stay informed through official updates.
Original reporting: FOX10 WALA Mobile (news) — read the source article.
