February 6, 2026
Ice Condition Update
The Captain of the Port (CQTP), Sector Delaware Bay has amended the Ice Condition for the following areas, in
accordance with the safety zones, identified in Title 33, Code of Federal Regulations, Part 165.550.
Upper Delaware River
The COTP, Sector Delaware Bay has set Ice Condition Three for all navigable waters of the Upper Delaware
River, north of the Betsy Ross Bridge.
The following restrictions are in effect: only steel hull vessels with a 1,500 minimum shaft horsepower and a main
engine cooling system design that prevents blockage from ice, and that are part of a vessel convoy, may enter,
operate in, or transit the Upper Delaware River. Also, vessels may only transit during daylight hours.
Delaware River
The COTP, Sector Delaware Bay has set Ice Condition Two for all navigable waters of the Delaware River, south
of the Betsy Ross Bridge to Artificial Island, in New Jersey, including the navigable waters of the Schuylkill
River, Salem River, and Christina River.
The following restrictions are in effect: only steel hull vessels with 1,500 minimum shaft horsepower and a main
engine cooling system design that prevents blockage from ice, may enter, operate in, or transit through the
Delaware River, Schuylkill River, Salem River, and Christina River.
Delaware Bay
The COTP, Sector Delaware Bay has set Ice Condition One for all waters of the Delaware Bay, south of Artificial
Island to the entrance of the Delaware Bay.
The following restrictions are in effect: only steel hull vessels are allowed to enter, operate in, or transit the
Delaware Bay.
Chesapeake and Delaware Canal (C&D) Canal
The U.S. Army Corps of Engineers prescribes a steel hull and 2,500 minimum shaft horsepower for the C&D
Canal. Transits are permissible for all vessels with a steel hull and at least 1,500 minimum shaft horsepower, only
when following a 2,500 minimum shaft horsepower (or greater) vessel. The canal dispatcher on duty should be
contacted regarding conditions and requirements for vessels using the C&D Canal at (410) 855-5580.
New Jersey Intracoastal Waterway
The COTP, Sector Delaware Bay has set Ice Condition Two for all waters of the New Jersey Intracoastal
Waterway, including all tributaries.
The following restrictions are in effect: only steel hull vessels with 1,500 minimum shaft horsepower and a main
engine cooling system design that prevents blockage from ice, may enter, operate in, or transit through the New
Jersey Intracoastal Waterway, including all tributaries.
Contact Information
Vessels prohibited from transiting an area listed above, may request permission to transit, a minimum of 24-hours
prior to the transit, by contacting the COTP, Sector Delaware Bay via email secdelbaymtsru@uscg.mil, or via
phone at (833) 453-1007.
All requests must include the following information when requesting permission to transit:
• Hull type
• Main engine cooling system type
• Transit speed
• Date and time of transit
• Planned precautions being taken for encounters with ice
This Marine Safety Information Bulletin (MSIB) supersedes MSIB 03-26 and MSIB 04-26 (Update 1).
Additionally, mariners can utilize the QR code below to report ice conditions and submit a photo of the observed
conditions.
If there are any questions regarding the information of this bulletin, please contact the Marine Transportation
System Recovery Branch at (215) 778-4289.