February 16, 2026
Ice Condition Update
Due to warmer temperatures, The Captain of the Port (COTP), Sector Delaware Bay has amended the Ice
Condition for the Upper Delaware River, Delaware River, and Delaware Bay. Please see the current restrictions
that are in effect 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 Two 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 1,500 minimum shaft horsepower and a main
engine cooling system design that prevents blockage from ice, may enter, operate in, or transit the Upper Delaware
River.
Delaware River
The COTP, Sector Delaware Bay has lifted all lee Condition restrictions 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.
Delaware Bay
The COTP, Sector Delaware Bay has lifted all Ice Condition restrictions for all waters of the Delaware Bay, south
of Artificial island to the entrance of the Delaware Bay.
Chesapeake and Delaware Canal (C&D)
The U.S. Army Corps of Engineers has amended the restrictions for the C&D Canal. The following restrictions
are in effect, only steel hull vessels may transit the C&D Canal between Emily Point, MD and Town Point, MD.
The canal dispatcher on duty should be contacted regarding conditions and requirements for vessels using the
C&D Canal at (410) 885-5580.
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 08-26.
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.
