Bob wrote:

those of you familiar with raritan bay probably know that the earle
naval weapons station is a security zone. it used to be permissible
to transit this zone as long as you kept moving.

that is no longer the case. if you are LUCKY, entering this zone for
any reason will just result in your arrest and a $27,500 fine from the
USCG. if you're UNLUCKY, you will meet up with the security force
from earle. they are navy, not CG. they are instructed to treat any
boats violating the security zone as hostile, and to act accordingly.

Another place to be careful of is the Sunny Point military depot just
south of Wilmington NC. The ICW comes out of Snow's Cut into the Cape Fear
River just above Sunny Point, and the channel markers can be confusing.
The security team patrols this area and is pro-active in directing boats
down the river instead of into the Sunny Point channel. It can be helpful
but I have seen them get very unfriendly very fast with skippers who are
confused about the channels.



in addition, it is now illegal to photograph CG, and navy
installations, as well as power plants, oil refineries, etc. there
have been instances of trespassers 'staging' photo sessions with
people posing in the foreground while someone is actually taking
photos of installations in the background. if you see someone taking
photos of restricted areas, report them immediately to local or
federal authorities.

Now that is spooky. Anything at all could be forbidden... usually
governments that forbid taking pictures are outright dictatorships... next
thing you know, Ashcroft will declare that voting has been suspended until
further notice, due to terrorist threats.

DSK