BLOCK ISLAND, R.I. -- The Coast Guard has reopened Old Harbor for nighttime transits. According to the Guard, this was the last port in southeastern New England that had been operating under a navigation restriction following superstorm Sandy.
Temporary measures have been taken, however, the Guard announced.
Old Harbor tower #3, destroyed in the storm, "has been temporarily replaced by lighted green buoy #3, approximately 125 yards off the tip of the northwest jetty, in approximate position 41-10.74N, 071-33.26W," the service said in a news release. The sound signal for the channel is yet to be replaced.
According to the Guard, "a new Old Harbor buoy #5 has been established in its proper approximate position at 41-10-38N, 071-33-17W. However, old buoy #5 remains visible, off station, well west of the entrance channel." It will be removed soon.