Merrimack River Bar - A system of notification to mariners has been in use by the USCG Station in Newburyport. It is to assist boaters in making risk based decisions when evaluating their ability to cross the bar. Boaters should seek out several forms of information to make these decisions to safely evaluate weather and sea conditions for their specific size and type of vessel as well as their individual abilities as an operator. Things such as knowing the state of the tide and its effect, knowing the current forecasted weather and sea conditions and, knowing the how all those forces affect the local conditions. Tides (changes in water level) are caused mainly by the gravitational pull of the sun and the moon. There are roughly two high and low tides daily on the Merrimack River. A flood tide is the tidal …show more content…
Additionally mariners can request an escort by a motor lifeboat from Station Merrimack River. Mariners are reminded to contact the Coast Guard prior to crossing the Merrimack River bar when breaking conditions exist. Whenever operational limitations of Coast Guard Station Merrimack River have been reached a Captain Of The Port (COPT) closure will be issued by Coast Guard Sector Boston. In this situation the Bar will be closed to all