Admiralty Notices to Mariners - United Kingdom Hydrographic Office

IV
ROUTE THROUGH SIMPSON STRAIT
General information
Canadian Chart 7736 (see 1.14)
General description
15.60
1 Passage through Simpson Strait is generally
considered to be the most difficult, navigationally, of
any part of the sea route between the Canadian
mainland and the SW islands of the Arctic
Archipelago.
The recommended track is normally marked each
season by buoys (red or green); red buoys are left to
starboard proceeding from W to E through the strait.
2 The buoys are liable to be displaced by ice and
strong streams, and in some years cannot be laid
because of ice conditions and so cannot be relied
upon.
Caution. Since many dangerous shoals with depths
of 5·0 m or less exist close to the track, it is most
important that it be closely adhered to and beacons
have been established along the strait to facilitate this.
It is probable that the shoals may alter from year to
year with ice action.
3 Strong tide rips occur in the narrows from 4 miles
WNW to 1½ miles SE of Eta Island and it is
recommended that passage of this part of Simpson
Strait only be attempted at slack water.
Directions
Aidtonavigation
15.60a
1 Racon:
Ristvedt Island beacon (15.70).
Approach
15.61
1 In the middle of the W entrance to the strait a
beacon (red daymark on tripod tower, radar reflector,
elevation 13 m) stands on Salliq Island (68°38′N
98°01′W).
A vessel entering Simpson Strait from Storis
Passage (15.33) is recommended to follow a track of
072° through a position 1¼ miles 004° from this
beacon, until the W edge of Alicia Island (15.73)
situated 3½ miles E of Cape John Herschel, bears
350°.
Leading beacons
15.62
1 Then alter track ESE onto the alignment (111°) of
leading beacons established on the King William
Island coast, 10½ miles ESE of Cape John Herschel.
Front beacon (red and white daymarks on tower,
elevation 11 m) (68°37′⋅06N 97°38′⋅97W) stands
on the shore.
Rear beacon (similar structure, radar reflector,
elevation 20 m) (5¾ cables from front beacon).
2 Aligned (111°) the beacons lead clear of shoals
which encumber Simpson Strait between the coast of
King William Island and Comb Islands, a chain of four
small islands about 4 miles S.
15.63
1 On the SE extremity of Gladman Point (15.74)
8 miles ESE of Cape John Herschel, there is a
beacon (red daymarks on tripod tower, radar reflector,
elevation 5 m). Continue to make good a track of 111°
until this beacon bears 045° distant 9 cables.
Leading beacons
15.64
1 Then alter track SSE onto the alignment (331°),
astern, of leading beacons established on King William
Island 1½ miles WNW of Gladman Point.
Front beacon (red and white daymarks on tower,
radar reflector, elevation 8 m) (68°39′⋅37N
97°47′⋅74W).
Rear beacon (similar structure, radar reflector,
elevation 12 m) (about 3 cables NNW).
2 When abeam of the summit of St Magnus Island
(68°35′⋅83N 97°45′⋅11W) alter track onto the alignment
(151°) of leading beacons established on Boulder
Island and Dens Island. These islands lie off the coast
of Adelaide Peninsula, about 8 miles E of Cape
Geddes (68°33′N 97°58′W).
Front beacon (red and white daymarks on tower,
elevation 8 m) (68°33′⋅76N 97°39′⋅58W) stands
on the N end of Boulder Island.
Rear beacon (similar structure, elevation 17 m)
(about 1½ miles SSE) stands on Dens Island.
3 Aligned (151°) the beacons lead between shoals
which front King William Island, on the E, and shoal
water which surrounds Saint Magnus Island, Sarvaq
Island and Kilwinning Island, in that order from N to S,
on the W.
4 Maintain the alignment of 151°/331° as far as Hook
Island, which lies about 7½ miles ENE of Cape
Geddes. A beacon (red daymarks on tripod tower,
radar reflector, elevation 11 m) (68°35′⋅06N
97°39′⋅64W), stands on the NW end of Hook Island.
Caution: A shoal patch depth 5⋅8 m lies close to
the track 7 cables WNW of the beacon on Hook
Island.
Leading beacons
15.65
1 When the SE extremity of Hook Island bears 061½°
distant 7½ cables, alter track E onto the alignment
(095⋅5°) of leading beacons established 3½ cables SE
of Amittuq Point (68°34′⋅57N 97°33′⋅86W).
The latter point is the NW extremity of a small,
irregular peninsula, situated 9½ miles ENE of Cape
Geddes, and connected to the King William Island
coast by a short, narrow neck of land.
2 Front beacon (red and white daymarks on tripod
tower, elevation 9 m) (68°34′⋅33N 97°33′⋅31W)
stands on the shore.
Rear beacon (similar structure, radar reflector,
elevation 17 m) (1 cable E) is situated in the
middle of the peninsula.
Aligned (095⋅5°) the beacons lead in mid-channel
between Boulder Island, to the S, and Hook Island.
Wk07/13
4.2