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FL Inlet Caution: Government Cut (Miami Inlet)
- Date Reported: Jun 2, 2022
- Reporter: Jani Parker
- Source: Waterway Guide Staff
- Description:
Overview: This inlet is wide, deep and free of hazards. It runs between Miami Beach (to the north) and Fisher Island (to the south). The Main Ship Channel extends past the end of the Government Cut between Dodge Island and Watson Island to the Turning Basin.
Approach: Miami Main Channel Lighted Buoy "M" is located at N 25° 46.088'/W 80° 04.998'.
Navigation: In settled conditions, use the waypoint N 25° 45.400'/W 80° 06.880', which brings you in to just over 0.5 nm from the jetties; otherwise, use sea buoy waypoint is preferable. Follow a course of 253° magnetic inside the channel, then 299° magnetic from green buoy "7" through the jetties. Closures are announced on VHF Channel 16. During closures, Fisherman's Channel south of Dodge Island is the alternate inlet. It is similarly free of hazards, although when entering from the ICW heading south, leave buoys "53A" and "55" well to port before turning in to the channel due to shoaling extending into the channel.
Webcam: For a live view of the inlet visit Port Miami Webcam.
Cautions & Hazards: The Main Ship Channel (where cruise ships dock) is often closed for security reasons including when cruise ships are at the Main Ship Channel docks. Closures are announced on VHF Channel 16. Cruisers then must use a route combining Fishermans Channel and the Dodge Channel Cut to skirt the south shore of Dodge Island as an alternative. A short connector channel runs from the west terminus of the Dodge Island Cut to the ICW. The controlling depth is about 12 feet MLW but make sure you identify the markers carefully. Watch for frequent dredging operations in this area and for the numerous ferries headed to and from Fisher Island.
Commercial traffic is generally busy here as well and there is a car ferry that runs between Dodge Island and Fisher Island with frequent crossings. You must pay attention in this area and always give the ferry the right of way.
ICW Connection: Connects directly to the ICW at Mile 1089.
- Lat / Lon: N 25° 45.853' / W 080° 08.005'
2 Boater Comments
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Comment by: Lawrence Wolfenden on Apr 17, 2023
Vessel Type: Sail
LOA: 38'
Draft: 4.0'Unlike some other ports (e.g., our home port of Tampa) Miami does not maintain as good an exclusion zone around incoming/outgoing cruise ships as one might expect. If the channel has not been closed, it is possible to approach or pass fairly closely.
That said, we chose to wait outside the jetties to allow a Carnival ship to have the channel to herself. Under different circumstances of tide and/or weather we may have chosen to clear through without giving her such a wide berth. The important thing is knowing that such a course of action is possible, even if riskier.View location on the Waterway Guide Explorer
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Comment by: Robert Sherer on Aug 14, 2019
Vessel Type: Sail
LOA: 42'
Draft: 5.0'Government Cut is sometimes closed to pleasure craft when large ships come in. The Coast Guard will announce the closing on VHF16. You’re not to enter the channel until it’s announced open at a later time. In our 16 passes through the inlet, it’s been closed twice, each time we were the last boat through before closing.
View location on the Waterway Guide Explorer
