Coast Guard 2011 – Federal Register Recent Federal Regulation Documents

The Commander, First Coast Guard District, has issued a temporary deviation from the regulation governing the operation of the Newburyport US1 Bridge across the Merrimack River, at mile 3.4, between Newburyport and Salisbury, Massachusetts. The deviation is necessary to paint the bridge. This deviation allows the bridge to remain in the closed position.

Pursuant to Section 904 of the 2010 Coast Guard Authorization Act, the Coast Guard announces the availability of a draft policy regarding distant water tuna fleet vessels manning exemption eligibility and safety requirements. We request your comments on the Safety Requirements and Manning Exemption Eligibility on Distant Water Tuna Fleet Vessels.

The Coast Guard seeks applications for membership on the Towing Safety Advisory Committee (TSAC). This Committee advises the Coast Guard on matters relating to shallow-draft inland and coastal waterway navigation and towing safety.

The Coast Guard proposes to amend its regulation to establish permanent safety zones for hydroplane races taking place on various dates within Puget Sound, WA. This supplemental notice of proposed rulemaking changes the proposed regulation from establishing safety zones under 33 CFR part 165 to establishing a special local regulation under 33 CFR part 100, removes the duplicative Port Angeles race area and adds a race area in Lake Sammamish to the designated hydroplane race areas within the Captain of the Port, Puget Sound area of responsibility. When this proposed special local regulation is activated, and thus subject to enforcement, this rule would limit the movement of non-participating vessels within the regulated race areas while hydroplane races are taking place. This rule is needed to provide effective control over these events while ensuring the safety of the maritime public.

The Coast Guard will enforce a segment of the Safety Zone; Brandon Road Lock and Dam to Lake Michigan including Des Plaines River, Chicago Sanitary and Ship Canal, Chicago River, Calumet-Saganashkee Channel on all waters of the Chicago Sanitary and Ship Canal from Mile Marker 296.1 to Mile Marker 296.7 daily from 7 a.m. through 11 a.m. and from 1 p.m. to 5 p.m. on January 18-22, 2011; January 24-26, 2011; January 31, 2011; February 1-5, 2011; February 7-12, 2011; and on February 14-19, 2011. This enforcement action will also occur from 7 a.m. on January 27, 2011 through 7 a.m. on January 29, 2011. This action is necessary to protect the waterways, waterway users, and vessels from hazards associated with the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers' operational and safety testing of the dispersal barrier IIB, which helps control the spread of aquatic nuisance species that have the potential of devastating the waters of the Great Lakes. During the enforcement period, entry into, transiting, mooring, laying-up or anchoring within the enforced area of this safety zone by any person or vessel is prohibited unless authorized by the Captain of the Port, Sector Lake Michigan, or his or her designated representative.

The Houston/Galveston Navigation Safety Advisory Committee (``HOGANSAC'' or ``the Committee'') and its working groups will meet in Texas City, Texas and Houston, Texas to discuss waterway improvements, aids to navigation, area projects impacting safety on the Houston Ship Channel, and various other navigation safety matters in the Galveston Bay area. These meetings will be open to the public.

The Coast Guard announces the release of Maritime Security (MARSEC) Directive 104-6 (Rev 5). This Directive only applies to U.S. flagged vessels subject to the Maritime Transportation Security Act (MTSA) on international voyages through or in designated high risk waters, and provides additional counter-piracy guidance and mandatory measures for these vessels operating in these areas where acts of piracy and armed robbery against ships are prevalent. MARSEC Directive 104-6 (Rev 5) also includes an annex that provides specific direction for vessels operating around the Horn of Africa. MARSEC Directives are designated Sensitive Security Information (SSI) and are not subject to public release.

The Coast Guard is removing a security zone on the navigable waters of San Diego Bay, San Diego, CA. The existing zone is around the former Fleet Industrial Supply Center Pier. The pier is no longer owned by the U.S. Navy and the existing security zone is no longer necessary to provide for the security of the U.S. Naval vessels, their crews, and the public from sabotage or other subversive acts, accidents, criminal actions, or other causes of a similar nature.

The Coast Guard is establishing moving security zones for certain vessels for which the Captain of the Port, Port Arthur deems enhanced security measures necessary. In addition, it is establishing security zones encompassing the mooring basins of LNG carriers while they are moored at the Golden Pass LNG facility in Sabine, TX and/or the Sabine Pass LNG facility located in Cameron Parish, LA.

The Commander, Eighth Coast Guard District is temporarily staying (suspending) reporting requirements under the Regulated Navigation Area (RNA) established by 33 CFR 165.830 for barges loaded with certain dangerous cargoes (CDC barges) in the inland rivers area, Eighth Coast Guard District. During this suspension, the Coast Guard will analyze future reporting needs and evaluate possible changes in CDC reporting requirements. A final rule will either lift the suspension and restore the obligation of the affected public to comply with the existing reporting requirements, modify those requirements, or repeal the RNA. This suspension of the CDC reporting requirements in no way relieves towing vessel operators and fleeting area managers responsible for CDC barges in the RNA from their dangerous cargo or vessel arrival and movement reporting obligations currently in effect under other regulations or placed into effect under appropriate Coast Guard authority.

The Coast Guard proposes a temporary safety zone on the navigable waters of San Diego Bay in San Diego, CA in support of the Centennial of Naval Aviation Kickoff. This temporary safety zone is necessary to provide for the safety of the participants, crew, spectators, participating vessels, and other vessels and users of the waterway. Persons and vessels would be prohibited from entering into, transiting through, or anchoring within this temporary safety zone unless authorized by the Captain of the Port or his designated representative.

The Coast Guard is establishing a temporary safety zone in all navigable waters of the Captain of the Port Baltimore zone. The temporary safety zone restricts vessels from transiting the zone during the effective period, unless authorized by the Captain of the Port Baltimore, or his designated representative. This safety zone is necessary to protect mariners from the hazards associated with ice in the navigable waterways.

The Commander, Eighth Coast Guard District, has issued a temporary deviation from the regulation governing the operation of the Milton (LA 92) bridge across the Vermillion River, mile 37.6, in Milton, Lafayette Parish, Louisiana. This deviation is necessary to allow timely bridge rehabilitation to improve overall traffic, boat and pedestrian safety. This deviation allows the bridge to remain closed.

The Coast Guard is establishing a temporary security zone on the Detroit River, Detroit, Michigan. This zone is intended to restrict vessels from a portion of the Detroit River in order to ensure the safety of participants, visitors and public officials at the 23rd Annual North American International Auto Show (NAIAS) being held at Cobo Hall in downtown Detroit, MI.

The Coast Guard is establishing a temporary security zone on the waters south of Kapoho Point and a nearby channel in Kailua Bay within the Honolulu Captain of the Port (COTP) Zone. This security zone is necessary to ensure the safety of the President of the United States, members of his official party, and other senior government officials.