Coast Guard June 14, 2017 – Federal Register Recent Federal Regulation Documents

The Coast Guard is amending anchorage regulations for the Lower Mississippi River below Baton Rouge. This amendment will modify Cedar Grove Anchorage and White Castle Anchorage, and will establish two new anchorages, Point Michel Anchorage and Plaquemines Point Anchorage, on the Lower Mississippi River, Above Head of Passes. This interim rule increases the available anchorage areas necessary to accommodate vessel traffic; improves navigation safety, providing for the overall safe and efficient flow of vessel traffic and commerce; and aids and assists the economy through increased anchorage capacity, streamlining vessel throughput and increasing ship to port interactions. We invite your comments on this rule.

The Coast Guard is establishing a permanent special local regulation on Lake Superior within the Keweenaw Waterway for the annual Breakers to Bridge Paddle Festival. This annual event historically occurs within the first 2 weeks of September and lasts for 1 day. This action is necessary to safeguard the participants and spectators on the water in a portion of the Keweenaw Waterway between the North Entry and the Portage Lake Lift Bridge located in Houghton, MI. This regulation will functionally restrict all vessel speeds while within a designated no-wake zone, unless otherwise specifically authorized by the Captain of the Port Duluth (COTP) or a designated representative. The area forming the subject of this permanent special local regulation is described below.