Coast Guard February 8, 2018 – Federal Register Recent Federal Regulation Documents

This document announces the availability of a list of vessels that are generally prohibited from entering the navigable waters of the United States or transferring cargo in the United States. The list, which is developed by the Department of State, will be publicly available on the Coast Guard National Vessel Movement Center (NVMC) website at www.nvmc.uscg.gov/CAATSA.aspx and will be updated periodically on the website. The Ports and Waterways Safety Act, as amended by the Countering America's Adversaries Through Sanctions Act (CAATSA) generally prohibits the entry of vessels on this list, and generally prohibits the entry of vessels registered to a Flag State that retains in its registry a vessel identified on this list 180 days after the most recent publication. The CAATSA amendment also generally prohibits such vessels from transferring cargo in any port or place under the jurisdiction of the United States.

The Coast Guard requests public comments on the potential establishment of Regulated Navigation Areas (RNAs) at the harbor entrance bars to Crescent Harbor, Humboldt Bay, Noyo River, and Morro Bay. In order to mitigate potential hazards and provide transparent communication with all mariners during hazardous weather conditions, this proposed RNA regulation would provide predictable protocols to mariners for potential restriction to traffic and conditions that prohibit vessels from entering a specified area surrounding each bar during hazardous weather conditions unless authorized by Commander, District Eleven or a designated representative. We seek your comments on what you believe to be the potential benefit or possible negative impact if we were to establish RNAs at these harbor entrances. We welcome all suggestions, ideas, and solutions for maintaining mariner and vessel safety during adverse weather and sea conditions at these harbor entrances.