Coast Guard June 2018 – Federal Register Recent Federal Regulation Documents

The Coast Guard is establishing a temporary safety zone for navigable waters within a 420-foot radius of the launch site located at the Oswego Harbor, Lake Ontario, Oswego, NY. This safety zone is intended to restrict vessels from portions of Lake Ontario during the City of Oswego Community fireworks display. This temporary safety zone is necessary to protect mariners and vessels from the navigational hazards associated with a fireworks display. Entry of vessels or persons into this zone is prohibited unless specifically authorized by the Captain of the Port Buffalo.

The Coast Guard is establishing a temporary safety zone in the Captain of the Port, Sault Sainte Marie zone. This safety zone is intended to restrict certain portions of the waters of Lake Michigan in the Straits of Mackinac in the vicinity of a construction barge and tug. This temporary safety zone is necessary to protect the public and workers from the potential hazards associated with diving operations and installation of additional pipeline anchors.

The Coast Guard will amend its safety zone regulations for annual events in the Captain of the Port Duluth Zone. This final rule would update the locations for seven safety zones, add three new safety zones, increase the safety zone radius of six existing fireworks events, and modify the format of the regulation to list the annual events and corresponding safety zones in table form. These amendments will protect spectators, participants, and vessels from the hazards associated with annual marine events and improve the clarity and readability of the regulation.

The Coast Guard proposes to establish a permanent safety zone for the navigable waters of the Lower Mississippi River between mile marker (MM) 94 and MM 97, above Head of Passes. This zone is necessary to provide for the safety of life on these navigable waters during firework displays. This proposed rulemaking would prohibit vessels from entering the safety zone before, during, and after the firework displays unless authorized by the Captain of the Port Sector New Orleans or a designated representative. This proposed safety zone would be enforced only as necessary by the Captain of the Port Sector New Orleans (COTP) through a Notice of Enforcement published in the Federal Register and announced through Vessel Traffic Service Advisories, Broadcast Notices to Mariners (BNMs), Local Notice to Mariners (LNMs), and/or Marine Safety Information Bulletins (MSIBs) as appropriate. We invite your comments on this proposed rulemaking.

The Coast Guard proposes to add a special local regulation to increase safety in the navigable waters of Marquette Bay, Hessel, MI, during the annual Les Cheneaux Islands Antique Wooden Boat Show. The proposal will add a no wake zone to be enforced in the area around the show from 7 a.m. to 7 p.m. on a date in mid-August. We invite your comments on this proposed rulemaking.

The Coast Guard has issued a temporary deviation from the operating schedule that governs the Montlake Bridge across Lake Washington Ship Canal, mile 5.2, at Seattle, WA. The deviation is necessary to accommodate the Special Olympics event. This deviation allows the bridge span to remain in the closed-to-navigation position.

We are requesting your comments on a request we received from Sabine Pass LNG, L.P. for the disestablishment of the Sabine Pass Channel Anchorage Ground in Sabine, TX. The request indicates that deep draft ships do not use the anchorage and that disestablishment of the anchorage would not pose a concern for ship traffic. We seek your comments on whether we should consider a proposed rulemaking disestablishing the Sabine Pass Anchorage Ground based on this request or if other actions, such as reducing the size of the anchorage, should be considered.

The Coast Guard is establishing a temporary safety zone for navigable waters within a 420-foot radius of the launch site located near the mouth of the Vermilion River, Vermilion, OH. This safety zone is intended to restrict vessels from a portion of Lake Erie and the Vermilion River during the Festival of the Fish fireworks display. This temporary safety zone is necessary to protect mariners and vessels from the potential hazards associated with a fireworks display. Entry of vessels or persons into this zone is prohibited unless specifically authorized by the Captain of the Port Sector Buffalo.

The Coast Guard is establishing a temporary safety zone for navigable waters on the Buffalo River, Buffalo, NY. This safety zone is intended to restrict vessels from portions of the Buffalo River during the Hope Chest Buffalo Niagara Dragon Boat Festival. This temporary safety zone is necessary to protect mariners and vessels from the navigational hazards associated with this event. Entry of vessels or persons into this zone is prohibited unless specifically authorized by the Captain of the Port Buffalo.

The Coast Guard is establishing a temporary safety zone for navigable waters within a 280-foot radius of a portion of the Detroit River, Grosse Ile, MI. This zone is necessary to protect spectators and vessels from potential hazards associated with the Grosse Ile Fireworks.

The Coast Guard is establishing a temporary safety zone for navigable waters of the Lewis River near Ridgefield, WA. This action is necessary to provide for the safety of life on these navigable waters during a fireworks display on June 30, 2018. This regulation prohibits persons and vessels from being in the safety zone unless authorized by the Captain of the Port Columbia River or a designated representative.

The Coast Guard will enforce the safety zone for the Wendell Family Fourth of July Fireworks Display on July 4, 2018, to provide for the safety of life on navigable waterways during this event. Our regulation for marine events within the Eighth Coast Guard District identifies the regulated area for this event in Rockport, TX. During the enforcement periods, entry into these zones is prohibited unless authorized by the Captain of the Port Sector Corpus Christi (COTP) or a designated representative.

The Coast Guard is establishing a temporary safety zone in the Captain of the Port Detroit Zone on Sandusky Bay, in the vicinity of Marblehead, OH. This Zone is intended to restrict vessels from portions of the Sandusky Bay for the LAZ Trommler Fireworks Display. Persons and vessels are prohibited from entering into, transiting through, or anchoring within this safety zone unless authorized by the Captain of the Port Detroit, or his designated representative. This temporary safety zone is necessary to protect spectators and vessels from the hazards associated with fireworks displays.

The Coast Guard proposes to revise its merchant mariner credentialing regulations to remove obsolete portions of the radar observer requirements and harmonize the radar observer endorsement with the merchant mariner credential. Under this proposed rule, an active mariner who serves in a relevant position for 1 year in the previous 5 years using radar for navigation and collision avoidance purposes on vessels equipped with radar, or has served as a qualified instructor for a Coast Guard-approved radar course at least twice within the past 5 years, would not be required to complete a Coast Guard-approved radar refresher or re-certification course in order to renew his or her radar observer endorsement. This proposed rule would not change the existing requirements for mariners seeking an original radar observer endorsement or mariners who do not have either 1 year of relevant sea service on board radar-equipped vessels in the previous 5 years or service as a qualified instructor for a Coast Guard-approved radar course at least twice within the past 5 years. Elimination of the requirement to take a radar refresher or re-certification course every 5 years would reduce burden on affected mariners without impacting safety.

The Coast Guard announces that the Fifth District, Chief of Prevention Division has issued a certificate of alternative compliance from the International Regulations for Preventing Collisions at Sea, 1972 (72 COLREGS), for the North Carolina's Department of Transportation ferry RODANTHE, Official Number (O.N.) 1285078, Bollinger Hull Number: 693. We are issuing this notice because its publication is required by statute. Due to the construction and placement of the pilothouse offset to the starboard side of the vessel, the ferry RODANTHE cannot fully comply with the light, shape, or sound signal provisions of the 72 COLREGS without interfering with the vessel's design and construction. This notification of issuance of a certificate of alternative compliance promotes the Coast Guard's marine safety mission.

The Coast Guard is establishing a temporary safety zone for certain waters of the Cuyahoga River during the Blazing Paddles Stand Up Paddleboard Race. This safety zone is intended to restrict vessels from a portion of the Cuyahoga River during the Blazing Paddles Stand Up Paddleboard Race. This temporary safety zone is necessary to protect mariners and racers from the navigational hazards associated with the Stand Up Paddleboard Race.

The Coast Guard has issued a temporary deviation from the operating schedule that governs the Hutchinson River Parkway Bridge across the Hutchinson River, mile 0.9 at New York, New York. This deviation is necessary to allow the bridge to remain in the closed-to- navigation position to facilitate structural repairs.

The Coast Guard is establishing a temporary safety zone for the navigable waters of the Ohio River from mile marker 27.8 to mile marker 28.2 near the Vanport Highway Bridge. The safety zone is necessary to protect personnel, vessels, and the marine environment from potential hazards created by a cargo movement near the Vanport Highway Bridge in Vanport, PA. Entry of vessels or persons into this zone is prohibited unless authorized by the Captain of the Port Marine Safety Unit Pittsburgh or a designated representative.

The Coast Guard is establishing special local regulations for certain waters of the Tred Avon River. This action is necessary to provide for the safety of life on these navigable waters located between Bellevue, MD, and Oxford, MD, during a swim event on June 9, 2018. If necessary, due to inclement weather, the event will be rescheduled to June 10, 2018. This action will prohibit persons and vessels from being in the regulated area unless authorized by the Captain of the Port MarylandNational Capital Region or Coast Guard Patrol Commander.

In accordance with the Great Lakes Pilotage Act of 1960, the Coast Guard is establishing new base pilotage rates and surcharges for the 2018 shipping season. Additionally, the Coast Guard is making several changes to the Great Lakes pilotage ratemaking methodology. These additional changes include creating clear delineation between the Coast Guard's annual rate adjustments and the Coast Guard's requirement to conduct a full ratemaking every 5 years; the adoption of a revised compensation benchmark; reorganization of the text regarding the staffing model for calculating the number of pilots needed; and certain editorial changes.

The Coast Guard is establishing a temporary safety zone in the Chicago Harbor, Chicago, IL near the Adler Planetarium on June 26, 2018. This action is necessary and intended to ensure safety of life on the navigable waters of the United States immediately prior to, during, and after a fireworks display. Entry of vessels or persons into this zone is prohibited unless specifically authorized by the Captain of the Port Lake Michigan.

The Coast Guard is establishing a temporary safety zone in the Captain of the Port Detroit Zone on the Maumee River in the vicinity of Toledo, Ohio. This Zone is intended to restrict vessels from portions of the Maumee River for the Thunder over Toledo Fireworks Display. Persons and vessels are prohibited from entering into, transiting through, or anchoring within this safety zone unless authorized by the Captain of the Port Detroit, or his designated representative. This temporary safety zone is necessary to protect spectators and vessels from the hazards associated with fireworks displays.

The Coast Guard is amending its safety zones regulation for Annual Events in the Captain of the Port Buffalo Zone. This amendment updates 12 permanent safety zones and adds 12 new permanent safety zones. These amendments and additions are necessary to protect spectators, participants and vessels from the hazards associated with annual maritime events, including fireworks displays, boat races, and air shows.

The Coast Guard is establishing a special local regulation on the waters of the Boca Ciego Bay in the vicinity of Gulfport, Florida, during the Gulfport Grand Prix High Speed Boat Race. Approximately 50 boats, 16 feet in length, traveling at speeds in excess of 120 miles per hour are expected to participate. Additionally, it is anticipated that 20 spectator vessels will be present along the race course. The special local regulation is necessary to protect the safety of race participants, participant vessels, spectators, and the general public on navigable waters of the United States during the event. The special local regulation will establish two regulated areas: (1) A race area where all non-participant persons and vessels are prohibited from entering, transiting through, anchoring in, or remaining within the regulated area unless authorized by the Captain of the Port St. Petersburg (COTP) or a designated representative; and (2) a buffer zone where designated representatives may control vessel traffic as deemed necessary by the COTP St. Petersburg or a designated representative based upon prevailing weather conditions.

The Coast Guard will enforce the safety zone for the Rice's Landing Riverfest from June 8 through June 9, 2018, to provide for the safety of life on the navigable waterways during this event. Our regulation for marine events within the Eighth Coast Guard District identifies the regulated area for this event in Rice's Landing, PA. During the enforcement periods, entry into this zone is prohibited unless authorized by the Captain of the Port Marine Safety Unit Pittsburgh (COTP) or a designated representative.