Coast Guard October 2023 – Federal Register Recent Federal Regulation Documents

The Coast Guard is establishing a temporary safety zone for navigable waters in the vicinity of General Dynamics NASSCO shipyard in San Diego Bay, San Diego, CA, during the launch of the USNS Robert Kennedy. The safety zone is needed to protect personnel, vessels, and the marine environment from potential hazards associated with the launching and subsequent berthing of the USNS Robert Kennedy. Entry of vessels or persons into this zone is prohibited unless specifically authorized by the Captain of the Port, Sector San Diego.

The Coast Guard will enforce a special local regulation for the Key West World Championship to provide for the safety of life on navigable waterways during this event. Our regulation for marine events within the Seventh Coast Guard District identifies the regulated area for this event in Key West, FL. During the enforcement period, no person or vessel may enter, transit through, anchor in, or remain within the regulated area without permission from the Captain of the Port Key West or a designated representative.

The Coast Guard is establishing a temporary security zone for navigable waters of Watson Bayou, Panama City FL, within an area bound by the following points: 30[deg]08'17.8'' N, 85[deg]38'6.6'' W (Diamond Point), thence northeast toward 30[deg]08'34.6'' N, 85[deg]37'55.7'' W (Eastern Shipbuilding), thence east to the South East Avenue Bridge. The security zone is needed to protect the official party, the public, and the surrounding waterway from terrorist acts, sabotage or other subversive acts, accidents, or other causes of a similar nature. Entry of vessels or persons into this zone is prohibited unless specifically authorized by the Sector Mobile Captain of the Port (COTP).

The Coast Guard is establishing a temporary safety zone for navigable waters of the Cumberland River extending from mile marker 190 through 191. The safety zone is needed to protect personnel, vessels, and the marine environment from potential hazards created by aerial operations. Entry of vessels or persons into this zone is prohibited unless specifically authorized by the Captain of the Port Sector Ohio Valley.

The Coast Guard will enforce the special local regulations for the annual Sacramento Ironman Swim on October 22, 2023, to provide for the safety of life on navigable waterways in the American River and Sacramento River during this event. The regulation for marine events in Northern California identifies the regulated area for this event in Sacramento, CA. During the enforcement period, unauthorized persons or vessels are prohibited from entering into, transiting through, or loitering or anchoring in the regulated area, unless authorized by the designated Patrol Commander (PATCOM) or other Federal, State, or local law enforcement agencies on scene to assist the Coast Guard in enforcing the regulated area.

The Coast Guard is establishing a special local regulation in the navigable waters of the Bridgewater Channel, Lake Havasu, AZ during the 12th Annual Bridgewater Channel Cleanup marine event. This regulation is necessary to provide for the safety of the participants, crew, supporting vessels, and general users of the waterway during the event, which will be held on October 21, 2023. This special local regulation will temporarily prohibit persons and vessels from entering into, transiting through, anchoring, blocking, or loitering within the event area unless authorized by the Captain of the Port San Diego or a designated representative.

The Coast Guard will enforce the special local regulations on the waters of San Diego Bay, CA, during the San Diego Fleet Week Veterans Day Boat Parade on November 12, 2023. This special local regulation is necessary to provide for the safety of the participants, crew, sponsor vessels of the event, and general users of the waterway. During the enforcement periods, the operator of any vessel in the regulated area must comply with directions from the Patrol Commander or any Official Patrol displaying a Coast Guard ensign.

The Coast Guard is establishing a temporary safety zone on the waterways surrounding Jacksonville, Florida during the 2023 Jacksonville Beach Sea and Sky Air Show. The safety zone is necessary to ensure the safety of event participants and spectators. Entry of vessels or persons into this zone is prohibited unless specifically authorized by the Captain of the Port (COTP) Jacksonville or a designated representative.

The Coast Guard is proposing to establish a temporary safety zone for certain waters of the Potomac River. This action is necessary to provide for the safety of life on these navigable waters at the old Governor Harry W. Nice/Senator Thomas ``Mac'' Middleton Memorial (US- 301) Bridge, during demolition operations from November 8, 2023 through January 30, 2024. This proposed rulemaking would prohibit persons and vessels from being in the safety zone unless authorized by the Captain of the Port, Sector Maryland-National Capital Region or a designated representative. We invite your comments on this proposed rulemaking.

The Coast Guard is establishing a temporary safety zone on the navigable waters of the Townsend Gut within a 50-yard radius from the center of the Southport Swing Bridge, in Southport, ME. When enforced, this regulation will prohibit waterside entry of vessels or persons into the safety zone unless authorized by Captain of the Port for Sector Northern New England or a designated representative. The safety zone is necessary to protect personnel, vessels, and marine environment from potential hazards created by construction and remediation of the Southport Swing Bridge.

The Coast Guard is establishing a temporary safety zone for certain waters of the Potomac River. The safety zone is needed to protect personnel, vessels, and the marine environment on these navigable waters near Washington, DC from potential hazards posed by a fireworks display which will take place on October 5, 2023. Entry of vessels or persons into this zone is prohibited unless specifically authorized by the Captain of the Port, Maryland-National Capital Region, or a designated representative.

This rule makes non-substantive changes to Coast Guard regulations in association with a change in the Coast Guard's internal organization. The purpose of this rule is to reflect that U.S. Coast Guard Sector Juneau has been renamed U.S. Coast Guard Sector Southeast Alaska. This rule will have no substantive effect on the regulated public.

The Coast Guard will enforce the regulated areas in the navigable waters of the San Francisco Bay for the San Francisco Bay Navy Fleet Week Parade of Ships and Blue Angels Survey Flight and Demonstration days from October 5 through October 8, 2023. This action is necessary to ensure the safety of event participants and spectators. During the enforcement period, unauthorized persons or vessels are prohibited from entering into, transiting through, or anchoring in the regulated area, unless authorized by the Patrol Commander (PATCOM). This notification of enforcement (NOE) announces the dates and times for enforcement.

The Coast Guard is issuing this final rule to revise the training requirements for national Merchant Mariner Credential endorsements as master of towing vessels (limited) or mate (pilot) of towing vessels on inland waters or Western Rivers routes. Consistent with recommendations from two Federal advisory committees, this rule gives mariners seeking these endorsements the option of taking a modified basic firefighting course. That course excludes training on equipment that is not required to be carried on towing vessels operating on inland waters or the Western Rivers. Applicants who take the modified basic firefighting course will reduce their costs because it is shorter and less expensive than the basic firefighting course.

The Coast Guard proposes to temporarily modify the operating schedule that governs the Meadowbrook State Parkway Bridge, mile 12.8, across Sloop Channel, Nassau County, NY. The bridge owner, New York State Department of Transportation (NYSDOT), submitted a request to operate the bridge under single leaf openings to perform bridge deck replacement. We invite your comments on this proposed rulemaking.

The Coast Guard is establishing a special local regulation (SLR) for certain navigable waters of the Atlantic Intracoastal Waterway (AICW) and Beaufort Inlet in Morehead City, North Carolina. This SLR, will be enforced annually for one weekend each September, and will restrict vessel traffic on the AICW and Beaufort Inlet during high-speed boat races. The restriction of vessel traffic movement in the SLR is for the purpose of protecting participants and spectators from the hazards posed by these events. Entry of vessels or persons into this regulated area will be prohibited unless specifically authorized by the Captain of the Port (COTP), North Carolina or a designated representative.