Coast Guard – Federal Register Recent Federal Regulation Documents

The Coast Guard announces the availability of Office of Vessel Activities (CG-543) Policy Letter 11-07 amending its policy concerning qualification for a STCW endorsement as Officer in Charge of a Navigational Watch (OICNW). The policy is currently found in National Maritime Center (NMC) Policy Letters 01-02 and 16-02.

The Coast Guard will enforce two safety zones for annual fireworks events in the Captain of the Port Detroit zone at various times from 10 p.m. on July 3, 2011 through 9 p.m. on July 5, 2011. This action is necessary and intended to ensure safety of life on the navigable waters immediately prior to, during, and immediately after fireworks events. This rule will establish restrictions upon, and control movement of, vessels in a specified area immediately prior to, during, and immediately after fireworks events. During an enforcement period, no person or vessel may enter the safety zone without permission of the Captain of the Port.

The Coast Guard is establishing a safety zone on the navigable waters of Cape Charles City Harbor in Cape Charles, VA in support of the Fourth of July Fireworks event. This action is necessary to provide for the safety of life on navigable waters during the Cape Charles Fireworks show. This action is intended to restrict vessel traffic movement to protect mariners and spectators from the hazards associated with aerial fireworks displays.

The Coast Guard will enforce the safety zones for the annual San Francisco Chronicle Fireworks Display (Independence Day Celebration for the City of San Francisco Fireworks). This action is necessary to control vessel traffic and 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 safety zone, unless authorized by the Patrol Commander (PATCOM).

The Coast Guard proposes establishing a safety zone on the navigable waters of James River in Richmond, VA in support of the Labor Day Fireworks event. This action is necessary to provide for the safety of life on navigable waters during the Labor Day Fireworks show. This action is intended to restrict vessel traffic movement to protect mariners and spectators from the hazards associated with aerial fireworks displays.

The Coast Guard is establishing a temporary safety zone restricting navigation on the Big Sioux River from the Military Road Bridge in North Sioux City, South Dakota to the confluence of the Missouri River and extending the entire width of the river. During enforcement periods, vessels must obtain Captain of the Port authorization to enter the safety zone. This temporary safety zone is needed to protect the general public, vessels and tows, and the levee system from destruction, loss or injury due to hazards associated with rising flood water. Operation in this zone is restricted unless specifically authorized by the Captain of the Port Sector Upper Mississippi River or a designated representative.

The U.S. Coast Guard is establishing a temporary safety zone extending 50 yards to the north and south of the Hylebos Bridge, Tacoma, WA in both directions along the entire length of the Hylebos Bridge to ensure the safety of the boating public during the Hylebos Bridge restoration project. This safety zone is necessary to protect vessels transiting in the vicinity of the Hylebos Bridge from falling debris resulting from concrete removal performed as part of the bridge restoration.

The Coast Guard will enforce the annual safety zone for the Fourth of July Fireworks, Lake Tahoe, California, located off Incline Village in Crystal Bay. This action is necessary to control vessel traffic and 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 safety zone, unless authorized by the Patrol Commander (PATCOM).

The Coast Guard will enforce the Fourth of July Fireworks, City of Sausalito annual safety zone. This action is necessary to control vessel traffic and 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 safety zone, unless authorized by the Patrol Commander (PATCOM).

The Coast Guard is establishing a temporary safety zone in the navigable waters off the North Eastern shoreline of Mandeville Island, Mandeville Island, California in support of the Delta Independence Day Fireworks Foundation Celebration. This temporary safety zone is established to ensure the safety of participants and spectators from the dangers associated with the pyrotechnics. Unauthorized persons or vessels are prohibited from entering into, transiting through, or remaining in the safety zone without permission of the Captain of the Port or their designated representative.

The Coast Guard will enforce the safety zone for the annual Fourth of July Fireworks, South Lake Tahoe Gaming Alliance (Lights on the Lake Fireworks Display). This action is necessary to control vessel traffic and 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 safety zone, unless authorized by the Patrol Commander (PATCOM).

The Coast Guard is establishing a temporary safety zone in the navigable waters of the Carquinez Strait, off of Waterfront Park, Martinez, Califonia in support of the Independence Day Fireworks Celebration for the City of Martinez. This safety zone is established to ensure the safety of participants and spectators from the dangers associated with the pyrotechnics. Unauthorized persons or vessels are prohibited from entering into, transiting through, or remaining in the safety zone without permission of the Captain of the Port or a designated representative.

The Coast Guard is establishing a temporary safety zone in the navigable waters of Half Moon Bay, off of Pillar Point Harbor beach, Half Moon Bay, CA in support of the Independence Day Fireworks Celebration for the City of Half Moon Bay. Unauthorized persons or vessels are prohibited from entering into, transiting through, or remaining in the safety zone without permission of the Captain of the Port or a designated representative.

The Coast Guard is establishing a temporary safety zone on the waters of Charleston Harbor, in Charleston, South Carolina during the Charleston Sharkfest Swim on Sunday, September 4, 2011. The Charleston Sharkfest Swim is a 1.5-mile swimming race. The safety zone is necessary for the safety of the swimmers, participant vessels, spectators, and the general public during the swim. Persons and vessels will be prohibited from entering, transiting through, anchoring in, or remaining within the safety zone unless authorized by the Captain of the Port Charleston or a designated representative.

The Coast Guard proposes to temporarily change the enforcement period of special local regulations for one recurring marine event in the Fifth Coast Guard District, specifically, the ``Clarksville Hydroplane Challenge,'' hydroplane races on the waters of the John H. Kerr Reservoir. Because this event will consist of approximately 80 hydroplane powerboats conducting high-speed competitive races in heats counter-clockwise around an oval racecourse on the water of the John H. Kerr Reservoir, this regulation is necessary to provide for the safety of life on navigable waters during the event. This action is intended to restrict vessel traffic in portions of the John H. Kerr Reservoir in Clarksville, Virginia during the event.

The Coast Guard proposes to change the drawbridge operation regulations that govern the operation of the Amtrak's Dock Bridge across the Passaic River, mile 5.0, at Harrison, New Jersey. The owner of the bridge has requested relief from crewing the bridge at all times because the bridge has received few requests to open during past years. It is expected that an advance notice requirement for bridge openings could provide relief to the bridge owner while continuing to meet the reasonable needs of navigation.

The Commander, Fifth Coast Guard District, has issued a temporary deviation from the regulation governing the operation of the Route 30/Abescon Boulevard Bridge across Beach Thorofare, NJICW mile 67.2, at Atlantic City, NJ. The deviation allows the bridge to remain in the closed position to vessels requiring an opening to accommodate heavy volumes of vehicular traffic due to the Fourth of July fireworks show.

The Coast Guard is establishing a temporary safety zone in the navigable waters of South Lake Tahoe, for the Jameson Beach Fourth of July Fireworks Display. This safety zone is established to ensure the safety of the participants and spectators from the dangers associated with the pyrotechnics. Unauthorized persons or vessels are prohibited from entering into, transiting through, or remaining in the safety zone without permission of the Captain of the Port or a designated representative.

The Coast Guard will enforce the Seattle Seafair Unlimited Hydroplane Race Special Local Regulation on Lake Washington, WA from 8:00 a.m. on August 4, 2011 through 11:59 p.m. on August 7, 2011 during hydroplane race times. This action is necessary to ensure public safety from the inherent dangers associated with high-speed races while allowing access for rescue personnel in the event of an emergency. During the enforcement period, no person or vessel will be allowed to enter the regulated area without the permission of the Captain of the Port, on-scene Patrol Commander or Designated Representative.

The Coast Guard is establishing a temporary safety zone in the Captain of the Port (COTP) Zone New York on a portion of the navigable waters of the East River in the vicinity of Wards Island, New York for a fireworks display. This temporary safety zone is necessary to ensure the safety of vessels and spectators from hazards associated with fireworks displays. Persons and vessels are prohibited from entering into, transiting through, mooring, or anchoring within the temporary safety zone unless authorized by the COTP New York or the designated on-scene representative.

The Coast Guard will temporarily change the enforcement period of one special local regulation for recurring marine events in the Fifth Coast Guard District. This regulation applies a hydroplane speed boat race which was originally scheduled for August 12-14, 2011 will be on August 6-7, 2011. This regulation will restrict vessel traffic in portions of Mill Creek in Hampton, Virginia during the rescheduled event to protect mariners and the boating public from the potential hazards associated with hydroplane speed boats that will reach speeds in excess of 150 miles per hour.

The Coast Guard is establishing a temporary safety zone on specified waters of the Gulf Intracoastal Water Way, closing the Morgan City-Port Allen Route from MM 0 to the Port Allen lock to all commercial traffic. This temporary safety zone is needed to protect the general public, levee system, vessels and tows from destruction, loss or injury due to hazards associated with rising flood water.

The Coast Guard is establishing a temporary special local regulation in Boston Harbor, Boston, Massachusetts, within the Captain of the Port (COTP) Boston Zone. This special local regulation is necessary to provide for the safety of life on navigable waters during the Extreme Sailing Series Boston regatta. The special local regulation will temporarily restrict vessel traffic in a portion of Boston Harbor, and prohibit vessels not participating in the Extreme Sailing Series event from entering the designated race area.

The Coast Guard announces that a Certificate of Alternative Compliance was issued for the passenger vessel CHICAGO'S LEADING LADY.

The Commander, First Coast Guard District, has issued a temporary deviation from the regulation governing the operation of the Amtrak Railroad Bridge at mile 3.4, across the Connecticut River at Old Lyme, Connecticut. The deviation is necessary to facilitate scheduled maintenance at the bridge. This deviation allows the bridge to remain in the closed position during the deviation period.