| USA. Coast Guard establishes security zones for Tall Ships Event 2006 |
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| Sunday, 09 July 2006 | |
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Coast Guard news: The U.S. Coast Guard has established safety and security zones for the Tall Ships Event 2006 on Lake Erie for the Cleveland Harborfest and throughout the Great Lakes for other port calls effective 12:01 a.m. July 11 to 12:01 a.m. August 10. All navigable waters of the United States within a 100 yard radius of any Tall Ship sailing vessel are considered safety and security zones. Boaters may not approach within 25 yards of any Tall Ship. Boaters that must pass within 25 yards in order to ensure a safe passage in accordance with the Navigation Rules, he/she must contact the Coast Guard on VHF-FM Channel 16 and obtain permission before doing so. All vessels within 100 yards of a Tall Ship must operate at the minimum speed necessary to maintain a safe course and must proceed as directed by the on-scene official patrol. This event is expected to draw a large number of spectators in confined harbor areas. Hence, the Coast Guard is implementing these safety and security zones around each tall ship to ensure the safety of both participants and spectators in these areas. Boaters who violate these safety and security zones may be liable to pay a civil penalty up to $32,500. In addition, violating a safety and security zone is a felony offense and violators are subject to criminal penalties including imprisonment and/or a fine. The public can view the complete text of the regulation which was published in the July 7, 2006 Federal Register beginning on page 38528 at http://www.gpoaccess.gov/fr/index.html. A copy has also been posted on the Ninth Coast Guard District Public Affairs web site. The regulation also includes a listing of the Tall Ships, which will have a safety and security zone around them. Sec. 165.T09-032 Safety and Security Zone; Huntington Cleveland Harbor Fest, Tall Ship Festival, Green Bay, Wisconsin, Sturgeon Bay, Wisconsin, Tall Ships Chicago 2006, Tall Ship Celebration, Saginaw River, Bay City, MI. (a) Definitions. The following definitions apply to this section: Navigation Rules means the Navigation Rules, International and Inland (See, 1972 COLREGS and 33 U.S.C. 2001 et seq.). Official Patrol means those persons designated by Captain of the Port Buffalo, Detroit, Sault Ste. Marie and Lake Michigan to monitor a Tall Ship safety and security zone, permit entry into the zone, give legally enforceable orders to persons or vessels within the zone and take other actions authorized by the cognizant Captain of the Port. Persons authorized in paragraph (i) to enforce this section are designated as the Official Patrol. Public Vessel means vessels owned, chartered, or operated by the United States, or by a State or political subdivision thereof. Tall Ship means any sailing vessel participating in the 2006 Tall Ships Challenge in the Great Lakes. The following vessels are participating in the 2006 Tall Ships Challenge: Sailing Vessel (S/V) Appledore IV, S/V Denis Sullivan, S/V Appledore V, S/V Friends Good Will, S/V Highlander Sea, S/V Niagara, S/V Madeline, S/V Nina, S/V Picton Castle, S/V Pathfinder, S/V Playfiar, S/V Providence, S/V Pride of Baltimore, S/V St. Lawrence II, S/V Red Witch, S/V Royaliste, S/V Windy, S/V Unicorn, and S/V Windy II. (b) Safety and Security zone. The following areas are safety and security zones: all navigable waters of United States located in the Ninth Coast Guard District within a 100 yard radius of any Tall Ship sailing vessel. (c) Effective Period. This section is effective from 12:01 a.m. (local) on Wednesday July 11, 2006 through 12:01 a.m. (local) on August 10, 2006. (d) Regulations. When within a Tall Ship safety and security zone all vessels must operate at the minimum speed necessary to maintain a safe course and must proceed as directed by the on-scene official patrol. No vessel or person is allowed within 25 yards of a Tall Ship that is underway, at anchor, or moored, unless authorized by the cognizant Captain of the Port, his designated representative, or on-scene official patrol. (e) Navigation Rules. The Navigation Rules shall apply at all times within a Tall Ship's security and safety zone. (f) To request authorization to operate within 25 yards of a large passenger vessel that is underway or at anchor, contact the on-scene official patrol on VHF-FM channel 16. (g) When conditions permit, the on-scene official patrol should: (1) Permit vessels constrained by their navigational draft or restricted in their ability to maneuver to pass within 25 yards of a Tall Ship in order to ensure a safe passage in accordance with the Navigation Rules; and (2) Permit vessels that must transit via a navigable channel or waterway to pass within 25 yards of a Tall Ship that is anchored or moored with minimal delay consistent with safety and security. (h) When a Tall Ship approaches within 25 yards of any vessel that is moored or anchored, the stationary vessel must stay moored or anchored while it remains within the Tall Ship's safety and security zone unless it is either ordered by, or given permission by Captain of the Port Buffalo, Detroit, Sault Ste. Marie or Lake Michigan, his designated representative, or the on-scene official patrol to do otherwise. (i) Enforcement. Any Coast Guard commissioned, warrant or petty officer may enforce the rules in this section. (j) Exemption. Public vessels as defined in paragraph (a) of this section are exempt from complying with paragraphs (b), (d), (f), (g), and (h) of this section. (k) Waiver. Captain of the Port Buffalo, Detroit, Sault Ste. Marie and Lake Michigan, may, within their respective Captain of the Port zones, waive any of the requirements of this section for any vessel or class of vessels upon finding that a vessel or class of vessels, operational conditions or other circumstances are such that application of this section is unnecessary or impractical for the purpose of port security, safety or environmental safety. Link to Federal Register: http://a257.g.akamaitech.net/7/257/2422/01jan20061800/edocket.access.gpo.gov/2006/pdf/e6-8544.pdf |
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| Last Updated ( Sunday, 09 July 2006 ) |
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