United Nations East River Security Zones Scheduled
U.S. Coast Guard crewmembers are scheduled to enforce security zones on the East River near the United Nations Headquarters beginning Friday. The security zones scheduled to begin Sept. 16, and continue until Sept. 25, 2016, include all waters of the East River between East 35th Street and the Queensboro/59th Street Bridge. Zone (1): This zone is always in effect. No Vessels within 175 yards of Manhattan between East 35th Street and the Queensboro/59th Street Bridge in the West Channel of the East River.
East River Closes for United Nations General Assembly
The Coast Guard will enforce security zones on the East River during the United Nations General Assembly, periodically restricting vessel traffic in the upper harbor near the United Nations Headquarters, New York, starting at 7 a.m. Monday. The Coast Guard will be enforcing security zones, from Sept. 21-29, on the East River between East 35th Street and the Queensboro/59th Street Bridge. Zone 1: This zone is always in effect. No Vessels within 175 yards of Manhattan between East 35th Street and the Queensboro/59th Street Bridge in the West Channel of the East River.
This Day in U.S. Coast Guard History – February 10
1840- A House resolution was introduced to inquire into transferring the Revenue Marine to the Navy. 1992- Retired Coast Guard Chief Journalist Alex Haley, internationally noted author and the first person to ever hold that rate in the Coast Guard, crossed the bar. 1995-The 689-foot tank ship Mormac Star, carrying more than 4.7 million gallons of Jet A fuel and nearly 5.7 million gallons of number 2 diesel fuel, ran aground in Sandy Hook Channel, two miles off the beaches of Sandy Hook, New Jersey, spilling 33,600 gallons. COTP New York responded. Other responding units included Stations New York and Sandy Hook, VTS New York, and the Atlantic Area Strike Team. The spill was successfully contained and the vessel salvaged.
This Day in Coast Guard History – Feb. 10
1840- A House resolution was introduced to inquire into transferring the Revenue Marine to the Navy. 1992- Retired Coast Guard Chief Journalist Alex Haley, internationally noted author and the first person to ever hold that rate in the Coast Guard, crossed the bar. 1995-The 689-foot tank ship Mormac Star, carrying more than 4.7 million gallons of Jet A fuel and nearly 5.7 million gallons of number 2 diesel fuel, ran aground in Sandy Hook Channel, two miles off the beaches of Sandy Hook, New Jersey, spilling 33,600 gallons. COTP New York responded. Other responding units included Stations New York and Sandy Hook, VTS New York, and the Atlantic Area Strike Team. The spill was successfully contained and the vessel salvaged.
Legal Matters
Senator Slade Gorton (R-Wash.) introduced the "States Prevention of Oil Tanker Spills Act" (S. 2506), which seeks to reinstate Washington state oil tanker safety laws overturned by the Supreme Court in Intertanko v. Locke and United States v. Locke. In a press release, Senator Gorton said, "I disagree with the Court's decision, because I believe Washington State should be allowed to protect its shores as it sees fit." The Gorton legislation would reinstate the right of all states to adopt additional standards beyond existing federal requirements governing the operation, maintenance, equipment, personnel and manning of oil tankers. While the legislation would apply to all coastal states, Gorton's interest is focused on recently overturned Washington statutes.
New York Anchorage Regulations Proposed
The US Coast Guard proposes to revise its regulations for certain deep draft vessel anchorage areas within the Port of New York and New Jersey (PONYNJ) so as to reduce the maximum duration of stay from 30 days to 96 hours. Requests for extensions beyond 96 hours would be sought from Vessel Traffic Service (VTS) New York. Comments on the proposal should be submitted by December 18. 71 Fed. Reg. 66708 Source: HK Law
Comment Period Approaching for New AIS Rules
The comment period for vessel owner/operators affected by the Automated Identification System (AIS) ends July 31. AIS is a shipboard broadcast system that acts like a continuous and autonomous transponder, operating in the VHF maritime band. The system allows ships to easily track, identify and exchange pertinent navigation information from one another or ashore; for collision avoidance, security and VTS reporting. “This schedule is of particular importance to fishing vessels that travel to and from Alaska to Seattle,” said Capt. Richard Preston, chief of the Seventeenth Coast Guard District’s Operational Plans and Policy Division in Juneau.
