In support of Super Bowl XLVII, a team of federal, state and local law enforcement agencies begin maritime safety and security operations on the lower Mississippi River, Monday. Response boats, patrol vehicles and enforcement personnel from more than 16 law enforcement agencies will conduct maritime security operations in the downtown New Orleans area and at the Port of New Orleans.
All agencies will work together within a unified command, lead by the Port of New Orleans Harbor Police Department and the U.S. Coast Guard, to provide a coordinated safe and secure environment for Super Bowl participants and the general public. This level of interagency coordination for the Super Bowl is the culmination of several months of planning involving all law enforcement agencies.
"The cooperation and commitment to this operation by all agencies has been outstanding," said Cmdr. Russ Bowen, chief of response, Coast Guard Sector New Orleans. "Everyone has brought their best to the table. We will have the best possible safety and security measures in place to facilitate normal use of the waterways alongside a safe and secure Super Bowl experience for all."
The Super Bowl marks the first multi-agency operation to be conducted in the Port of New Orleans Maritime Security Operations Center, one of the five new maritime security interagency operations centers located on the lower Mississippi River.
Participating agencies include the following:
-New Orleans Harbor Police Department;
-U.S. Coast Guard;
-Louisiana Department of Wildlife and Fisheries;
-Louisiana National Guard;
-U.S. Customs and Border Protection;
-Joint Task Force Seven;
-Jefferson Parish Sheriff's Office;
-Transportation Security Administration;
-Homeland Security Investigations;
-Louisiana Department of Wildlife ;and Fisheries;
-Gretna Police Department;
-East Jefferson Levee District Police;
-Orleans Levee District Police;
-East Baton Rouge Police Department;
-St. Bernard's Parish Sheriff's Office;
-New Orleans Fire Department;
-Department of Energy.
The Coast Guard will establish a maritime safety zone in the vicinity of Woldenburg Park at 6 a.m. Tuesday and ending at 6 a.m. Feb. 4. The safety zone extends 300 feet from the East Bank of the Mississippi River, from mile marker 94 to mile marker 96. Additionally, the Coast Guard will establish a safety zone in the vicinity of Canal Street from mile marker 94.5 to mile marker 96.5, extending the entire width of the river to protect persons and vessels from potential safety hazards associated with the fireworks shows, which will be enforced on:
- Thursday, Jan. 31 from 6:15 p.m. to 7 p.m.;
- Friday, Feb. 1 from 7:15 p.m. to 8 p.m.;
- Friday, Feb. 1 from 9:30 p.m. to 10:15 p.m.;
- Saturday, Feb 2 from 7:15 p.m. to 8 p.m.;
- Sunday, Feb. 3, beginning after the conclusion after the Super Bowl and lasting for approximately 45 minutes.