Coast Guard Has Concerns With Kailua Bay Fireworks Show

HONOLULU (D14 Public Affairs) - The U.S. Coast Guard today told the vendor hired to stage a Kailua Beach Park July 4th fireworks show that serious safety deficiencies in its operational plan have not been corrected and the plan cannot be approved in its current state.

Capt. Barry Compagnoni, the U.S. Coast Guard Captain of the Port, Honolulu, said the Coast Guard has been working for months with this particular vendor to help it come into compliance with federal safety regulations.

“It’s unfortunate because we know how important these shows are to the general public and we do not want to stand in the way,” said Compagnoni, the Coast Guard officer ultimately responsible for ensuring the fireworks show’s public safety plan is sound. “But in this case, there are just far too many safety concerns for the Coast Guard to overlook.”

Specific safety concerns cited by Compagnoni include: the company’s planned use of a vessel with no record of Coast Guard inspections, no commercial history and no record of prior safe operation; and, a lack of information about the vessel’s specific position during the show.

Normally, offshore fireworks displays are staged from commercial barges and the Coast Guard establishes a safety zone around the vessel.

“We realize the impact this will have and we realize it may be an unpopular result, but our job is to ensure people are safe. The Coast Guard has approved three other plans — for Hawaii Kai, Kailua-Kona and Lahaina — in the last few weeks. So, certainly we are not standing in the way of any fireworks shows.”

Fireworks shows in Hawaii are vetted through a multi-agency permitting process involving federal, state and county authorities. The Kailua Town Council is listed as the sponsor of the planned Kailua Bay event.

4th of July Maritime Safety Zones Established for Upper New York Bay

NEW YORK–The U.S. Coast Guard Captain of the Port of New York and New Jersey is establishing safety zones on the Upper New York Bay and East River for the annual Macy’s July 4th fireworks spectacular.

The Coast Guard has made a significant change to the safety zones over previous years. Since there will be no fireworks display between Liberty and Ellis Islands, boaters must not anchor or drift in the anchorage channel in the vicinity of Liberty and Ellis Islands and the Lower Hudson River. That area will remain open for navigation throughout the event.

The Coast Guard safety zone will remain in effect Friday, July 4, between 7:00 p.m. and 11:30 p.m. No vessel may enter or move within this zone without approval of the Coast Guard Patrol Commander, which is the Coast Guard Cutter Katherine Walker. The Coast Guard is monitoring marine band radio VHF channel 16.

Vessels 65-feet or greater may view the fireworks in the area bordered by the Williamsburg Bridge south of the East River main channel lighted buoy number 18, north of South 9th Street Brooklyn, and 200 yards from the Manhattan shoreline. Vessels must be inside the safety zone boundaries no later than 7:00 p.m., in position by 7:30 p.m. and must remain there until after 11:30 p.m.

The Staten Island Ferry will stop transiting at 8 p.m. and will resume their services at around 10 p.m.; this is subject to change.

The following are the boundaries for the safety zone (to see a chart visit http://www.uscgnewyork.com/):

* Buttermilk Channel between Brooklyn and Governors Island — vessels must remain south of a line drawn from the southwest corner of Pier 9A Brooklyn, to the southeast corner of Pier 101 and 102 at Governors Island
* Upper Bay between the Battery and Governors Island — vessels must remain west of a line drawn from the easternmost Battery Maritime Building pier to the easternmost Governors Island ferry terminal pier
* In the East River — vessels must remain north of a line drawn from East 47th Street Manhattan, through the southern tip of Roosevelt Island to 46th Avenue in Queens
* In Newtown Creek — vessels must remain east of the Pulaski Bascule Bridge

The Coast Guard will be on scene during the fireworks display and recommends boaters stay alert and aware throughout the event. People should never mix alcohol with boating and always wear a life jacket while on the water.