Coast Guard crews on Oahu to enforce security zone for President Obama

HONOLULU — U.S. Coast Guard small boat crews will enforce a temporary security zone in waters of Kailua Bay along the eastern coast of Oahu, beginning Thursday. The temporary security zone is necessary to ensure the safety of President Obama and members of his official party.

The security zone will be in effect from 6 a.m. Thursday to 6 p.m., Jan. 5, 2010, unless canceled earlier by the U.S. Coast Guard Captain of the Port, Honolulu. There will be no public access allowed to the waters covered by the security zone.

Under the direction of the U.S. Secret Service, the U.S. Coast Guard is coordinating closely with the Honolulu Police Department, Marine Corps Base Hawaii and other county, state and federal law enforcement agencies on patrols of the security zone.

The maritime security zone includes a portion of Kailua Bay, beginning at Kapoho Point and extending westward to the shoreline at Namala Place, near the Castles surf spot. The zone also includes the adjacent Kaiwanui Channel beginning at Kapoho Point to a point 85 yards mauka of the North Kalaheo Avenue Road Bridge.

Yellow buoys will be placed on the water as visual aids for mariners to see the zone.

Under the U.S. Code of Federal Regulations (33 CFR 165.33), the temporary law prohibits any unauthorized person or vessel from entering or remaining in this security zone. Any person entering the zone without the permission of the U.S. Coast Guard Captain of the Port is subject to a penalty of not more than $25,000 for each violation or a criminal penalty resulting in imprisonment of not more than 10 years, and a fine of not more than $10,000. Offending vessels may also be seized and held liable for any monetary assessments.

“We recognize that this security zone may inconvenience some recreational users of the canal and ocean in that area,” said Capt. Barry Compagnoni, the U.S. Coast Guard Captain of the Port, Honolulu. “However, we have coordinated as closely as we can with the community and law enforcement to minimize the impact and still meet the requirements for security needed by the Secret Service and the president. We are hopeful the security zone will be unobtrusive and will not negatively impact very many ocean users during the president’s stay.”

The Coast Guard will also enforce a security zone in waters around Honolulu International Airport on Thursday from 6 a.m. to 10 p.m. The penalties for violation are the same as that of the Kailua Bay security zone.

During enforcement of both security zones, the U.S. Coast Guard will broadcast the information to mariners via VHF marine band radio channel 16.

To view the full Kailua Bay “Notice of Security Zone,” please visit www.regulations.gov and then insert the text “USCG-2009-1082” into the “Keyword” box and click “search.” For the security zone around Honolulu International Airport, enter “USCG-2009-0416.”


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