NEW YORK – The U.S. Coast Guard Captain of the Port (COTP) of New York and New Jersey is establishing security zones and Naval Vessel Protection Zones on the Upper New York Bay and Hudson River during the 2011 New York City Fleet Week.
The U.S. Coast Guard has established a 500-yard safety and security zone surrounding all Fleet Week 2011 participatory vessels in navigable waters. When within the 500-yard safety and security zone, all vessels shall operate at the minimum safe speed necessary to maintain course and shall proceed as directed by the Coast Guard or Navy. Other law enforcement agencies will assist in maintaining the zones. No vessel or person is allowed within 100 yards of naval vessels without permission of the Coast Guard COTP.
The following are general restrictions for the Hudson River and Upper New York Bay during the May 25 parade of ships and throughout Fleet Week:
- The Coast Guard will establish a moving safety zone around the parade of ships column including all waters 500-yards ahead and astern and 200-yards on either side of the designated vessels, during the parade of ships, beginning at approximately 7:30 a.m.
- The Coast Guard patrol commander may authorize commercial passenger vessels on established ferry routes and other vessels to cross ahead or between naval vessels at a 350-yard distance. Vessels must operate at the minimum speed necessary to maintain safe course while crossing parade formation. All vessel traffic in the Hudson River shall transit to the west of the parade column and shall operate at the minimum speed necessary to maintain safe course. Following the passage of the last naval vessel in formation all transits shall be coordinated with Coast Guard Vessel Traffic Service (VTS) New York.
- No vessels are authorized within the restricted area around the Stapleton homeport pier on Staten Island from 8 a.m., Tuesday, May 24, 2011 through 8 p.m., Wednesday, June 1, 2011.
- No vessels are authorized within 250 yards of the Manhattan Cruise Terminal on the Hudson River between the southeast corner of Pier 86 and the northeast corner of Pier 92, from 4:00 a.m., Tuesday, May 24, 2011 through 8:00 p.m., Wednesday, June 1, 2011, with the exception of scheduled cruise ship arrivals and departures.
- There is a scheduled 17-gun salute from the USS Iwo Jima near Fort Hamilton at 10:46 a.m. and a rendering of honors at the World Trade Center site at 11:22 a.m. Wednesday.
- Beginning 4 a.m. Wednesday, May 25, 2011, Hudson River Anchorage 19 and Gravesend Anchorage are closed to commercial vessels until 11:30 a.m. Stapleton Anchorage 23 Bravo is closed to commercial vessels from 4 a.m. Wednesday, May 25, 2011 to Wednesday, June 1, 2011.
- Ambrose Channel will be closed to outbound traffic from 6 a.m. to 11:30 a.m. and closed to inbound traffic from 7 a.m. to 11 a.m. Wednesday May 25, 2011.
- The Coast Guard patrol commander can be contacted via VHF-channel 22.
Entry into or movement within the restricted zones is prohibited unless authorized by the Coast Guard COTP or the designated on-scene representative. Any person violating this regulation is subject to a penalty of up to $50,000 and imprisonment for not more than 5 years.
The potential exists for unanticipated delays to ship movement and implementation of additional vessel controls with little or no warning within the port of New York and New Jersey from Wednesday, May 25, through Wednesday, June 1, 2011. For the most up to date information on current restrictions please contact Coast Guard VTS New York at (718) 354-4088.
