BURLINGTON, Vt — The Coast Guard has extended the effective period of the safety zone between Crown Point, New York and Chimney Point, Vermont until May 15, 2010. The safety zone encompasses the waters to 300-ft of either side of the Lake Champlain Bridge construction zone and prohibits any vessels or persons from entering or remaining in this area without prior permission from the Captain of the Port Sector Northern New England.
Originally due to expire on April 15, the Coast Guard extended this safety zone because the New York State Department of Transportation (NYSDOT) is still removing debris from the main channel, making the area unsafe for vessels to transit the area. There are also frequent diver surveys of the area, and recreational traffic puts the lives of those divers at risk.
Any updates to this safety zone will be made by Broadcast Notice to Mariners on VHF channel 16 and 22 as well as in the Local Notice to Mariners, available at: http://www.navcen.uscg.gov/lnm/d1/default.htm.
Vessel operators can request to transit through the zone at no wake speed. To request permission to transit through the area, or for more information about this safety zone, contact Sector Northern New England via VHF channel 16 or by telephone at 207-767-0303.
