33 CFR Chapter I, Subchapter F - VESSEL OPERATING REGULATIONS

The Coast Guard has issued a temporary deviation from the operating schedule that governs the draw of the CSX Railroad Bridge, across Curtis Creek, mile 1.3, Baltimore, MD. This temporary deviation allows the swing bridge to remain in the closed to navigation position to facilitate railway tie replacement on the CSX Railroad swing bridge.

The Coast Guard has issued a temporary deviation from the regulations governing the operation of the Route 50 Bridge, over Isle of Wight (Sinepuxent) Bay, mile 0.5 at Ocean City, MD. The deviation is necessary to accommodate the 10th annual “Island 2 Island” Half Marathon. This deviation allows the Harry Kelly Bridge to remain in the closed position for the duration of the event.

The Coast Guard has issued a temporary deviation from the operating schedule that governs the Seattle Department of Transportation (SDOT) Fremont Bridge, across the Lake Washington Ship Canal, mile 2.6, at Seattle, WA. The Fremont Bridge is a double leaf bascule bridge. This deviation is necessary to allow the bridge to operate in single leaf mode while work crews conducting bridge painting are onsite. This deviation allows a double leaf opening with a five hour advance notice. For all other openings, one half of the bridge will remain in the closed position while reducing the vertical clearance of the non-operating span by four feet to account for the installation of a moveable platform underneath the bridge.

In this final rule the Coast Guard is updating our regulations to harmonize U.S. regulations with international conventions regarding oil pollution. We are amending the regulations covering Title 33: Navigation and Navigable Waters to align with recent amendments to Annex I of the International Convention for the Prevention of Pollution from Ships, 1973, as modified by the Protocol of 1978, which were adopted by the International Maritime Organization's Marine Environment Protection Committee during its 52nd, 54th, 55th, and 59th sessions. This final rule also amends sections of the Vessel Response Plan regulations to include the Safety of Life at Sea Material Safety Data Sheets as an equivalent hazardous communications standard.

In this final rule the Coast Guard is updating our regulations to harmonize U.S. regulations with international conventions regarding oil pollution. We are amending the regulations covering Title 33: Navigation and Navigable Waters to align with recent amendments to Annex I of the International Convention for the Prevention of Pollution from Ships, 1973, as modified by the Protocol of 1978, which were adopted by the International Maritime Organization's Marine Environment Protection Committee during its 52nd, 54th, 55th, and 59th sessions. This final rule also amends sections of the Vessel Response Plan regulations to include the Safety of Life at Sea Material Safety Data Sheets as an equivalent hazardous communications standard.

Consistent with statutory requirements and provisions, the Coast Guard is expanding the applicability of notice of arrival (NOA) and automatic identification system (AIS) requirements to include more commercial vessels. This final rule amends the applicability of notice of arrival requirements to include additional vessels, sets forth a mandatory method for electronic submission of NOAs, and modifies related reporting content, timeframes, and procedures. This final rule also extends the applicability of AIS requirements beyond Vessel Traffic Service (VTS) areas to all U.S. navigable waters, and requires that additional commercial vessels install and use AIS, consistent with statutory requirements, and in limited cases, the Secretary's discretionary authority. These changes will improve navigation safety, enhance our ability to identify and track vessels, and heighten our overall maritime domain awareness (MDA), thus helping us address threats to maritime transportation safety and security.

Consistent with statutory requirements and provisions, the Coast Guard is expanding the applicability of notice of arrival (NOA) and automatic identification system (AIS) requirements to include more commercial vessels. This final rule amends the applicability of notice of arrival requirements to include additional vessels, sets forth a mandatory method for electronic submission of NOAs, and modifies related reporting content, timeframes, and procedures. This final rule also extends the applicability of AIS requirements beyond Vessel Traffic Service (VTS) areas to all U.S. navigable waters, and requires that additional commercial vessels install and use AIS, consistent with statutory requirements, and in limited cases, the Secretary's discretionary authority. These changes will improve navigation safety, enhance our ability to identify and track vessels, and heighten our overall maritime domain awareness (MDA), thus helping us address threats to maritime transportation safety and security.

Consistent with statutory requirements and provisions, the Coast Guard is expanding the applicability of notice of arrival (NOA) and automatic identification system (AIS) requirements to include more commercial vessels. This final rule amends the applicability of notice of arrival requirements to include additional vessels, sets forth a mandatory method for electronic submission of NOAs, and modifies related reporting content, timeframes, and procedures. This final rule also extends the applicability of AIS requirements beyond Vessel Traffic Service (VTS) areas to all U.S. navigable waters, and requires that additional commercial vessels install and use AIS, consistent with statutory requirements, and in limited cases, the Secretary's discretionary authority. These changes will improve navigation safety, enhance our ability to identify and track vessels, and heighten our overall maritime domain awareness (MDA), thus helping us address threats to maritime transportation safety and security.

Consistent with statutory requirements and provisions, the Coast Guard is expanding the applicability of notice of arrival (NOA) and automatic identification system (AIS) requirements to include more commercial vessels. This final rule amends the applicability of notice of arrival requirements to include additional vessels, sets forth a mandatory method for electronic submission of NOAs, and modifies related reporting content, timeframes, and procedures. This final rule also extends the applicability of AIS requirements beyond Vessel Traffic Service (VTS) areas to all U.S. navigable waters, and requires that additional commercial vessels install and use AIS, consistent with statutory requirements, and in limited cases, the Secretary's discretionary authority. These changes will improve navigation safety, enhance our ability to identify and track vessels, and heighten our overall maritime domain awareness (MDA), thus helping us address threats to maritime transportation safety and security.

Consistent with statutory requirements and provisions, the Coast Guard is expanding the applicability of notice of arrival (NOA) and automatic identification system (AIS) requirements to include more commercial vessels. This final rule amends the applicability of notice of arrival requirements to include additional vessels, sets forth a mandatory method for electronic submission of NOAs, and modifies related reporting content, timeframes, and procedures. This final rule also extends the applicability of AIS requirements beyond Vessel Traffic Service (VTS) areas to all U.S. navigable waters, and requires that additional commercial vessels install and use AIS, consistent with statutory requirements, and in limited cases, the Secretary's discretionary authority. These changes will improve navigation safety, enhance our ability to identify and track vessels, and heighten our overall maritime domain awareness (MDA), thus helping us address threats to maritime transportation safety and security.

Consistent with statutory requirements and provisions, the Coast Guard is expanding the applicability of notice of arrival (NOA) and automatic identification system (AIS) requirements to include more commercial vessels. This final rule amends the applicability of notice of arrival requirements to include additional vessels, sets forth a mandatory method for electronic submission of NOAs, and modifies related reporting content, timeframes, and procedures. This final rule also extends the applicability of AIS requirements beyond Vessel Traffic Service (VTS) areas to all U.S. navigable waters, and requires that additional commercial vessels install and use AIS, consistent with statutory requirements, and in limited cases, the Secretary's discretionary authority. These changes will improve navigation safety, enhance our ability to identify and track vessels, and heighten our overall maritime domain awareness (MDA), thus helping us address threats to maritime transportation safety and security.

Consistent with statutory requirements and provisions, the Coast Guard is expanding the applicability of notice of arrival (NOA) and automatic identification system (AIS) requirements to include more commercial vessels. This final rule amends the applicability of notice of arrival requirements to include additional vessels, sets forth a mandatory method for electronic submission of NOAs, and modifies related reporting content, timeframes, and procedures. This final rule also extends the applicability of AIS requirements beyond Vessel Traffic Service (VTS) areas to all U.S. navigable waters, and requires that additional commercial vessels install and use AIS, consistent with statutory requirements, and in limited cases, the Secretary's discretionary authority. These changes will improve navigation safety, enhance our ability to identify and track vessels, and heighten our overall maritime domain awareness (MDA), thus helping us address threats to maritime transportation safety and security.

Consistent with statutory requirements and provisions, the Coast Guard is expanding the applicability of notice of arrival (NOA) and automatic identification system (AIS) requirements to include more commercial vessels. This final rule amends the applicability of notice of arrival requirements to include additional vessels, sets forth a mandatory method for electronic submission of NOAs, and modifies related reporting content, timeframes, and procedures. This final rule also extends the applicability of AIS requirements beyond Vessel Traffic Service (VTS) areas to all U.S. navigable waters, and requires that additional commercial vessels install and use AIS, consistent with statutory requirements, and in limited cases, the Secretary's discretionary authority. These changes will improve navigation safety, enhance our ability to identify and track vessels, and heighten our overall maritime domain awareness (MDA), thus helping us address threats to maritime transportation safety and security.

Consistent with statutory requirements and provisions, the Coast Guard is expanding the applicability of notice of arrival (NOA) and automatic identification system (AIS) requirements to include more commercial vessels. This final rule amends the applicability of notice of arrival requirements to include additional vessels, sets forth a mandatory method for electronic submission of NOAs, and modifies related reporting content, timeframes, and procedures. This final rule also extends the applicability of AIS requirements beyond Vessel Traffic Service (VTS) areas to all U.S. navigable waters, and requires that additional commercial vessels install and use AIS, consistent with statutory requirements, and in limited cases, the Secretary's discretionary authority. These changes will improve navigation safety, enhance our ability to identify and track vessels, and heighten our overall maritime domain awareness (MDA), thus helping us address threats to maritime transportation safety and security.

Consistent with statutory requirements and provisions, the Coast Guard is expanding the applicability of notice of arrival (NOA) and automatic identification system (AIS) requirements to include more commercial vessels. This final rule amends the applicability of notice of arrival requirements to include additional vessels, sets forth a mandatory method for electronic submission of NOAs, and modifies related reporting content, timeframes, and procedures. This final rule also extends the applicability of AIS requirements beyond Vessel Traffic Service (VTS) areas to all U.S. navigable waters, and requires that additional commercial vessels install and use AIS, consistent with statutory requirements, and in limited cases, the Secretary's discretionary authority. These changes will improve navigation safety, enhance our ability to identify and track vessels, and heighten our overall maritime domain awareness (MDA), thus helping us address threats to maritime transportation safety and security.

The Coast Guard has issued a temporary deviation from the operating schedule that governs the Metro-North WALK Bridge across the Norwalk River, mile 0.1, at Norwalk, Connecticut. This deviation will test a change to the drawbridge operation schedule to determine whether a permanent change to the schedule is needed. This deviation will allow the Metro-North WALK Bridge to operate under an alternate schedule to facilitate the high volume of rail service across the Metro-North WALK Bridge at peak hours, while balancing both the needs of rail and marine traffic.

The Coast Guard is revising and consolidating existing regulated navigation areas, security zones and safety zones currently in place in Apra Harbor, Guam. This action will replace existing redundant, potentially confusing and outdated navigation regulations with a cogent regulatory framework in order to better meet the needs of the community and help ensure the safe and efficient use of the harbor.

The United States Coast Guard is establishing a Regulated Navigation Area (RNA) on the navigable waters of the Piscataqua River under and surrounding the Sarah Mildred Long Bridge between Portsmouth, NH and Kittery, ME. This RNA will allow the United States Coast Guard to enforce speed and wake restrictions and limit vessel traffic through the RNA during bridge replacement operations, both planned and unforeseen, which could pose an imminent hazard to persons and vessels operating in the area. This rule is necessary to provide for the safety of life on the navigable waters during bridge structural repair operations.

The Coast Guard is establishing a temporary safety zone within the Lake Moolvalya region of the navigable waters of the Colorado River in Parker, Arizona in support of the Arizona Drag Boat Association sponsored race event, the Blue Water Resort and Casino Southwest Showdown. This safety zone is established to ensure the safety of participants, crew, spectators, participating vessels, and other vessels and users of the waterway. Unauthorized persons and vessels are prohibited from entering into, transiting through, or anchoring within this safety zone unless authorized by the Captain of the Port, or their designated representative. The Coast Guard requests public comments on the temporary safety zone.

The Coast Guard has issued a temporary deviation from the method of operation for the Victoria Barge Canal Railroad Bridge across the Victoria Barge Canal, mile 29.4 at Bloomington, Victoria County, Texas. The bridge will continue to open on signal. The bridge owner, the Victoria County Navigation District, in conjunction with the Union Pacific Railroad (UPRR), the operator of the bridge, requested permission to remotely operate the bridge. This deviation tests a remote operating system as the method for opening the bridge under the existing operating schedule to determine whether a permanent change to remote operations can be approved.

The Coast Guard has issued a temporary deviation from the operating schedule that governs the Amtrak Railroad Bridge across the Mystic River, mile 2.4, at Mystic, Connecticut. This deviation is necessary to allow the bridge owner to perform mechanical and electrical repairs at the bridge. This deviation allows the bridge to remain closed for two 14 day closures and two 10 day closures.

The Coast Guard has issued a temporary deviation from the operating schedule that governs the NC Route 50-210 Highway Bridge, on the Atlantic Intracoastal Waterway, mile 260.7, in Surf City, NC. This drawbridge is presently regulated to open on signal for commercial vessels and pleasure vessels, except between 7 a.m. and 7 p.m. when the draw need only open on the hour for pleasure vessels. To facilitate necessary repairs, this deviation allows for the bridge to remain closed to navigation from 6 p.m. on February 22, 2015 to 6 p.m. February 24, 2015, except for two openings at 10 a.m. and 3 p.m. each day.

The Coast Guard is amending 33 CFR 165.164 by establishing three security zones to replace the three regulated navigation areas (RNAs) currently contained within this section. The Coast Guard is also disestablishing these three RNAs. The three security zones, just like the RNAs they replace, are meant to promote public safety and to protect dignitaries who visit the United Nations in New York, NY.

The Coast Guard is establishing a temporary safety zone encompassing certain waters of Kent Island Narrows in Queen Anne's County, MD. This action is necessary to provide for the safety of mariners and their vessels on navigable waters during bridge repairs at the Kent Narrows (MD-18B) Draw Bridge. This action is intended to restrict vessel traffic movement to protect mariners from potential safety hazards associated with the bridge project scheduled to occur in the federal navigation channel between December 15, 2014 and February 16, 2015. Entry into this zone is prohibited unless specifically authorized by the Captain of the Port Baltimore or his designated representative.

The Coast Guard is establishing temporary safety zones for all of Tampa Bay during periods of reduced visibility. The safety zones will be enforced when visibility falls below one nautical mile. Tampa Bay will be categorized into seven zones in order to close only the affected areas of Tampa Bay. Heavy fog affects Tampa Bay an average of 22 days annually, mainly between the months of November through March. These safety zones are necessary to protect commercial traffic from the hazards resulting from reduced visibility. Entering, transiting within, or transiting through this safety zone is prohibited unless authorized by the Captain of the Port St. Petersburg or a designated representative.

The Coast Guard has issued a temporary deviation from the operating schedule that governs the Norfolk Southern Railroad Drawbridge, across Trent River, mile 0.2, at New Bern, NC, to facilitate a rehabilitation project. This bridge presently opens on demand for navigation and is usually left in the open position only to close twice a day for train crossings. This deviation allows the bridge to remain closed to navigation from 8 a.m. Monday, December 15, 2014 until 7 p.m. Friday, December 19, 2014, so that necessary maintenance may be made. The deviation is necessary to facilitate removal and replacement of the rail lift joints.

The Coast Guard is establishing a temporary safety zone on Lake Michigan north of Navy Pier, Chicago, IL. This safety zone is intended to restrict vessels from a designated portion of Lake Michigan for salvage operations of a sunken barge. This temporary safety zone is necessary to protect the surrounding public and vessels from the hazards associated with salvage operations.

The Coast Guard is issuing this final rule to make non-substantive changes to its regulations. This final rule makes conforming amendments and technical corrections to the Coast Guard's Inland Navigation Rules. These changes will have no substantive effect on the regulated public.

This document provides required notice of substantive rules issued by the Coast Guard and that were made temporarily effective between July 2014 and September 2014, and that expired before they could be published in the Federal Register. This notice lists temporary safety zones, security zones, special local regulations, drawbridge operation regulations and regulated navigation areas, all of limited duration and for which timely publication in the Federal Register was not possible.

This document provides required notice of substantive rules issued by the Coast Guard and that were made temporarily effective between July 2014 and September 2014, and that expired before they could be published in the Federal Register. This notice lists temporary safety zones, security zones, special local regulations, drawbridge operation regulations and regulated navigation areas, all of limited duration and for which timely publication in the Federal Register was not possible.

This document provides required notice of substantive rules issued by the Coast Guard and that were made temporarily effective between July 2014 and September 2014, and that expired before they could be published in the Federal Register. This notice lists temporary safety zones, security zones, special local regulations, drawbridge operation regulations and regulated navigation areas, all of limited duration and for which timely publication in the Federal Register was not possible.

The Coast Guard has issued a temporary deviation from the operating schedule that governs the Washington State Route 529 (SR 529) twin bridge south bound across the Snohomish River, mile 3.6, at Everett, WA. The deviation is necessary to facilitate adjustment of newly installed bridge joints. This deviation allows the bridges to remain in the closed position during adjustment and maintenance activities.

The Coast Guard is establishing a Regulated Navigation Area (RNA) for the waters of Lake Michigan within 5 nautical miles from shore from the Chicago Harbor Lock, Chicago, Illinois to Calumet Harbor, Chicago, Illinois. This RNA is intended to allow barges to transit on an alternate route on a portion of Lake Michigan due to the temporary closure of the Thomas J. O'Brien Lock on RM 326.5 on the Calumet River. This RNA is necessary to ensure vessel safety and facilitate commerce.

The Coast Guard will enforce the Sea World San Diego 2014 Firework safety zone on November 15, December 12, and December 31, 2014. These reoccurring annual firework display events occur on the navigable waters of Mission Bay in San Diego, California. This action is necessary to provide for the safety of the marine event crew, spectators, safety vessels, and general users of the waterway. During the enforcement period, persons and vessels are prohibited from entering into, transiting through, or anchoring within this regulated area unless authorized by the Captain of the Port, or his designated representative.

The Coast Guard is establishing a temporary safety zone for all waters of the Lower Mississippi River from mile marker 170 to mile marker 172 extending the entire width of the river, in the vicinity of the Houma's House Plantation and Garden, Darrow, LA. This safety zone is necessary to protect persons and vessels from potential safety hazards associated with a barge based fireworks display on the Lower Mississippi River at mile marker 171. Entry into this zone is prohibited unless specifically authorized by the Captain of the Port (COTP) New Orleans or a designated representative.

The Coast Guard has issued a temporary deviation from the operating schedule that governs the SR 661 Swing Bridge across the Houma Navigation Canal, mile 36.0, in Houma, Terrebonne Parish, Louisiana. This deviation allows the bridge to remain closed to navigation for up to four hours at a time during daylight hours for the purpose of conducting necessary maintenance and repairs to the drawbridge.

The Coast Guard has issued a temporary deviation from the operating schedule that governs the operation of the Metropolitan Avenue Bridge across English Kills, mile 3.4, at Brooklyn, New York. The bridge owner, New York City Department of Transportation, will be performing electrical repairs at the bridge. This deviation is necessary to allow the bridge to remain in the closed position for three days to facilitate scheduled bridge maintenance.

The Coast Guard has issued a temporary deviation from the operating schedule that governs the operation of the New Jersey Transit Rail Operations (NJTRO) railroad bridge across Cheesequake Creek, mile 0.2, at Morgan, New Jersey. The bridge owner will be performing structural repairs at the bridge. This deviation is necessary to allow the bridge to have only scheduled openings for two weekends to facilitate scheduled bridge maintenance.

The Coast Guard is establishing a regulated navigation area (RNA) on a portion of the Lower Duwamish Waterway in Seattle, Washington. The RNA will protect the riverbed in the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency's (EPA) Slip 4 Early Action Area (EAA). This RNA would prohibit activities that could disrupt the integrity of the engineered sediment and slope caps that have been placed within the Slip 4 EAA. These activities include vessel grounding, anchoring, dragging, trawling, spudding or other such activities that would disturb the riverbed. It will not affect transit or navigation of this area.

The Coast Guard has issued a temporary deviation from the operating schedule that governs the I-64 (High Rise) Bridge across the AIWW, South Branch of the Elizabeth River, mile 7.1, at Chesapeake, VA. This deviation is necessary to facilitate maintenance work on the movable spans drive machinery. This temporary deviation allows the drawbridge to remain in the closed to navigation position.

The Coast Guard is establishing a Regulated Navigation Area (RNA) on the navigable waters of the Piscataqua River surrounding Bridge 1 between Kittery, ME, and Seavey Island, ME. This RNA allows the Coast Guard to enforce speed and wake restrictions and limit vessel traffic through the RNA during operations involving bridge structural repairs, both planned and unforeseen, which could pose an imminent hazard to persons and vessels operating in the area. This rule is necessary to provide for the safety of life on the navigable waters during bridge structural repair operations.

The Coast Guard is establishing a temporary safety zone on the navigable waters of the Mill River, in New Haven, CT for the English Station Emergency Environmental Response. This action is necessary to provide for the safety of life on navigable waters during the response. Entering into, transiting through, remaining, anchoring or mooring within this safety zone is prohibited unless authorized by the Captain of the Port (COTP) Sector Long Island Sound.

The Coast Guard is establishing a temporary safety zone for all waters of the Tennessee River between mile 4.8 and 5.8. This safety zone is needed to protect persons, property, and infrastructure from potential damage and safety hazards associated with using explosives to demolish the section of the bridge that is over the navigation channel and the resulting recovery of the section from the waterway. Entry into the safety zone is prohibited unless specifically authorized by the Captain of the Port (COTP) Ohio Valley or a designated representative.

The Coast Guard has issued a temporary deviation from the operating schedule that governs the Jefferson Street Drawbridge across the Illinois River, mile 287.9, at Joliet, Illinois. The deviation is necessary to allow the Fall Color 5K run to cross the bridge. This deviation allows the bridge to remain in the closed-to-navigation position and not open to vessel traffic for one hour.

The Coast Guard has issued a temporary deviation from the operating schedule that governs the US 70/Alfred C. Cunningham Bridge across the Trent River, mile 0.0, at New Bern, NC. The deviation is necessary to allow the annual Neuse River Bridge Run participants to safely complete their race without interruptions from bridge openings. This deviation allows the bridge draw span to remain in the closed-to-navigation position for three hours to accommodate the race.

The Coast Guard published a final rule in the Federal Register on September 22, 2014, which removes references to type codes in its regulations on the carriage and labeling of Coast Guard-approved personal flotation devices. Two extra characters were included in the phone number for the Coast Guard person to contact for more information about that rule. This document corrects that phone number.

The Coast Guard will enforce the annual Blue Water Resort and Casino (BWRC) Parker Enduro marine event and associated waterway restriction special local regulations on October 24-26, 2014. This event occurs in the navigable waters of the Colorado River in Parker, Arizona between river miles 179 and 185 (between the Roadrunner Resort and the Headgate Dam). These special local regulations are necessary to provide for the safety of the participants, crew, spectators, and general users of the waterway. During the enforcement period, persons and vessels are prohibited from entering into, transiting through, or anchoring within this regulated area unless authorized by the Captain of the Port, or his designated representative.

The Coast Guard is establishing a temporary safety zone on the Fox River in Green Bay, Wisconsin. This safety zone is intended to restrict vessels from a portion of the Fox River due to demolition work on a railroad bridge. This temporary safety zone is necessary to protect the surrounding public and vessels from the hazards associated with the bridge demolition.

The Coast Guard has issued a temporary deviation from the operating schedule that governs the Bacon Island Road Drawbridge across Middle River, mile 8.6, between Bacon Island and Lower Jones Tract, CA. The deviation is necessary to allow the bridge owner to perform structural maintenance work to the bridge. This deviation allows the bridge to remain in the closed-to-navigation position during the deviation period.