Coast Guard Establishes Regulated Navigation Area and Safety Zone for Florida Keys

The Coast Guard has established a temporary regulated navigation area and temporary safety zone for waters within the Sector Key West Captain of the Port (COTP) Zone. First, vessels within the regulated navigation area within one nautical mile of land in the Florida Keys must operate at a slow speed.  Second, vessels are prohibited from entering into, anchoring, loitering, or movement within a safety zone of 25 yards around law enforcement vessels, salvage vessels, or visible wreckage in the Florida Keys.  These temporary regulations are necessary for the safety of persons, vessels, and property due to the large volume of debris, sunken vessels, and salvage operations associated with Hurricane Irma.

Slow speed means the speed at which a vessel proceeds when it is fully off plane, completely settled in the water, and not creating excessive wake.  Due to different speeds at which vessels of different sizes and configurations may travel while in compliance with this definition, no specific speed is assigned to slow speed.  A vessel is not proceeding at a slow speed if it is: (a) on a plane; (b) in the process of coming on or coming off a plane; or (c) creating an excessive wake.

This emergency rule is effective and will be enforced through 8 a.m. on October 1, 2017.

For further information, contact Lieutenant Commander Jose Rosario, Chief, Prevention Department, Sector Key West through the Sector Command Center at (305) 292-8727, (304) 433-3352, or by email at [email protected].

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