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The Coast Guard is establishing 11 safety zones on certain navigable waters in the Fifth Coast Guard District. This action is necessary to promote navigational safety, provide for the safety of life and property, and facilitate the reasonable demands of commerce where a threat to navigation exists due to ice covered waterways.

The 11 safety zones are located in the following Captain of the Port zones:

1) Coast Guard Sector Delaware Bay
2) Coast Guard Sector Maryland-National Capital Region
3) Coast Guard Sector Hampton Roads

Under this rule, a vessel needs permission from the cognizant COTP or the District Commander to enter or continue transiting a zone if, when approaching or after entering a safety zone, the vessel encounters ice of a given thickness, unless the COTP or the District Commander has set an ice condition for the zone or a portion of the zone and the vessel meets the associated requirements to transit the zone.

View the full Federal Register Notice  for a description of the 11 safety zones, the three ice conditions, and vessel requirements to transit.

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