Page 17: of Maritime Reporter Magazine (April 2002)

Maritime Security j

Protection Zones In Place For USS Roosevelt's Return

As part of the Coast Guard's ongoing port security mission, extra Coast Guard boats and personnel provided armed escort and enforcing the Naval Vessel

Protection Zone (NVPZ) surrounding the USS Roosevelt Battle Group during its return to Hampton Roads, Va. on

March 27. "We're very proud of what our Sailors,

Soldiers, Airmen and Marines are doing overseas to protect our homeland,"

Coast Guard spokesman Lt. Cmdr.

Brendan McPherson said. "These pro- tection zones are a way of showing our support for our troops who routinely put themselves in harm's way for our

Nation."

More than 150 Coast Guard men and women from Coast Guard Group Hamp- ton Roads, the Marine Safety Office and a number of local boats and cutters, including the 210-ft. (64-m) cutter Dili- gence from Wilmington, N.C., conduct- ed a channel clearing operation on the morning of March 27.

A 500-yd. protection zone around each ship was also be enforced. Non-com- mercial vessels must remain at least 100 yds. away from any naval vessel and operate at minimum speed when within 500 yds.

All outbound commercial vessels on the southern and eastern branches of the

Elizabeth River must sail two hours before the scheduled naval vessel move- ment or must remain astern of and main- tain a safe distance from the naval ves- sels.

All inbound commercial vessels must be in the Capes one and one half hours ahead of the scheduled naval vessel to transit ahead of the battle group. Other- wise they must remain at anchor at Lyn- haven Anchorage or stay outside of the buoy marking the "C" anchorage.

Recreational vessels will be required to comply with the NVPZ restrictions and comply with all orders directed by the Coast Guard and Navy patrols.

Coast Guard Atlantic Area Comman- der Vice. Adm. Thad Allen established the Naval Vessel Protection Zone regula- tion effective from Sept. 14, 2001 to

June 15, 2002, providing another safety measure for Naval ships in the wake of the attacks on America.

A U.S. Naval vessel is considered to be any vessel owned, operated, char- tered or leased by the U.S. Navy; and any vessel under the operational control of the U.S. Navy or a unified comman- der.

As a result, the establishment and enforcement of NVPZs is a function directly involved in and necessary to military operations and the safety and security of naval commanders and per- sonnel.

Details Excerpted From the

Temporary Regulation • All vessels within 500 yards of a U.S. naval vessel must operate at the mini- mum speed necessary to maintain a safe course and proceed as directed by the official patrol. • Vessels are not allowed within 100 yds. of a U.S. naval vessel, unless authorized by USCG or Navy official. • Vessels requesting to pass within 100 yds. of a U.S. naval vessel must contact the official patrol on VHF-FM channel 16. • Under some circumstances, the official patrol may permit vessels that can only operate safely in a navigable channel to pass within 100 yds. of a U.S. naval ves- sel. • Under similar conditions, commercial vessels anchored in a designated anchor- age area may be permitted to remain at anchor within 100 yards of passing naval vessels.

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