We are requesting your comments on planned actions that will allow the Coast Guard to prioritize lifesaving missions and protection of the Marine Transportation System in light of current personnel shortages. Like other military services, the Coast Guard is facing an unprecedented workforce shortage that is impacting Service readiness. The current and forecasted extent of the shortage is prompting significant actions to best protect the American public and maintain Service readiness. If actions are not taken to adjust operations, we can anticipate longer-term impacts to mission effectiveness and increased risk to our service members, as well as to commercial mariners and private boaters. In addition to leveraging technology and enhancing recruitment and retention efforts, operational adjustments must be executed within the existing response system while maintaining standards and an adherence to core mission execution. These adjustments fall into two categories: First, in regions where multiple units could respond if they were resourced appropriately, boats and people will be consolidated at one or more units to ensure a robust response. Secondly, in areas where the Coast Guard operates limited, or seasonal units that do not have sufficient personnel to respond, operations will be temporarily paused as resources are moved to higher priority areas. These adjustments will remain in effect until the Coast Guard has sufficient personnel to reconstitute these units.
Source: Federal Register USCG
Link: Operational Adjustments Resulting From Workforce Shortages

The Coast Guard is establishing a temporary safety zone for certain waters of the San Diego Bay. The safety zone is needed to protect personnel, vessels, and the marine environment from potential hazards during the XPONENTIAL 2024 demonstration. Entry of vessels or persons into this zone is prohibited unless specifically authorized by the Captain of the Port Sector San Diego.
Source: Federal Register USCG
Link: Safety Zone; San Diego Bay, San Diego, CA

The Coast Guard is proposing to amend the regulations for Los Angeles and Long Beach Harbors. This action would amend Anchorages F and G, and update anchorage usage and communication requirements. The purpose of this proposed rule is to improve navigation safety by modifying Anchorage F and G to accommodate an increased volume of vessel traffic and larger vessels calling on the Ports of Los Angeles and Long Beach and alleviate vessels anchoring near a subsea pipeline. We invite your comments on this proposed rulemaking.
Source: Federal Register USCG
Link: Anchorage Regulations; Los Angeles and Long Beach Harbors, California

The Coast Guard is establishing a temporary safety zone for certain navigable waters of the Corpus Christi Ship Channel. The safety zone is needed to protect personnel, vessels, and the marine environment from potential hazards created by the removal of pipeline from the floor of the Corpus Christi Ship Channel near mile markers 55 and 56. Entry of vessels or persons into this zone is prohibited unless specifically authorized by the Captain of the Port, Sector Corpus Christi or a designated representative.
Source: Federal Register USCG
Link: Safety Zone; Corpus Christi Ship Channel, Corpus Christi, TX

The Coast Guard is proposing to establish a temporary special local regulation in the Upper Bay of New York Harbor in support of Sail Grand Prix 2024 from June 21, 2024, through June 23, 2024. This special local regulation is necessary to provide for the safety of life from the dangers associated with high-speed sailing during the event. This proposed rulemaking would temporarily prohibit persons and vessels from entering, transiting through, blocking, or loitering within the event area, unless authorized by the Captain of the Port New York or a designated representative. We invite your comments on this proposed rulemaking.
Source: Federal Register USCG
Link: Special Local Regulation; Sail Grand Prix, Upper Bay, New York City, NY

The Coast Guard is establishing a temporary security zone on the Detroit River, in the vicinity of Detroit, MI. This zone is intended to restrict vessels from a portion of the Detroit River for the security of the spectators and participance of the 2024 NFL Draft from the public, and surrounding waterways from terrorist acts, sabotage or other subversive acts, accidents, or other causes of a similar nature. Persons and vessels are prohibited from entering into, transiting through, or anchoring within the security zone unless authorized by the Captain of the Port Detroit (COTP), or a designated representative. This temporary security zone is necessary to protect national security.
Source: Federal Register USCG
Link: Security Zone; 2024 NFL Draft, Detroit River, Detroit, MI

The Coast Guard is establishing a temporary safety zone on the Ohio River at 11 a.m. on April 14, 2024, at mile marker 6.2 to mile marker 13.3, through 11:59 p.m. on April 20, 2024. The safety zone is needed to protect personnel, vessels, and the marine environment from potential hazards created by an ongoing response and salvage operation after 26 barges broke free from a facility. Entry of vessels or persons into this zone is prohibited unless specifically authorized by the Captain of the Port Pittsburgh (COTP) or a designated representative.
Source: Federal Register USCG
Link: Safety Zone, Ohio River Mile Marker 6.2-13.3, Pittsburgh, PA

The Coast Guard is proposing to establish a temporary safety zone for certain waters of Seneca Lake near Sampson State Park, Romulus, NY. The safety zone is needed to protect personnel, vessels, and the marine environment from potential hazards created by a fireworks display. This proposed rulemaking would prohibit persons and vessels from being in the safety zone from 9:30 p.m. through 10:30 p.m., July 3, 2024 unless authorized by the Captain of the Port Eastern Great Lakes or a designated representative. We invite your comments on this proposed rulemaking.
Source: Federal Register USCG
Link: Safety Zone; Seneca Lake, Romulus, NY

The Coast Guard is announcing its intent to enter into a Cooperative Research and Development Agreement (CRADA) with Hughes Network Systems to build a Proof of Concept (POC) to understand the capabilities, benefits, risks, technical limitations, and performance associated with operating a proliferated low earth orbiting (pLEO) satellite system on Coast Guard ships at sea. The pLEO satellite system provides global broadband coverage, to include the extreme northern and southern latitudes, which have traditionally been limited to geostationary satellites. While the Coast Guard is currently considering partnering with Hughes Network Systems, we are soliciting public comment on the possible nature of and participation of other parties in the proposed CRADA. In addition, the Coast Guard also invites other potential non-Federal participants, who have the interest and capability to bring similar contributions to this type of research, to consider submitting proposals for consideration in similar CRADAs.
Source: Federal Register USCG
Link: Cooperative Research and Development Agreement: pLEO Satellite Systems for at Sea Global Coverage Including High Latitudes

The Coast Guard will enforce various special local regulations for annual regattas and marine parades on dates between April 27, 2024, and September 1, 2024, in the Captain of the Port Detroit zone. Enforcement of these regulations is necessary and intended to ensure safety of life on the navigable waters immediately prior to, during, and after these regattas or marine parades. During the aforementioned period, the Coast Guard will enforce restrictions upon, and control movement of, vessels in a specified area immediately prior to, during, and after regattas or marine parades.
Source: Federal Register USCG
Link: Special Local Regulations; Marine Events in the Coast Guard Sector Detroit Captain of the Port Zone-April to September 2024