Navigating Safely: Tips for Commercial and Recreational Vessels Operating near Military Craft( continued from page 14)
intended collision avoidance maneuvers with nearby vessels, a U. S. submarine may in some circumstances, for security purposes, only identify itself as a“ U. S. Navy warship,” or“ U. S. Navy unit.”
Weapons Firing Exercises: The United States has established submarine operating areas for torpedo and missile practice firing exercises, the boundary limits and designations of which are shown on charts in magenta or purple lines. Vessels should proceed with caution in designated areas. There is a real danger that a well-intentioned ship or boat, unaware of these operations, might turn in the submarine’ s direction to investigate a submarine periscope. During torpedo practice firing, all vessels are cautioned to keep well clear of naval target vessels flying a large red flag.
Regulated Navigation Areas, Safety Zones, Security Zones, and Military Craft Under U. S. law, 33 U. S. C. § 91, the Secretary of Homeland Security is empowered to control the anchorage and movement of any vessel in the navigable waters of the United States to ensure the safety or security of any United States naval vessel in those waters.
Federal regulations governing Regulated Navigation Areas, Safety Zones, and Security Zones outlined in 33 CFR Part 165 establish different types of limited or controlled access areas to protect U. S. Coast Guard vessels and U. S. Navy and Coast Guard facilities.
U. S. naval vessels are protected by a system of rules and regulations, primarily through the Naval Vessel Protection Zone(“ NVPZ”) and the implementation of Homeland Security regulations.
U. S. naval vessels are protected by a system of rules and regulations, primarily through the Naval Vessel Protection Zone(“ NVPZ”) and the implementation of Homeland Security regulations. This includes establishing restricted zones around naval vessels, requiring commercial and recreational vessels to slow down and maintain minimum speed, and ensuring commercial and recreational vessels do not enter the NVPZ within certain distances without authorization to protect naval vessels from potential threats and maintain the security of U. S. waters.
The NVPZ regulations prohibit any commercial or recreational vessels from coming within 100 yards of the NVPZ and require that any such vessels slow to minimum speed within 500 yards of any large U. S. naval vessel( over 100 feet in length). Commercial or recreational vessels that need to pass within 100 yards of a large U. S. naval vessel within an NVPZ to operate safely in a navigable channel must contact the Coast Guard, the senior naval officer present in command, or the official patrol on VHF Channel 16. Violating the NVPZ Regulations is a felony offense, punishable by up to six years in prison and / or a $ 250,000 fine.
15 • MAINBRACE