165.1318—Security and Safety Zone Regulations, Large Passenger Vessel Protection, Captain of the Port Columbia River Zone

(a) Notice of enforcement or suspension of enforcement. The large passenger vessel security and safety zone established by this section will be enforced only upon notice by the Captain of the Port Columbia River. Captain of the Port Columbia River will cause notice of the enforcement of the large passenger vessel security and safety zone to be made by all appropriate means to effect the widest publicity among the affected segments of the public including publication in the Federal Register as practicable, in accordance with 33 CFR 165.7(a). Such means of notification may also include but are not limited to, Broadcast Notice to Mariners or Local Notice to Mariners. The Captain of the Port Columbia River will issue a Broadcast Notice to Mariners and Local Notice to Mariners notifying the public when enforcement of the large passenger vessel security and safety zone is suspended.

(b) Definitions. As used in this section—

Federal Law Enforcement Officer means any employee or agent of the United States government who has the authority to carry firearms and make warrantless arrests and whose duties involve the enforcement of criminal laws of the United States.

Large passenger vessel means any vessel over 100 feet in length (33 meters) carrying passengers for hire including, but not limited to, cruise ships, auto ferries, passenger ferries, and excursion vessels.

Large passenger vessel security and safety zone is a regulated area of water, established by this section, surrounding large passenger vessels for a 500 yard radius that is necessary to provide for the security and safety of these vessels.

Navigable waters of the United States means those waters defined as such in 33 CFR part 2.

Navigation Rules means the Navigation Rules, International-Inland.

Official Patrol means those persons designated by the Captain of the Port to monitor a large passenger vessel security and safety zone, permit entry into the zone, give legally enforceable orders to persons or vessels with in the zone and take other actions authorized by the Captain of the Port. Persons authorized as Federal Law Enforcement Officers to enforce this section are designated as the Official Patrol.

Oregon Law Enforcement Officer means any Oregon Peace Officer as defined in Oregon Revised Statutes section 161.015.

Public vessel means vessels owned, chartered, or operated by the United States, or by a State or political subdivision thereof.

Washington Law Enforcement Officer means any General Authority Washington Peace Officer, Limited Authority Washington Peace Officer, or Specially Commissioned Washington Peace Officer as defined in Revised Code of Washington section 10.93.020.

(c) Security and safety zone. There is established a large passenger vessel security and safety zone extending for a 500 yard radius around all large passenger vessels in the navigable waters of the United States, in Portland, OR at the Columbia River Bar “C” buoy and extending eastward on the Columbia River to Kennewick, WA and upriver through Lewiston, ID on the Snake River.

(d) Compliance. The large passenger vessel security and safety zone established by this section remains in effect around large passenger vessels at all times, whether the large passenger vessel is underway, anchored, or moored. Upon notice of enforcement by the Captain of the Port Columbia River, the Coast Guard will enforce the large passenger vessel security and safety zone in accordance with rules set out in this section. Upon notice of suspension of enforcement by the Captain of the Port Columbia River, all persons and vessels are authorized to enter, transit, and exit the large passenger vessel security and safety zone, consistent with the Navigation Rules.

(e) Navigation Rules. The Navigation Rules shall apply at all times within a large passenger vessel security and safety zone.

(f) Restrictions based on distance from large passenger vessel. When within a large passenger vessel security and safety zone, all vessels shall operate at the minimum speed necessary to maintain a safe course and shall proceed as directed by the on-scene official patrol or large passenger vessel master. No vessel or person is allowed within 100 yards of a large passenger vessel that is underway or at anchor, unless authorized by the on-scene official patrol or large passenger vessel master.

(g) Requesting authorization to operate within 100 yards of large passenger vessel. To request authorization to operate within 100 yards of a large passenger vessel that is underway or at anchor, contact the on-scene official patrol or large passenger vessel master on VHF-FM channel 16 or 13.

(h) Maneuver-restricted vessels. When conditions permit, the on-scene official patrol or large passenger vessel master should:

(1) Permit vessels constrained by their navigational draft or restricted in their ability to maneuver to pass within 100 yards of a large passenger vessel in order to ensure a safe passage in accordance with the Navigation Rules; and

(2) Permit commercial vessels anchored in a designated anchorage area to remain at anchor within 100 yards of a passing large passenger vessel; and

(3) Permit vessels that must transit via a navigable channel or waterway to pass within 100 yards of an anchored large passenger vessel.

(i) Stationary vessels. When a large passenger vessel approaches within 100 yards of any vessel that is moored or anchored, the stationary vessel must stay moored or anchored while it remains with in the large passenger vessel's security and safety zone unless it is either ordered by, or given permission by the Captain of the Port Columbia River, his designated representative or the on-scene official patrol to do otherwise.

(j) Exemption. Public vessels as defined in paragraph (b) of this section are exempt from complying with paragraphs (c), (d), (f), (g), (h), and (i), of this section.

(k) Enforcement. Any Coast Guard commissioned, warrant or petty officer may enforce the rules in this section. In the navigable waters of the United States to which this section applies, when immediate action is required and representatives of the Coast Guard are not present or not present in sufficient force to provide effective enforcement of this section in the vicinity of a large passenger vessel, any Federal Law Enforcement Officer, Oregon Law Enforcement Officer or Washington Law Enforcement Officer may enforce the rules contained in this section pursuant to 33 CFR 6.04-11. In addition, the Captain of the Port may be assisted by other federal, state or local agencies in enforcing this section.

(l) Waiver. The Captain of the Port Columbia River may waive any of the requirements of this section for any vessel or class of vessels upon finding that a vessel or class of vessels, operational conditions or other circumstances are such that application of this section is unnecessary or impractical for the purpose of port security, safety or environmental safety.

Code of Federal Regulations

[CGD13-03-022, 68 FR 53679, Sept. 12, 2003, as amended by USCG-2010-0351, 75 FR 48565, Aug. 11, 2010]