03-22136. Special Local Regulations for Marine Events; Hampton River, Hampton, VA

AGENCY:

Coast Guard, DHS.

ACTION:

Notice of implementation of regulation.

SUMMARY:

The Coast Guard is implementing the special local regulations at 33 CFR 100.508 during the Hampton Bay Days Festival to be held September 5-7, 2003, on the waters of the Hampton River at Hampton, Virginia. These special local regulations are necessary to control vessel traffic due to the confined nature of the waterway and expected vessel congestion during the festival events. The effect will be to restrict general navigation in the regulated area for the safety of event participants, spectators and vessels transiting the event area.

EFFECTIVE DATES:

33 CFR 100.508 is effective from 12 noon on September 5, 2003 to 6 p.m. on September 7, 2003.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT:

Chief Petty Officer J. Saffold, Marine Events Coordinator, Commander, Coast Guard Group Hampton Roads, 4000 Coast Guard Blvd., Portsmouth, VA 23703-2199, [phone].

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION:

Hampton Bay Days, Inc. will sponsor the Hampton Bay Days Festival on September 5-7, 2003 on the Hampton River, Hampton, Virginia. The festival will include water ski demonstrations, personal watercraft and wake board competitions, paddle boat races, classic boat displays, fireworks displays and a helicopter rescue demonstration. A fleet of spectator vessels is expected to gather nearby to view the festival events. In order to ensure the safety of participants, spectators and transiting vessels, 33 CFR 100.508 will be in effect for the duration of the festival activities. Under provisions of 33 CFR 100.508, vessels may not enter the regulated area without permission from the Coast Guard Patrol Commander. Spectator vessels may enter and anchor in the special spectator anchorage areas if they proceed at slow, no wake speed. The Coast Guard Patrol Commander will allow vessels to transit the regulated area between festival events. Because these restrictions will be in effect for a limited period, they should not result in a significant disruption of maritime traffic.

In addition to this notice, the maritime community will be provided extensive advance notification via the Local Notice to Mariners, marine information broadcasts, and area newspapers, so mariners can adjust their plans accordingly.

Dated: August 20, 2003.

Ben R. Thomason, III,

Captain, U.S. Coast Guard, Acting Commander, Fifth Coast Guard District.