NY / NJ - OPERATION CLEAR CHANNEL IN THE PORT OF NY/NJ (REVISED)
The "Operation Clear Channel" program is designed to educate boaters about the hazards of navigating small vessels and personal water craft in the confines of the narrow navigational channels used by larger commercial ships that enter and depart the various ports in New York Harbor.
The federal navigation rules, also known as "Rules of the Road", address this safety concern by giving commercial vessels priority, or right-of-way, over smaller vessels when navigating in narrow channels. 33 U.S. Code 2072 provides for $5,000 penalties for each violation for which penalty the vessel may be seized.
Every day an average of 1,400 commercial vessels navigate the waters of the Port of NY/NJ. The masters of these vessels, while always on the lookout, cannot always see smaller vessels when they cross the channels. For safety reasons, recreational boating activities should always be conducted at a safe distance away from navigation channels. Boaters should keep a sharp lookout for other vessels and always be prepared to give way to ships constrained in their ability to maneuver when transiting within close proximity to a channel.
Coast Guard units in New York and New Jersey actively promote boater awareness through vessel enforcement patrols and visits to local marinas. The Coast Guard targets high-traffic regions, such as the Ambrose Channel, Sandy Hook Channel and Raritan Bay, but also includes all of New York Harbor.
Mariners interested in increasing their knowledge of boating safety, including the Rules of the Road, should consider a Coast Guard Auxiliary boating safety course. Course information is available online at http://www.cgaux.org in the “Take a Boating Course” section, or by calling 1-800-336-BOAT.
Further information regarding Operation Clear Channel can be found at http://homeport.uscg.mil/newyork
> Waterways Management
> 10.Recreational Boating Information and Internet Links.
Chart 12327 LNM 23/08
|