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23 Sep 2015 / Delaware & Schuykill Rivers, USA

Security zones for Papal visit

The U.S. Coast Guard will establish security zones on portions of the Delaware and Schuylkill Rivers during the Papal visit scheduled for Sept. 25-28, 2015. Vessel traffic will be restricted while the security zones are in effect to enhance security for Pope Francis, other dignitaries, and the public attending events throughout the weekend.

The security zones have been published in the federal register at the following link: https://www.federalregister.gov/articles/2015/09/21/2015-23631/security-zone-delaware-river-philadelphia-pa.

In order to transit any security zone you MUST first request permission from the zone specific Patrol Commander. For example, to transit the Ben Franklin Bridge security zone, you will hail, "BEN FRANKLIN BRIDGE PATROL COMMANDER..." Vessels transiting under the Ben Franklin Bridge will be boarded by CG or other law enforcement assets. CG personnel will remain onboard deep draft vessels until they have cleared the Ben Franklin Bridge - This will be both north and southbound transits.

In order to complete the required vessel boarding, vessels transiting northbound will request permission to transit the Ben Franklin Bridge security zone at least 1hr in advance of entering the zone. Deep Draft vessels departing from facilities north of the Ben Franklin Bridge (southbound on the DE River) will notify the CG prior to departure from berth and will allow the CG sufficient time to board the vessel prior to departure. This is necessary due to the limited `bail-out` areas north of the Ben Franklin Bridge.

It should be noted that ALL vessels entering into, exiting, and re-entering a zone MUST be boarded or screened every time.

Vessels anchored at Mantua Creek Anchorage during the times that the Airport Security Zone is enforced must submit a crewlist to include name and DOB for each crewmember on the vessel. There will be no vessel movement at the time the Airport Zone is being enforced; if you are anchored, you will remain anchored unless otherwise instructed by the CG Patrol Commander.

Limited Opening Schedules for Bridges:

The Tacony-Palmyra (route 73) Bridge over Delaware River, mile 107.2, between Tacony, PA and Palmyra, NJ and Burlington-Bristol (route 413) Bridge over Delaware River, mile 117.8, between Burlington, NJ and Bristol, PA will be reduced due to the 2015 Papal visit to Philadelphia. The drawbridges will remain in the closed-to-navigation position from 6 a.m. to 9 p.m. on September 26 and September 27, 2015, except for scheduled daily openings at 12 noon and 6 p.m. The vertical clearances above mean high water in the closed-to-navigation position are 53 feet at the Tacony-Palmyra (route 73) Bridge and 62 feet at the Burlington-Bristol (route 413) Bridge.

Openings of the C.R. (Amtrak) railroad bridge over Beach Thorofare, New Jersey Intracoastal Waterway, mile 68.9, at Atlantic City, NJ and C.R. (Amtrak) railroad bridge over Delaware River, mile 104.6, at Delair, NJ will be reduced due to the 2015 Papal visit to Philadelphia. The drawbridges will not be required to open on signal or within ten minutes of a signal from 5 a.m. on September 26, 2015 to 3 a.m. on September 28, 2015. Mariners requesting an opening shall provide at least one hour notice. The vertical clearances above mean high water in the closed-to-navigation position are 5 feet at the at the C.R. (Amtrak) railroad bridge over beach Thorofare, NJICW, and 49 feet at the C.R.(Amtrak) railroad bridge over Delaware River.

The S.R. 44 bridge over Mantua Creek, Mile 2.7, at Paulsboro, NJ and Route 130 Bridge over Raccoon Creek, Mile 1.8, at Bridgeport, NJ will be allowed to remain in the closed-to-navigation position from 7 a.m. to 11 p.m., from September 26 to September 28, 2015, except for scheduled daily openings at 7 a.m. and 7 p.m.

Contact info:
Send crew & passenger lists to the following email: [email protected]
Patrol Commanders may be reached on VHF Ch. 16 and will likely shift you to another frequency.

For enforcement questions during periods that security zones are active (When/Why/Where/How to transit the zone): (215) 271-4638.

(For information about operations in the USA contact GAC USA at [email protected])\

Source: Maritime Exchange for the Delaware River and Bay notice dated 22 September 2015

If quoting any content from Hot Port News, please cite GAC Hot Port News as the source.

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