Coast Guard Establishes Controlled Access Area During Rose Festival Fleet Week

The controlled access area will be located on the Willamette River between the Steel and Morrison Bridges throughout the fleet's visit -- June 7-12th.

Photo Courtesy: cybercentric1.com

(PORTLAND) - The face of our nation has changed making it necessary to enforce and maintain a controlled access area on the Willamette River, while Navy vessels are tied up at the seawall, during Rose Festival's Fleet Week.

As U.S. Naval vessels transit the river system, please be aware of the restricted 100-yard naval vessel protection zone. If you need to pass within a 100 yards you must contact the Coast Guard security escort vessel on VHF-FM channel 16.

Commercial vessels have developed special transit requirements with the Captain of the Port, Portland, Oregon prior to this year's Fleet Week.

We are asking all boaters, kayakers, personal watercraft operators and canoeist to assist us in making this year's Fleet Week a safe and pleasant experience by avoiding the security zone all together.

However, if a boater does need to transit the controlled access area, they may experience a waiting period. We are asking people to plan accordingly. Citizen input helped to develop quicker transit times through the security zone.

Those wishing to transit the security zone must follow these simple rules:

No firearms permitted inside the controlled access area.

Boaters wishing to transit the controlled access area are required to wait in pre-identified staging areas for official patrol escorts.

Staging areas are located on the east side of the river just north of the Steel Bridge and just south of the Morrison Bridge.

Delays are expected and vessels may be boarded before being escorted through the controlled access area. Please plan accordingly.

While transiting the controlled access area, all vessels shall operate at the minimum speed necessary to maintain a safe course and shall proceed as directed by the official Coast Guard Auxiliary patrol escort.

Vessels will follow the official Coast Guard Auxiliary patrol escort in a single file line and must stay to the east bank of the river. Do not break away from the escort line.

Violation of a controlled access area may result in a penalty action under the provision of 33 USC 1231 (maximum fine of $37,500).