NEW YORK - The Captain of the Port New York has established and will strictly enforce regulated areas on the water for the annual Macy’s Fourth of July fireworks display, Saturday.
The waterways with established safety zones include the East River, Upper New York Bay and Buttermilk Channel in the vicinity of Manhattan.
All spectator vessels may enter the designated viewing area at 7:30 p.m., and no later than 8:30 p.m., Saturday. Fireworks are scheduled to begin at approximately 9:30 p.m. Vessels shall be required to hold position, not at anchor and not depart the section until released by the on-scene Coast Guard Patrol Commander. This information will be broadcasted via VHF-FM Channel 13 and 16.
All vessels shall maintain a 100-yard distance from any Coast Guard vessel at all times.
The regulated area will be divided into the following seven sections:
ALPHA Section (Northernmost viewing area): This section is designated as a spectator area limited to vessels greater than or equal to 65 feet in length. All navigable waters of the East River south of a line drawn from 57th Street, Manhattan, to 43rd Ave, Long Island City and a line drawn from 47th Street, Manhattan to N. Basin Rd, Long Island City between the east shore of Manhattan and west shore of Roosevelt Island. Commercial passenger vessels must pass as close to the pier head line as possible and must transit through the zone no later than 7:30 p.m. Vessels must operate at the minimum speed necessary to maintain safe course while crossing through the Alpha Section and take all direction that may be provided by the Coast Guard.
BRAVO Section (Northernmost viewing area): This section is designated as a spectator area limited to vessels less than or equal to 65 feet in length. All navigable waters of the East River south of a line drawn from 57th Street, Manhattan, to 43rd Ave, Long Island City, to a line drawn from 47th Street, Manhattan to N. Basin Rd, Long Island City between the east shore of Roosevelt Island and west shore of Long Island City.
INTERIOR DIVISION/CHARLIE Section (Barge Display area): No vessel movements are authorized in this section after 6:00 p.m. without permission from the Coast Guard. This section is intended to accommodate fireworks display barges and accompanying tugs only. All navigable waters of the East River bound by a line drawn from 47th Street, Manhattan to N. Basin Rd, Long Island City south along the East River to 15th Street, Manhattan to Noble Street, Brooklyn. Commercial passenger vessels that need to transit through the Charlie Section en route to their designated viewing areas must receive authorization from the Coast Guard Patrol Commander via VHF Channel 13. Commercial passenger vessels must pass as close to the pier head line as possible and must transit through the zone no later than 7:30 p.m. Vessels must operate at the minimum speed necessary to maintain safe course while crossing through the Charlie Section and take all direction that may be provided by the Coast Guard.
DELTA Section (Viewing area): This section is designated as a spectator area limited to vessels greater than or equal to 65 feet in length. This zone is adjacent to the Interior Division/Charlie Section. All vessels over 65 feet in length may view the fireworks on all waters of this designated area. This zone is defined by a line drawn from 15th Street, Manhattan, to Noble Street, Brooklyn, south to a line drawn from 7th Street, Manhattan, to Bushwick Inlet Park.
ECHO Section (Western viewing area): This section is designated as a spectator area limited to vessels less than or equal to 65 feet in length. This zone is adjacent to the Interior/Division Foxtrot Section. All vessels less than 65 feet in length may view the fireworks on all waters of this designated area. This zone is defined by a line draw from 7th Street, Manhattan to Bushwick Inlet Park, south to East River Park, Manhattan to S. 4th Street.
INTERIOR DIVISION/FOXTROT Section (Barge Display area): No vessel movements are authorized in this section after 6:00 p.m. without permission from the Coast Guard. This section is intended to accommodate fireworks display barges and accompanying tugs only. All navigable waters of the East River by a line drawn from East River Park, Manhattan to S. 4th Street, south to Downtown Manhattan Heliport to Pier 3 Brooklyn. Commercial passenger vessels that need to transit through the Charlie Section en route to their designated viewing areas must receive authorization from the Coast Guard Patrol Commander via VHF Channel 13. Commercial passenger vessels must pass as close to the pier head line as possible and must transit through the zone no later than 7:30 p.m. Vessels must operate at the minimum speed necessary to maintain safe course while crossing through the Charlie Section and take all direction that may be provided by the Coast Guard.
GOLF (Southernmost viewing area): This section is designated as a spectator area in which access is open to all vessels of all lengths. This zone is adjacent to the Interior Division/Foxtrot Section. All vessels in all length may view the fireworks on all waters of this designated area. This zone is defined by a line drawn from Governors Island Ventilator to Pier 7 Brooklyn south and from Downtown Manhattan Heliport to Governors Island Ventilator.
Tugboats, towboats and commercial vessels not observing the fireworks must be outside of the regulated area no later than 6:00 p.m.
Additional details regarding this event are available on the Macy’s Marine Hot Line at (212) 494-5243 or the Macy’s Annual Events Hot Line at (212) 494-4495.
For additional information about the regulated area restrictions please contact MST1 Daniel Vazquez at (718) 354-4197 or via email at Daniel.Vazquez@uscg.mil if within 48 hours prior to the event please route your calls to the Sector New York Command Center at (718) 354-4353.
See the maps of the regulated areas below:
Safety Zone FOXTROT:
VIEWING AREAS (GOLF):
VIEWING AREAS (DELTA & ECHO):
VIEWING AREAS (ALPHA, BRAVO, CHARLIE):