BALTIMORE — The Coast Guard is scheduled to establish a temporary regulated area Sunday in designated waters in the Chesapeake Bay near Kent Island, Maryland for The Great Chesapeake Bay Swim.
The regulated area will be in effect from 11:30 a.m. to 5:30 p.m. Sunday, which may limit or prohibit navigation by commercial and recreational waterway users.
The regulated area will include the spans of the William P. Lane Jr. Memorial Bridge shore to shore.
Except for persons or vessels authorized by the Coast Guard patrol commander, and event sponsor-designated participants and official patrol vessels, no person or vessel may enter or remain in the regulated area. Official patrol vessels enforcing this area can be contacted on marine radio VHF-FM channel 16.
The Coast Guard patrol commander can control the movement of all vessels in the regulated area and may forbid entry. When hailed or signaled by an official patrol vessel, a vessel in the area shall immediately comply with the directions given. Failure to do so may result in expulsion from the area, citation for failure to comply or both. Spectators may contact the patrol commander to request permission to operate within the regulated area; if permission is granted, spectators must proceed at a safe speed and without loitering.
"We have coordinated closely with our inter-agency and port partners to minimize the impact of the regulated area," said Cmdr. Michael Keane, chief of response at Coast Guard Sector Baltimore. "We do this while still meeting security requirements for The Great Chesapeake Bay Swim."
The Coast Guard may be assisted in the patrol and enforcement of this area by federal, state and local agencies. For any comments or questions, contact Coast Guard Sector Baltimore at (410) 576-2693, or use marine-band radio via VHF-FM channel 16.