SEATTLE — Coast Guard crews are scheduled to participate in multiple Seattle Seafair Festival events during the annual Fleet Week, while also conducting security and safety patrols in Elliott Bay along Seattle’s waterfront and on Lake Washington.
The crew of the Coast Guard Cutter Active, a 210-foot Medium Endurance Cutter homeported in Port Angeles, along with the U.S. Navy amphibious assault ship USS Somerset, the guided-missile destroyer USS Gridley and the Royal Canadian Navy Ship Saskatoon, are scheduled to participate in the annual Parade of Ships, Tuesday.
During the Parade of Ships, the Coast Guard Captain of the Port for Puget Sound will establish security and safety zones to ensure the safety of the public and the security of military vessel activity in Elliott Bay.
No entry into, transiting through, mooring, or anchoring within the transit zone in Elliott Bay is permitted 30 minutes prior to, during, and 30 minutes after the Parade of Ships unless authorized by the captain of the port. Vessels operating within 500 yards of military vessels must maintain a minimum speed to stay on course. No vessel is allowed within 100 yards of the protected vessels in Elliott Bay while they are underway, participating in the Parade of Ships or while moored in Seattle.
All vessel operators desiring to enter any safety or security zone must obtain permission from the Captain of the Port by contacting on scene Coast Guard patrol craft on VHF-FM channels 13 or 16, or the Coast Guard Sector Puget Sound Joint Harbor Operations Center via telephone at 206-217-6002. Violating these zones is a felony offense. Boaters who enter these zones will be escorted from the area immediately by the Coast Guard or other local agencies and may be subject to fines of up to $250,000 and/or up to six years in federal prison.
The Cutter Active will be open for tours at Pier 66, Wednesday from 9 a.m. to 3 p.m. Visitors are asked to leave behind backpacks, knives, multi-tools and food or drinks other than water to facilitate security screenings prior to boarding the ship. With regards to pets, only service animals are permitted aboard the vessel.
The Coast Guard will also provide an aerial search and rescue demonstration off Pier 66 at 1:40 p.m., Wednesday. The demonstration will be conducted by a a helicopter crew from Air Station Port Angeles and boat crews from Coast Guard Station Seattle.
Due to the anticipated increase of boating activity on Lake Washington over the Fleet Week weekend, Coast Guard crews working with state and local agencies will be conducting safety patrols starting Friday.
In addition to ensuring the safety of the boating public, crews will be enforcing the annual Seattle Seafair Unlimited Hydroplane Race Special Local Regulation on Lake Washington from 8 a.m., Friday, until midnight, Sunday. The Seafair Air Show Performance Safety Zone Regulation, also on Lake Washington, will be enforced from 8 a.m., Friday, until 4 p.m., Sunday.
Boaters are reminded that children 12 years of age and younger are required by state law to wear life jackets while on the water. Life jackets must be accessible for everyone aboard the vessel and adults are encouraged to wear their lifejackets at all times while on the water.
Additionally, boating under the influence of drugs or alcohol is against the law. Boaters found to be operating vessels while under the influence may be subject to arrest and if no capable operator is aboard the vessel the operator and passengers will be removed and the vessel will be impounded. For more boating safety information please visit: www.uscgboating.org
For more information about the Seattle Seafair Fleet Week visit: www.seafair.com