(a) Location. The following area is a safety zone: All waters of the Atlantic Intracoastal Waterway (AICW) and connecting waters, from Bogue Sound - New River Light 58 (LLNR 39210) at approximate position 34°37′57″ North, 077°12′18″ West, and continuing in the AICW southwest to Bogue Sound - New River Daybeacon 70 (LLNR 39290) at approximate position 34°33′07″ North, 077°20′30″ West. All coordinates reference Datum: NAD 1983.
(b) Regulations. Notwithstanding the provisions of 33 CFR 334.440(e)(2)(i), no vessel may enter the safety zone described in paragraph (a) of this section while weapons firing exercises are in progress, except as provided in paragraph (c) of this section or unless permitted by the Captain of the Port (COTP) North Carolina.
(1) Red warning flags or red warning lights will be displayed on towers located at both ends of the safety zone (Bear Creek and Cedar Point) while firing exercises are in progress. The flags or lights will be displayed by 8 a.m. on days where firing exercises are scheduled, and will be removed at the end of the firing exercise.
(2) A Coast Guard or U.S. Navy vessel will patrol each end of the safety zone to ensure the public is aware that firing exercises are in progress and that the firing area is clear of vessel traffic before weapons are fired.
(c) General information -
(1) Announcements. The COTP North Carolina will announce the specific times and locations of firing exercises by Broadcast Notice to Mariners and Local Notice to Mariners. Normally, weapons firing for each firing exercise is limited to a two nautical mile portion of the safety zone. The COTP may issue general permission to transit all or specified parts of the safety zone outside of the actual firing area or if firing is temporarily stopped. This general permission will be announced in a Local Notice to Mariners and Broadcast Notice to Mariners.
(2) Camp Lejeune artillery operations. Artillery weapons firing over the AICW from Marine Corps Base Camp Lejeune will be suspended and vessels permitted to transit the specified 2-nautical-mile firing area for a 1-hour period beginning at the start of each odd-numbered hour local time (e.g., 9 a.m.; 1 p.m.). A vessel may not enter the specified firing area unless it will be able to complete its transit of the firing area before firing exercises are scheduled to re-start.
(3) Atlantic Ocean naval gunnery live fire operations. Naval gunnery live fire operations over the AICW from off shore on the Atlantic Ocean may be conducted for periods not to exceed 4 hours, then suspended and vessels permitted to transmit the specified two-mile firing area for a minimum of one hour before firing may resume. A vessel may not enter the specified firing area unless it will be able to complete its transit of the firing area before firing exercises are scheduled to re-start.
(d) Contact information. U.S. Navy safety vessels may be contacted on VHF marine band radio channels 13 (156.65 MHz) and 16 (156.8 MHz). The Captain of the Port may be contacted at Sector North Carolina by telephone at (877) 229-0770 or (910) 772-2200.
[CGD 05-98-38, 63 FR 58636, Nov. 2, 1998, as amended by USCG-2000-7223, 65 FR 40058, June 29, 2000; CGD05-03-167, 69 FR 41946, July 13, 2004; USCG-2011-0368, 76 FR 26605, May 9, 2011; USCG-2015-0433, 80 FR 44286, July 27, 2015]