Fireworks Displays on the Chesapeake and Tributaries

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 Baltimore, Md. -- Mariners are advised that the Coast Guard Captain of the Port Baltimore has received notice of the following fireworks displays, scheduled to occur on or near navigable waters during the 2012 Independence Day holiday period:

1. Chester River, Town of Chestertown, Maryland, mariners are urged to remain at least 300 yards from the fireworks discharge site located on shore near the mouth of Radcliffe Creek on July 4, 2012 (rain date of July 5, 2012) for a display scheduled at 9:20 p.m. Chart 12272.

2. Fairlee Creek, Great Oak Landing Marina, Maryland, mariners are urged to remain at least 200 yards from the fireworks discharge site located on shore at Shell Point on July 7, 2012 (rain date of September 3, 2012) for a display scheduled at 9:30 p.m. Chart 12274.

3. Herring Bay, Herrington Harbour South Marina, Rose Haven, Maryland, mariners are urged to remain at least 150 yards from the fireworks discharge site located on the south jetty on July 3, 2012 (rain date of July 4, 2012) for a display scheduled at 9:15 p.m. Chart 12266.

4. Miles River, St. Michaels, Maryland, within a 200-yard radius of the fireworks discharge site located on a point of land at the mouth of Long Haul Creek on June 30, 2012 (rain date of July 7, 2012) for a fireworks display scheduled for 9:15 p.m. Chart 12263.

5. Patuxent River, Golden Beach/Patuxent Knolls Civic Association, Maryland, mariners are urged to remain at least 200 yards from the fireworks discharge site located on shore near Long Point on June 30, 2012 (rain date of July 1, 2012) for a display scheduled at 9:30 p.m. Chart 12284.

6. Potomac River, Town of Colonial Beach, Virginia, mariners are urged to remain at least 150 yards from the fireworks discharge site located at the end of the Municipal Pier on July 4, 2012 (rain date of July 7, 2012) for a display scheduled at 9:30 p.m. Chart 12286.

7. Rock Hall Harbor, Rock Hall, Maryland, mariners are urged to remain at least 150 yards from the fireworks discharge site located on shore on July 4, 2012 (rain date of July 5, 2012) for a display scheduled at 9 p.m. Chart 12278.

8. Sassafras River, Georgetown, Maryland, mariners are urged to remain at least 150 yards from the fireworks discharge site located upland along the river east of Dyer Creek on July 4, 2012 (no rain date) for a display scheduled at 9 p.m. Chart 12274 .

9. Severn River, Sherwood Forest, Maryland, mariners are urged to remain at least 150 yards from the fireworks discharge site located at the end of the Sherwood Forest Club’s Main Pier on July 3, 2012 (rain date of July 6, 2012) for a display scheduled at 9 p.m. Chart 12282.

10. Somers Cove, Crisfield, Maryland, mariners are urged to remain at least 100 yards from the fireworks discharge site located on shore at Jersey Island on July 4, 2012 (rain date of September 2, 2012) for a display scheduled at 9 p.m. Chart 12231.

11. St. Mary’s River, Carthagena Creek, Maryland, mariners are urged to remain at least 150 yards from the fireworks discharge barge located in Carthagena Creek on June 29 2012 (rain date of June 30, 2012) for a display scheduled at 9 p.m. Chart 12233.

12. St. Mary’s River, St. Mary’s City, Maryland, mariners are urged to remain at least 150 yards from the fireworks discharge barge site located at the end of the St. Mary’s College of Maryland pier on July 6 2012 (rain date of July 27, 2012) for a display scheduled at 9:30 p.m. Chart 12233.

13. Susquehanna River, Havre de Grace, Maryland, mariners are urged to remain at least 300 yards from the fireworks discharge site located on shore at Park Island on July 1, 2012 (no rain date) for a display scheduled at 9:30 p.m. Chart 12274.

14. Upper Potomac River, Mount Vernon Cut, mariners are urged to remain at least 100 yards from the fireworks discharge site located on shore at George Washington’s Mount Vernon Estate and Gardens on July 4, 2012 (no rain date) for a display scheduled at 11 a.m. Chart 12288.

15. Upper Potomac River, Oxon Hill Maryland, mariners are urged to remain at least 150 yards from the fireworks discharge site located at the end of the National Harbor Commercial Pier on June 30, 2012 (no rain date) for a display scheduled at 11 a.m. Chart 12289.

16. Upper Potomac River, Oxon Hill Maryland, mariners are urged to remain at least 100 yards from the fireworks discharge floating platform located adjacent to the Gaylord National Harbor Resort on July 4, 2012 (no rain date) for a display scheduled at approximately 9 p.m. Chart 12289.

17. Upper Potomac River, Oxon Hill Maryland, mariners are urged to remain at least 150 yards from the fireworks discharge site located at the end of the National Harbor Commercial Pier on July 4, 2012 (no rain date) for a display scheduled at approximately 9:45 p.m. Chart 12289.

Mariners are urged to transit these areas with caution, to keep a sharp lookout for other watercraft in these areas, and are reminded to heed the directions of patrolling law enforcement and public safety officials. Absent specific guidance, mariners should remain 300 yards from any fireworks discharge site. For any comments or questions, contact Coast Guard Sector Baltimore Waterways Management Division at telephone number (410) 576-2674, (410) 576-2693 or email Ronald.L.Houck@uscg.mil.

 Mariners are advised that, as described in Title 33 Code of Federal Regulations Section 100.506, the following safety zones are established within the Captain of the Port Baltimore Zone for fireworks displays planned during the 2012 Independence Day holiday period:

18. Anacostia River, Washington, DC, within a 200-yard radius of the fireworks barge in approximate position 38°52′16″ N, 077°00′13″ W, located approximately 500 yards southeast of the shoreline near Washington Nationals Ball Park. This safety zone will be enforced on July 3, 2012, from 7:30 p.m. to 11 p.m. (no rain date) for a fireworks display scheduled for approximately 9:30 p.m. Chart 12289.

19. Baltimore Inner Harbor, Patapsco River, Maryland, within a 150-yard radius of the fireworks barge in approximate position 39°16′55″ N, 076°36′17″ W, at the entrance to Baltimore Inner Harbor, approximately 150 yards southwest of Pier 6, and Northwest Harbor (Western Section), Patapsco River, Maryland, within a 250-yard radius of the fireworks barge in approximate position 39°16′37″ N, 076°35′54″ W, located near the western end of Northwest Harbor. These safety zones will be enforced on July 4, 2012, from 8 p.m. to 10:30 p.m. (with a rain date of July 5, 2012) for a fireworks display scheduled for 9:30 p.m. Chart 12281.

20. Chesapeake Bay, Chesapeake Beach, Maryland, within a 150-yard radius of the two fireworks barges in approximate position 38°41′36″ N, 076°31′30″ W and 38°41′28″ N, 076°31′29″ W, located north and south of the jetties at Chesapeake Beach, Maryland. This safety zone will be enforced on July 3, 2012, from 8:30 p.m. to 10:30 p.m. (with a rain date of July 5, 2012) for a fireworks display scheduled for 9:15 p.m. Chart 12263.

21. Choptank River, Cambridge, Maryland, within a 300-yard radius of the fireworks launch site located at Great Marsh Point, Cambridge at 38°35′06″ N, 076°04′46″ W. This safety zone will be enforced on July 4, 2012 from 8 p.m. to 10:30 p.m. (with a rain date of July 5, 2012) for a fireworks display scheduled for 9 p.m. Chart 12266.

22. Middle River, Baltimore County, Maryland, within a 300-yard radius of the fireworks barge in approximate position 39°17′45″ N, 076°23′49″ W, approximately 300 yards east of Rockaway Beach, near Turkey Point. This safety zone will be enforced on June 30, 2012, from 8 p.m. to 10:30 p.m. (no rain date) for a fireworks display scheduled for 9:30 p.m. Chart 12278.

23. Northeast River North East, Maryland, within a 300-yard radius of the fireworks barge in approximate position 39°35'26'' N, 075°57'00'' W, located approximately 400 yards south of the North East Community Park. This safety zone will be enforced on July 3, 2012, from 8 p.m. to 10:30 p.m. (no rain date) for a fireworks display scheduled for 9:15 p.m. Chart 12274.

24. Patuxent River, Solomons Island, Maryland, within a 300-yard radius of the fireworks barge in an area bound by the following points: 38°19′42″ N, 076°28′02″ W; thence to 38°19′26″ N, 076°28′18″ W; thence to 38°18′48″ N, 076°27′42″ W; thence to 38°19′06″ N 076°27′25″ W, thence to the point of origin, located near Solomons Island, MD. This safety zone will be enforced on July 4, 2012, from 8 p.m. to 10 p.m. (with a rain date of July 5, 2012) for a fireworks display scheduled for 9 p.m. Chart 12284.

25. Potomac River, Prince William County, Virginia, within a 200-yard radius of the fireworks barge in approximate position 38°34′08″ N, 077°15′34″ W, located near Cherry Hill, Virginia. This safety zone will be enforced on June 30, 2012, from 8 p.m. to 10:30 p.m. (with a rain date of July 1, 2012) for a fireworks display scheduled for 9:30 p.m. Chart 12289.

26. Potomac River, Charles County, Maryland, within a 300-yard radius of the fireworks barge in approximate position 38°20′36″ N, 077°14′09″ W, located near Fairview Beach, Virginia. This safety zone will be enforced on July 14, 2012, from 8:30 p.m. to 11 p.m. (with a rain date of July 21, 2012) for a fireworks display scheduled for 10 p.m. Chart 12288.

27. Severn River and Spa Creek, within an area bounded by a line drawn from 38°58′39.6″ N, 076°28′49″ W, thence to 38°58′41″ N, 076°28′14″ W, thence to 38°59′01″ N, 076°28′37″ W, thence to 38°58′57″ N, 076°28′40″ W, located near the entrance to Spa Creek in Annapolis, Maryland. This safety zone will be enforced on July 4, 2012, from 7:30 p.m. to 10:30 p.m. (with a rain date of July 5, 2012) for a fireworks display scheduled for 9 p.m. Chart 12283.

28. Tred Avon River, Oxford, Maryland, within a 150-yard radius of the fireworks barge in approximate position 38°41′24″ N, 076°10′37″ W, approximately 500 yards northwest of the waterfront at Oxford. This safety zone will be enforced on July 4, 2012 from 8 p.m. to 10:30 p.m. (with a rain date of July 5, 2012) for a fireworks display scheduled for 9:30 p.m. Chart 12266.

29. Upper Potomac River, Alexandria Channel, within a 300-yard radius of the fireworks barge in approximate position 38°48′37″ N, 077°02′02″ W, located near the waterfront of Alexandria, Virginia. This safety zone will be enforced on July 7, 2012, from 7:30 p.m. to 11 p.m. (with a rain date of July 8, 2012) for a fireworks display scheduled for 9:30 p.m. Chart 12289.

Fireworks barges and launch sites on land will have signs labeled FIREWORKS--DANGER--STAY AWAY to provide on scene notice that the safety zone will be enforced. Vessels may not enter, remain in, or transit through the safety zone during the enforcement period unless authorized by the Coast Guard Captain of the Port (COTP) or designated Coast Guard patrol personnel on scene. All persons and vessels shall comply with the instructions of the COTP or the designated on-scene-patrol  personnel, and upon being hailed by siren, radio, flashing light or other means, the operator of a vessel shall proceed as directed. Other Federal, State and local agencies may assist these personnel in the enforcement of the safety zone. For any comments or questions, contact Coast Guard Sector Baltimore Waterways Management Division, at (410) 576-2674, (410) 576- 2693 or  Ronald.L.Houck@uscg.mil.

Aerial Wire Performance May 9 at Baltimore's Inner Harbor

     Baltimore, Md. -- Mariners are advised that Ripley Entertainment Inc. will sponsor a “high-wire” solo walk over a portion of Baltimore’s Inner Harbor on Wednesday, May 9, scheduled to occur at noon. The angle of the wire will be rigged on an incline, between the Light Street Pavilion and the top of a crane mounted on a barge located near Inner Harbor Pier 1, Baltimore. The walk is expected to last approximately 15 minutes and the performer will be accompanied and supported by sponsor-provided watercraft. For any comments or questions, contact Coast Guard Sector Baltimore, Waterways Management Division, at (410) 576-2674 or Ronald.L.Houck@uscg.mil. Chart 12281.

Baltimore to Host Star Spangled Sailabration June 13-19

     Baltimore, Md. -- Mariners are advised the Port of Baltimore will be hosting the Star Spangled Sailabration 2012, an international maritime festival that will launch Maryland's three-year War of 1812 bicentennial efforts, from June 13 until June 19, 2012. This event will bring dozens of Navy vessels and tall ships from the United States and international navies to the port.

     In addition to a parade of sail and fireworks, an air show featuring a demonstration from the U.S. Navy Blue Angels is planned to be held in the vicinity of Fort McHenry National Monument and Historic Shrine, which temporarily will close portions of the main navigation channels. It is anticipated the increased activity associated with this festival will result in some disruption in and potential delays to normal port operations. All entities conducting business in the port, including, but not limited to shipping lines, port operators, and vessel agents should plan accordingly.

     Specific details on Coast Guard established safety zones and other waterway closures resulting from planned festival activities will be provided in future publications. For more information concerning the schedule of planned events, visit the Star Spangled 200 website at: http://www.starspangled200.com/events_list .

     Questions concerning this announcement can be direct to Coast Guard Sector Baltimore Waterways Management Division at 410-576-2519. Charts 12278, 12281.