OpSail Parade of Ships Today in Virginia Beach, Hampton Roads and Norfolk

     Virginia Beach, Va. -- Mariners are advised that the captain of the port of Hampton Roads will establish a safety zone today, June 8, on Tuesday, June 12 in connection with the OpSail 2012 Parade of Sail.
The regulated area is all waters within 100 yards of any OpSail vessel while operating in the navigable waters of the Chesapeake Bay or its tributaries, south of the Maryland-Virginia border. Mariners must remain outside the regulated area unless otherwise authorized by the captain of the port or his representative.

     The International fleet of tall ships began arriving on Thursday. They are anchored in Lynnhaven Roads, just north of the John A. Lesner Bridge on the Virginia Beach waterfront.

     The Parade of Sail will begin at 7 a.m. this morning. The fleet will parade from the Lynnhaven Roads anchorage through Thimble Shoals Channel, past the Chesapeake Bay Bridge Tunnel (between Trestles A and B) and past Fort Monroe in Hampton. From there, the ships will move through Hampton Roads and up the Elizabeth River to downtown Norfolk. The first ships in the parade will reach Town Point Park in downtown Norfolk at noon today. Ships will then proceed to their docks in downtown Norfolk, or in other affiliate ports, before opening to the public for tours. 

Star Spangled Sailabration June 13-19 in Baltimore

     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. 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 Local Notice to Mariners 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.