News Release

NEW YORK - The U.S. Coast Guard Captain of the Port of New York and New Jersey will establish boating safety and security zones on the Hudson River for the Annual Macy's July 4th Fireworks Spectacular, July 4, 2010.

This area includes all waters bounded by a line drawn east from Pier 11A in Weehawken, N.J. to 70^th Street in Manhattan; south along the Manhattan shoreline to the northeast corner of Pier 40, then due west to Jersey City Piers, N.J., and then north along the New Jersey shoreline back to the point of origin.  The establishment of this area is intended to ensure the safety of event spectators.  The Coast Guard will be working with NYPD, FDNY, DEC and Perth Amboy (New Jersey) police department in enforcing the safety/security zone.

This Special Local Regulation will be strictly enforced on Sunday, July 4^th, 2010 between 6:30 pm, and approximately 10:30 p.m.  Tugs and tows and commercial vessels not observing the fireworks must be outside of the regulated area no later than 7:00 p.m.  All spectator vessels must be inside the viewing areas by 7:00 p.m. and in position no later than 7:30 p.m.  The fireworks will be launched between 9:20 – 9:50 p.m.  The Hudson River will be closed to all traffic.  All recreational vessels are encouraged to depart immediately following the conclusion of the display.

Vessels shall remain underway in position (NOT at anchor) and not depart the section until released by the on-scene Coast Guard Patrol Commander (PATCOM).  All persons and vessels shall comply with the instructions of the PATCOM.  No vessel may enter or move into the Interior Division Section without authorization from the PATCOM.

Vessels outside the regulated area shall stay clear of all safety zones until PATCOM declares all areas open to the public.  This information will be broadcast via VHF-FM CHANNEL 16.

The area will be divided into six sections and labeled alphabetically.  Each section will be designated as a viewing area, safety zone, and/or security zone.  Sections include:

1.      INTERIOR DIVISION Section (Display area):  All waters south of a line drawn from Pier 8, West New York – Hudson County, N.J. to 62^nd Street, Manhattan, N.Y. and north of a line drawn from Pier 10 (11^th Street) Hoboken, N.J. to Pier 60, Chelsea Piers (19^th Street) Manhattan, N.Y.  No vessel movements are authorized in this section without permission from the Coast Guard.  This section is intended to accommodate fireworks display barges only.

2.      ALPHA Section (Northernmost viewing area):  All vessels less than 20 meters in length (65.6 feet) may view the fireworks on all waters south of a line drawn from Pier 11A, Weehawken, N.J., to 70^th Street, Manhattan, N.Y., extending 700 yards north of the Section “B” boundary line.

3.      BRAVO Section (Northern viewing area):  This zone is adjacent to the Interior Division Section.  All vessels over 20 meters in length (65.6 feet) may view the fireworks on all waters of this designated area.  This zone extends approximately 600 yards north, ending at a boundary line drawn from approximate position: 40^o46’47.60’’N - 073^o59’22.26’’W, in Manhattan, N.Y., to point 40^o47’03.39’’N - 074^o00’00.19’’W, in Weehawken, N.J.

4.      CHARLIE Section (Southern viewing area):  This zone is adjacent to the Interior Division Section.  All vessels over 20 meters in length (65.6 feet) may view the fireworks in the designated viewing area south of a line drawn from Pier 10, Hoboken, N.J., to Pier 60, Chelsea Piers, Manhattan, N.Y., continuing 950 yards south, and ending at Gansevoort Street in Manhattan, N.Y.

5.      DELTA Section (Southernmost viewing area):  All vessels less than 20 meters in length (65.6 feet) may view the fireworks in the designated viewing area from Gansevoort Street in Manhattan, N.Y., to a location approximately 1100 yards south to a line drawn from the northwest corner of Pier 40, Manhattan, N.Y., to Jersey City Piers, N.J.

6.      Fireworks barge transit lane: A portion of the Hudson River, south of the Interior Division Section and west of sections CHARLIE and DELTA, will be established for fireworks barge transits.  This lane will consist of a half river closure in the southwestern portion of the regulated area.  No vessels will be allowed in this area while fireworks barges are transiting into the Interior Division Section.  This section will be opened to spectator vessels at 7:00 pm, after the fireworks barges are in display positions.

7.      Moving Security Zones:  The Captain of the Port of New York will establish a moving security zone within a 100-yard radius of each fireworks barge transiting between Navy Homeport Pier and the display location.  Enforcement of the moving security zone will be in effect while the fireworks barges are in transit to and from the Navy Homeport Pier.

Additional details regarding this event are available on the Macy’s Marine Hot Line at (212) 494-5243 or the Macy’s Annual Events Hot Line at (212) 494-4495.  All safety zone questions should be directed to LTJG Eunice James, Eunice.A.James@uscg.mil at (718) 354-4163 or BM1 Paul Church, Paul.V.Church@ucg.mil, at (718) 354-4197.