The Coast Guard is accepting comments through Oct. 25 on a draft Pacific Coast Port Access Route Study that evaluates safe access routes for the movement of vessel traffic proceeding to or from ports or places along the western seaboard of the U.S.
This study aims to enhance navigational safety by examining existing shipping routes and waterway uses and, to the extent practicable, reconciling the paramount right of navigation within designated port access routes with other waterway uses such as the development of aquaculture farms, offshore renewable energy, commercial space ports/re-entry sites, marine sanctuaries, ports supporting Panamax vessels, potential liquefied natural gas ports, and additional commercial vessel traffic. The study could result in recommendations for the establishment of one or more new vessel routing measures, modifications of existing routing measures, or disestablishment of existing routing measures off the Pacific coast along Washington, Oregon, and California.
As part of its draft study the Coast Guard has determined that there is a need to establish voluntary fairways – which would keep designated areas free of fixed structures – for coastwise and nearshore vessel traffic to promote the safety of navigation in the study area.
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