The U.S. Coast Guard is inviting the public to weigh in on the Pacific Coast Port Access Route Study, considered the “first comprehensive evaluation of all vessel traffic patterns that use the Pacific Coast waterway along the coast of California, Oregon, and Washington,” according to the USCG.
“The primary focus of this study will incorporate all traffic patterns of vessels approaching and departing the major ports and specifically vessel interaction with existing coastal routes,” Cdr. William George, Eleventh Coast Guard District Waterways Management chief, said. “The Coast Guard has witnessed a continuous growth of waterway use with current and proposed offshore operations and we are committed to providing the high level of navigational safety that the maritime community expects.”
Comments will be accepted until Jan. 25 and will be incorporated into the study, which will review how the waterways are used by gathering vessel tracking information as well as environmental data, current and planned offshore development and past marine incident information.
“District Eleven is excited to begin this opportunity to evaluate all data associated with navigation off the California Coast,” said Lt. Nicholas Buch, Eleventh District Waterways Management analyst.
“We are engaging federal, Native American tribes, state, and waterway users to collect any data associated with this study,” he said. The public’s input is critical in completing a compressive evaluation of the waterway and to provide safe navigational protocols.”
Those wishing to comment on the story can do so at https://www.regulations.gov/document/USCG-2021-0345-0001.
