Coast Guard to study offshore boat traffic, wind farms


December 29, 2011
Filed under News

PORTSMOUTH, Va. – The U.S. Coast Guard will be expanding studies of port traffic along the Atlantic coast to include all government, commercial and recreational boat traffic from Maine to Florida, according to Hamptonroads.com.

The Coast Guard will be studying boat traffic on a large scale level to determine if new international agreements or vessel-routing measures in areas where wind farms may be erected are necessary.

While carrying out the studies, the Coast Guard is seeking input from maritime industries and recreational boaters who operate within 200 nautical miles of the East Coast. The Coast Guard is accepting input through Jan. 31.

Some of the questions that the Coast Guard is seeking public and commercial input on include: do you regularly transit coastal waters in a recreational yacht? If yes, how far offshore is your typical route? What are the pros and cons to the Coast Guard designating traffic routes? Should there be separate lanes for different types of vessels and for vessels traveling in opposite directions? Should their use be mandatory?

To read the full article, visit Coast Guard to study future of boat traffic, wind farms – hamptonroads.com.