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Port Access Route Study: Ensuring Safe Navigation in U.S. Waterways

Learn about the process and importance of Port Access Route Studies (PARS) to designate safe access routes for vessels in the United States, as mandated by the Ports and Waterways Safety Act. Discover the objectives, requirements, timelines, and geographic areas covered by these studies.

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Port Access Route Study: Ensuring Safe Navigation in U.S. Waterways

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  1. PORT ACCESS ROUTE STUDY PARS

  2. AUTHORITY -RESPONSIBILITY • PORTS AND WATERWAYS SAFETY ACT (PWSA) P.L. 95-474; 33 U.S.C. 1223 • SECRETARY OF TRANSPORTATION • “Designate necessary fairways and traffic separation schemes” to “provide safe access routes … to and from ports or other places… United States.” • Delegated to the Coast Guard

  3. REQUIREMENTS • REQUIRED WHEN WE CONSIDER NECESSITY FOR FAIRWAYS OR TRAFFIC SEPARATION SCHEME(S) (TSS) • OPTIONAL FOR OTHER ROUTING MEASURES • RECOMMENDED ROUTES • ANCHORAGE/NO ANCHORAGE AREA • ATBA

  4. HISTORY • FIRST STUDY INITIATED 1979 • ENTIRE COAST • 32 ORIGINAL STUDY AREAS • COMPLETED BY 1982 • SOME AREAS RESTUDIED

  5. OBJECTIVES • DEFINE NEED • TRAFFIC DENSITY (Present and future) • FORM/TYPE OF MEASURE • EXISTING MEASURE: STILL NEEDED? • MANDATORY USE FOR CERTAIN CLASSES OF VESSELS

  6. INITIAL REVIEW • REVIEW ORIGINAL AND SUBSEQUENT STUDIES • DETERMINE IF CONDITIONS HAVE CHANGED TO WARRANT NEW STUDY

  7. STUDY ITSELF • IDENTIFY STUDY AREA • NOTICE OF STUDY IN FED REG • GEOGRAPHIC DESCRIPTION OF AREA • EXPLANATION OF CONTEMPLATED ACTIONS AND IMPACTS • INVITE PUBLIC COMMENT • PRESENT ISSUES AND QUESTIONS

  8. STUDY ITSELF (CON’T) • COLLECT DATA • VESSEL TRAFFIC CHARACTERISTICS • FISHING (COMMERCIAL/TRIBAL) • REC BOATING TRAFFIC • DOD ACTIVITIES • OCS RESOURCE DEVELOPMENT • ENVIRONMENTAL FACTORS • DREDGING PROJECTS • ECONOMIC IMPACT

  9. STUDY ITSELF (CON’T) • CONSULTATIONS • VARIOUS FEDERAL AND STATE AGENCIES • MARITIME COMMUNITY • PORT AND HARBOR AUTH/ASSOC • LOCAL CITIZEN GROUPS • ANALYZE DATA • RECOMMEND ROUTING MEASURE(S)

  10. STUDY COMPLETE • SUBMIT TO G-MWV • HQ PUBLISHES NOTICE OF STUDY RESULTS IN FED REG • HQ REVIEWS RECOMMENDED MEASURES AND DETERMINES IF: • FEDERAL RULEMAKING REQUIRED • IMO MEASURE REQUIRED • BOTH

  11. PARS TO REDUCE VESSEL STRIKES OF NORTH ATLANTIC RIGHT WHALES • COAST GUARD AND MARITIME TRANSPORTATION ACT OF 2004 • USCG SHALL COOPERATE WITH NOAA TO ANALYZE POTENTIAL ROUTING MEASURES • PROVIDE FINAL REPORT TO CONGRESS WITHIN 18 MONTHS

  12. TIMELINE • CG & MTA ENACTED AUG 9, 2004 • NOTICE OF STUDY (PARS) PUBLISHED IN FEDERAL REGISTER FEB 18, 2005 • COMMENT PERIOD WILL CLOSE APR 19, 2005 • COMPLETION DATE SEP 2005 • REPORT TO CONGRESS JAN 2006

  13. GEOGRAPHIC AREAS • NORTHERN REGION: Cape Cod Bay; the area off Race Point at the Northern end of Cape Cod and the Great South Channel • SOUTHERN REGION: 31o27’N - 81oW - 29o45’N – shoreline. Includes Ports of Jacksonville and Fernandina, FL and Brunswick, GA

  14. ACTIONS • REVIEW COMMENTS • REVIEW PREVIOUS PARS • REVIEW EXISTING/PREVIOUS STUDIES • MEET WITH NOAA/NMFS AS NECESSARY

  15. ACTIONS (CON’T) • DRAFT REPORT • SUBMIT REPORT TO CONGRESS • PUBLISH NOTICE OF STUDY RESULTS IN FEDERAL REGISTER

  16. POSSIBLE RECOMMENDATIONS • IMPLEMENT VESSEL ROUTING MEASURES PER NMFS ANPRM • CREATE NEW VESSEL ROUTING MEASURES OTHER THAN THOSE PROPOSED • VALIDATE EXISTING MEASURES – NO CHANGES • CHANGES TO EXISITING MEASURES

  17. FINAL ACTIONS IF REQUIRED • RULEMAKINGS • IMO MEASURES • BOTH

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