DETROIT- The Coast Guard is proposing to establish a Regulated Navigation Area (RNA) around the entrance to the moorings for Station Port Huron. These regulations are necessary to manage vessel traffic and ensure the operability of Coast Guard vessels departing Station Port Huron. These regulations are intended to restrict vessels from fishing, mooring, and anchoring in a portion of Lake Huron in the vicinity of the United States Coast Guard Station Port Huron. 

Station Port Huron is situated on the southern end of Lake Huron at the mouth of the St. Clair River. As such, it is a heavily traveled area both for commercial and recreational vessels.  Station Port Huron’s area of responsibility continues south approximately 13 miles down the St. Clair River and approximately 10 miles north to Port Sanilac, Michigan. Due to the wide geographic area coupled with the extent of vessel traffic, it is critical that all Station vessels be operable at all times and that response times not be hindered.  As such, the Coast Guard is proposing to establish an RNA that would prohibit fishing, mooring and anchoring in the immediate vicinity of the entrance to Station Port Huron’s moorings, unless the vessel operator receives advanced approval from the Captain of the Port Detroit. Vessels not engaging in these activities would be allowed to transit this area.

A large number of recreational fishermen typically fish right off the entrance to the Station Port Huron Moorings. As such, it is typical for fishing line to cross the path of any station vessels exiting the harbor, especially in time-critical emergency situations. During the summer of 2003, on at least 4 occasions, vessels from Station Port Huron were removed from operations due to fishing line being wrapped around their shafts.

In these instances, Station Port Huron’s boats were unavailable for search and rescue response during the most active portion of the year, the summer boating season. Having vessels out of service on a regular basis has severely impacted the ability of Station Port Huron to have underway assets available on a 24-hour basis.

In addition, due to security concerns it is necessary to prohibit vessels from anchoring or mooring within the RNA. On several occasions, vessels have been discovered inside Station Port Huron’s boat basin or anchored so close to the Station’s property that crewmembers trespassed upon Federal property upon disembarking the vessel. This routine invasion of the boat basin and Government property is a threat to the security and safety of the station and its crew.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT:  Lieutenant Commander Jim McLaughlin, Chief, Marine Safety Compliance Operations Branch, Ninth Coast Guard District Marine Safety Division, at (216) 902–6045.

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