Boating with the Navy
Maryland hosts several important naval military facilities. Because of its strategic location on the eastern shore of the Atlantic Ocean it is not only a perfect location for military bases, but also a perfect venue for recreational boating, and many times you will see Navy vessels sharing the same area of water with recreational boaters.
But unlike all those civilian boats, the Navy is not there on a recreational cruise, so there are certain rules that civilian boaters must know when encountering a military vessel in your vicinity. Some rules are just standard common sense when encountering any large vessel, but there are also specific security measures enacted in response to September 11, 2001.
It is critical that all boaters know and comply with these homeland security measures set forth by federal, state and local governments. These include, but are not limited to:
- Keeping a prescribed distance from military and commercial ships
- Avoiding military and commercial port operations and security zones
- Following guidelines for appropriate conduct, such as not stopping or anchoring beneath bridges or in channels, and
- Reporting suspicious activity to proper authorities.
Do not approach within 100 yards of any U.S. naval vessel. If you must pass within 100 yards of a U.S. naval vessel to ensure safe passage according to established navigation rules, you must contact the U.S. naval vessel or the Coast Guard escort vessel on VHF-FM channel 16.
You must operate at minimum speed within 500 yards of any U.S. naval vessel and keep your distance from all military, cruise line, or commercial shipping!
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