Ninth Coast Guard District Legal

District Commander and Captain of the Port Regulations

The Commandant has delegated certain rulemaking authority to Coast Guard District Commanders and Captains of the Port (COTP).  Each District Commander and COTP has the authority to issue safety and security zone regulations.  District Commanders have the authority to issue regulations concerning anchorages, drawbridges, regulated navigation areas, special local regulations for regattas and marine parades, and lightering zones.  The Commandant has delegated to District Commanders the authority to re-delegate the authority to promulgate special regulations to COTP’s.  In the Ninth Coast Guard District, the District Commander has delegated authority to COTP’s to issue special local regulations.

Regulated navigation areas and limited access areas (security and safety zones) are published in Title 33, Code of Federal Regulations, Part 165.  Permanent Ninth Coast Guard District Regulated navigation areas and limited access areas are published begin at 33 C.F.R. § 165.901.  From time-to-time, temporary rules are issued by the Coast Guard.  Temporary rules are generally not printed in the Code of Federal Regulations and may not be posted in the Electronic Code of Federal Regulations (e-CFR).  Captains of the Port are responsible for notify the affected public when temporary regulations are issued in their area of responsibility.  Captains of the Port utilize various means to notify the public including Broadcast Notice to Mariners, press releases, and direct dissemination to stakeholders. 

In addition to the Ninth District regulated navigation areas and limited access areas, all mariners should be familiar with Naval Vessel Protection Zones, which place operating restrictions on all vessels within 500 yards of all U.S. Naval vessel.  Naval Vessel Protection Zone regulations can be found in Title 33, Code of Federal Regulations, Part 165, Subpart G.