Keeping Our Waterways Safe and Secure
Ohio boaters can help keep our waterways safe and secure by abiding by the Naval Vessel Protection Zone regulation, staying away from security and other prohibited areas, and reporting suspicious activities they observe to local authorities.
- Naval Vessel Protection Zone Regulation: Keep your distance from all military, cruise-line, or commercial shipping. Do not approach within 100 yards and slow to minimum speed within 500 yards of any U.S. naval vessel, including any U.S. military or military supply vessel. Violators of the Naval Vessel Protection Zone face up to 6 years in prison and a $250,000 fine, not to mention a quick and severe response. Approaching certain other commercial vessels may result in an immediate boarding.
- Observe and avoid all security zones. Avoid commercial port operation areas, especially those that involve military, cruise-line, or petroleum facilities. Observe and avoid other restricted areas near dams, power plants, etc. Violators will be perceived as a threat, and will face a quick, determined, and severe response. [Security Zones: Lake Erie; Ohio River]
- Do not stop or anchor beneath bridges or in a channel. If you do, then expect to be boarded by law enforcement officials.
- Keep a sharp eye out for anything that looks peculiar or out of the ordinary. (see list of activities below.) Report all activities that seem suspicious to the local authorities, the U.S. Coast Guard, or the port or marina security. Call the U.S. Coast Guard National Response Hotline at 1-800-424-8802, or use VHF Channel 16. Do not approach or challenge those acting in a suspicious manner.
- Always secure and lock your boat when not on board. This includes while visiting marina restaurants, a friend’s dock, or other piers. Never leave your boat accessible to others. Always take the keys to the boat with you.
- Secure your stored boat. When storing your boat, make sure it is secure and its engine is disabled. If it is on a trailer, make the trailer as immovable as possible.
- Be a safe boater. Safe boaters help reduce public demands by permitting marine patrols to focus their limited resources on Homeland Security.
Suspicious Activity
Ohio boaters and marina operators should be aware of the U.S. Coast Guard’s list of possible indicators (not inclusive) of suspicious activities or factors that may raise maritime security concerns.
Any decision regarding what should be reported to the U.S. Coast Guard should generally be based on the totality of the circumstances and the exercise of prudent judgement. In addition, Ohio boaters should record any pertinent information -- such as vehicle and personnel descriptions, license plates or boat numbers, times and dates, etc.
Human Shoreside Activity
- Aggressive activities or behavior
- Attempts to gain access to vessels or waterfront facilities without proper identification
- Unusually large cash payments for vessel services, such as fuel or charters
- Delivery or placement of unusual packages
- Fixtures attached to structures
- Unusual diving operations: unmarked divers entering the water near bridges, port facilities or vessels
- Unusual filming, photographic or sketching activity, especially of critical infrastructure
- Frequent trips between borders
- Observed security changes or lack of usual security practices
- Lack of adequate fencing and lighting
- Inconsistent schedules (outside of normal operating hours)
- Unattended vehicles in unusual locations
- Unusual vehicle characteristics
Vessel Activity
- Unmarked/unattended vessels or vehicles in unusual locations
- Unusual vessel characteristics or number of people on board
- Unusual night operations
- Vessel operating at night without running lights
- Lights flashing between ship and shore
- Sophisticated radio or scanner devices; electronics on board that are inconsistent with vessel’s design or intended purpose
- Vessels that make drastic course changes away from other vessels, particularly those marked as law enforcement
- Vessels that anchor or cruise in one area for no apparent reason
- Smaller vessel hovering in vicinity of another vessel for no apparent reason
- Vessels that ride low in the water, or displays false loads lines
Vessel Cargo
- Suspicious cargo
- Irregularities in cargo manifests, especially related to hazardous cargoes
- Deficiencies in cargo containment
- Unusual transfer of personnel or cargo while underway
- Recovering or suspiciously discharging cargo
Ohio boaters witnessing these types of activities are encouraged to call the U.S. Coast Guard's National Response Center hotline at 1-800-424-8802. |