HEADS UP ALL CAPTAINS AND BOATERS USING PE

[CaptainEd]

http://cbs4.com/newslocal/topstories...151151240.html
May 31, 2005 4:58 pm US/Eastern

FORT LAUDERDALE (CBS4 News) The Organization of American States (OAS) General Assembly will be held Sunday through Tuesday (June 5-7). Foreign ministers from more than 33 countries are scheduled to attend. Lots of extra security precautions are being taken and they'll effect thousands of people near the Greater Fort Lauderdale Broward County Convention Center, including the 17th Street Causeway Bridge and Port Everglades.

The Florida Department of Transportation says the 17th Street Causeway Bridge over the Intracoastal Waterway in Fort Lauderdale will be closed to all through traffic from 8pm Friday, June 3, to noon Wednesday, June 8. The bridge will also be closed to bicycles and pedestrians. Expect traffic delays on both sides of the bridge. During the closure, through traffic will be detoured on US 1 and State Road A1A to Las Olas Boulevard and Sunrise Boulevard. Also, parking areas under the 17th Street Causeway Bridge on both sides of the Intracoastal will be closed.

There will be traffic checkpoints along Seabreeze Boulevard (SR A1A) and at S.E. 15 Avenue/S.E. 16 Street. Traffic will be limited to local business traffic. Through traffic will be redirected.

Businesses along S.E. 17 Street should direct customers and employees to access S.E. 17 Street from South Federal Highway. Businesses on the north side of S.E. 17 Street, from the 1500 block to the bridge, should direct customers and employees to utilize S.E. 16 Street. Customers wishing to access businesses on the north side of S.E. 17 Street, from the 1500 block to the bridge, should utilize S.E. 16 Street from either Cordova Road or S.E. 15 Avenue.

Beach patrons should access and exit the beach via East Oakland Park Boulevard, East Sunrise Boulevard or East Las Olas Boulevard from June 3rd to June 8th. General beach traffic will be redirected from southbound Seabreeze back to northbound State Road A1A at Harbor Beach Parkway.

Residents should utilize, and direct their guests to utilize, East Sunrise Boulevard and East Las Olas Boulevard to access and exit neighborhoods east of the S.E. 17th Street Bridge.

No boats or people will be allowed west of the Intracoastal in Port Everglades Harbor without permission of the Captain of the Port. The 17th Street Bridge will open every 30 minutes between 7am and 7pm, but bridge openings may be suspended as ordered by the Captain of the Port or his direct representative.

The easternmost boat ramp at the SE 15 Street launch area will be closed from June 4 to June 7. The parking lot will also be restricted to official business parking. It is recommended that boaters utilize other area boat launch ramps and parking lots, including Coolee Hammock or George English Park.

Port Everglades says every consideration has been given to how to best accommodate the cruise lines and port businesses in the vicinity of the Convention Center without compromising security. The Northport Parking Garage is closed to the general public. Use the Midport parking garage instead. Also:
=Cruise ships normally berthed in Northport at Terminals 1, 2 and 4 will be relocated to Midport.
=Princess Cruises' Caribbean Princess will sail from Passenger Terminal 18 for its May 28 and June 4 sailings.
=2-night cruise operator Imperial Majesty is sailing the Regal Empress from Passenger Terminal 21 beginning May 24th.
=Daily cruise ship operator Discovery Cruise Line will sail from Berth 21 from May 23 through June 8.
=Daily cruise ship operator SeaEscape will sail from Berths 25 and 26 from May 30 through June 8.

Beginning at 6pm on Friday, June 3rd:
=Checkpoint 3 into the Port (S.E. 17th Street and Eisenhower Boulevard) will be closed to all traffic.
=During this time period, port tenants and users must use the Eller Drive and Spangler Boulevard entrances to Port Everglades. Access to businesses located west of Eisenhower Boulevard on S.E. 20th Street will require additional screening.
=Those who have offices inside the secure area in Northport must obtain proper credentials from the Department of State.
=A security fence will be established around the convention center located in Port Everglades. Only individuals receiving credentials from OAS will be allowed within this perimeter fence.

The U.S. Coast Guard will establish a temporary regulated navigation area and temporary security zone during the OAS conference, effective from 12:01pm on Saturday, June 4th, until 12:01pm on Wednesday, June 8th. In support of this event, the Coast Guard will be monitoring all vessel traffic near the venue.

All vessels within the regulated navigation area (RNA) are subject to control by the Coast Guard Marine Operations Center (MOC), which will be established in Port Everglades during the period the rule is in effect. All vessels greater than 100 feet must check in with the MOC via VHF-FM channel 12, prior to entering or transiting the RNA. The RNA requires all vessels within the regulated area to proceed continuously and at slow speed. (Slow speed is defined as the speed at which a vessel proceeds when it is fully off plane, completely settled into the water and not creating excessive wakes.) Personal watercraft are not permitted to enter the RNA. Neither are Rigid Hull Inflatable Boats (RHIBs), with the exception of RHIBs operated by licensed commercial salvage companies. For purposes of this rule, RHIB refers to a vessel that has an inflatable fabric or rubber and/or foam collar surrounding the hull of the vessel. The RNA encompasses the waters that make up the main shipping channels into Port Everglades Harbor and the Intracoastal Waterway through Port Everglades Harbor from just north of the 17th Street Bridge to Whiskey Creek.

[RiskTaker]

FYI:

If you need to transgress or egress/ingress from Pe Inlet and you are not allowed to do so, I want to hear from you!

I am all supportive to Americas negotiations as well as certain security pre-cautions, but with all that frickin red tape which I do not have full bandwidth to digest with the countless words. (Do you think I talk alot?: then read on, it could be an epic., not only that it is the legal guideance of the land for the day or so.)

By the way Capt. Ed. , Thank you for post this major bulletin item.

Fortunately, I will not be in town to be frustrated with any martial laws.

I just hope and wish they are still constructed in the way that locals are not compromised of their dignity and rights to do what they normally do. It sounded a little bit scarey with all of that red type.

Digest the statements and reply back with any : supports, concerns, or objections.