Coast Guard, partner agencies to establish security zones near Palm Beach

 

The Coast Guard is establishing Security Zones in the Intracoastal Waterway and offshore near Palm Beach, FL.

The Security Zones are scheduled to begin at Tuesday afternoon and will continue until late Sunday evening, to include certain waters of the Intracoastal Waterway and the Atlantic Ocean in the vicinity of Mar-a-Lago Club and the Southern Boulevard Bridge in Palm Beach, FL.

The Security Zone is necessary to protect the VIP and accompanying official party, the public, and the surrounding waterway from terrorist acts, sabotage or other subversive acts, accidents, or other causes of a similar nature. Entering, stopping, or anchoring in this security zone is prohibited unless authorized by the Captain of the Port Miami or a designated representative. The Security Zone is broken into three zones.

Palm Beach Security Zone restrictions:

• Center Zone: This zone is always in effect. This zone consists of waters of the Lake Worth Lagoon 700 yards north of the Southern Boulevard Bridge ending at the north tip of Fisherman Island and 200 yards to the south of the Southern Boulevard Bridge ending at Flagler Promenade S Road. No vessel or person will be permitted to enter the center zone without obtaining permission from the Coast Guard or a designated representative.
• West Zone: This zone is always in effect. This zone consists of waters of Lake Worth Lagoon 700 yards north of the Southern Boulevard Bridge ending at day beacon "20" and 200 yards to the south of the Southern Boulevard Bridge ending at Flagler Promenade S Road. All vessels transiting the west zone shall maintain a steady speed and shall not slow or stop in the zone.
• East Zone: This zone is always in effect. This zone consists of waters of the Atlantic Ocean from Banyan Road in the north to Ocean View Road in the south and from shore to approximately 1000 yards east. All vessels transiting the east zone shall maintain a steady speed and shall not slow or stop in the zone.

Violation of a security zone may result in a civil penalty in excess of $88,000, a criminal penalty up to $10,000, and/or imprisonment up to 12 years.