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NOAA Seeks Comments On Proposal To Impose Vessel Speed Restrictions For The Protection Of North Atlantic Right Whales

The proposed changes would create mandatory speed restrictions of 10 knots for vessels 35-65 feet in length along most all of the East Coast from November through April*. Written comments are due by September 30th, 2022. Click Here To Learn More And Comment.

Proposed Changes

 

NOAA Fisheries has proposed changes to speed restrictions along the East Coast in an effort to reduce the chance of lethal vessel collisions with the North Atlantic Right Whale.
 
These new restrictions would “expand mandatory speed restrictions of 10-knots or less to include most vessels 35-65 feet in length” which the National Marine Fisheries Service estimates will affect approximately 15,899 vessels from Maine to Florida. These restrictions would result in an additional 121,061 transit hours with the commercial shipping sector  bearing the largest proportion of costs from the changes with an estimated cost to the maritime community of $46,216,122.
 
 

Comment On The Proposed Changes

NOAA Fisheries is inviting the public to comment on the proposed rule changes  by September 30, 2022.  Click Here To Learn More And Comment

Sources & Information: NOAA

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