Safety Zone; T/V DENISE FOSS (O.N. 1254223), Honolulu, HI

What it does

• •Establishes a temporary moving safety zone covering all navigable waters within a 500-yard radius of the tugboat T/V DENISE FOSS and its tow FOSS 3612 as they transit through Mamala Bay near Diamond Head approaching Honolulu Harbor.
• •Prohibits vessels and persons from entering the safety zone unless specifically authorized by the Captain of the Port, Sector Honolulu, or their designated representative.
• •Applies from 6 a.m. on August 13, 2026, through 9 a.m. on August 17, 2026, enforced until the vessels enter Honolulu Harbor Security Zone.

Why it matters

• •The safety zone protects personnel, vessels, and the marine environment from hazards created by the restricted maneuverability of a tug and barge carrying three ship-to-shore cranes during their transit to Honolulu Harbor.
• •The rule was issued immediately without the standard notice-and-comment period because the Coast Guard determined the timeline was impracticable—the agency was notified on August 3, 2026, but needed the zone in effect by August 13, 2026.

Who is affected

• •Vessel operators and persons in navigable waters within 500 yards of the T/V DENISE FOSS and FOSS 3612 during the specified enforcement dates in Mamala Bay near Honolulu.
• •Maritime operators and small businesses conducting activities in the affected waters who must seek advance authorization from the Captain of the Port to enter the zone.

What happens next

The safety zone becomes effective at 6 a.m. on August 13, 2026, and remains in force through 9 a.m. on August 17, 2026, unless terminated earlier when the vessels enter Honolulu Harbor Security Zone.