Safety Zone; Massachusetts Bay, Boston, MA

What it does

• •Establishes temporary moving safety zones in Massachusetts Bay, approximately 22 miles northeast of Boston, with a 500-meter radius centered on active construction vessels conducting decommissioning operations.
• •Prohibits entry of vessels or persons into the safety zones without permission from the Captain of the Port, Sector Boston, or their designated representative.
• •Requires the Coast Guard to notify the maritime community of exact zone locations and enforcement periods through Local Notices to Mariners and Broadcast Notices via VHF radio channel 16.

Why it matters

• •The safety zones protect personnel, vessels, and the marine environment from hazards associated with subsea demolition of the Neptune LNG Deepwater Port, including risks from Dynamic Positioning failures, heavy crane lifts, mooring line recovery, saturation diving operations, and remotely operated vehicle deployment.
• •Operations must comply with federal environmental authorizations including the Endangered Species Act, Marine Mammal Protection Act, and original Environmental Impact Statement conditions, with protected species observers stationed onboard with stop-work authority.

Who is affected

• •Maritime traffic, commercial fishing vessels, and other waterway users in Massachusetts Bay during the decommissioning operation.
• •Neptune LNG LLC and marine contractors performing subsea demolition work on the deepwater port facility.
• •Mariners and maritime operators who must monitor Local Notices to Mariners and Broadcast Notices for zone locations before transiting the area.

What happens next

This temporary final rule is effective from 11:59 p.m. February 28, 2027, through 8 a.m. September 30, 2027, with the Coast Guard issuing advance notice of active zone locations through the Local Notice to Mariners and emergency broadcasts via VHF channel 16.