20 • Apr. 22 - May 5, 2016 • The Log


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It’s no war zone: San Diego Bay balances boating, Navy operations


Recreational boaters, Harbor Police, Coast Guard and the Navy find ways to co-exist in San Diego Bay.


By Parimal M. Rohit


SAN DIEGO — The southwestern-most city in the United States has a rich history when it comes to recreational boating. There are roughly as many marinas in San Diego as there are in the rest of Southern California combined. The Navy also has a major presence in San Diego as large naval carriers and cruisers dominate the waterfront. It is not uncommon for recreational boaters and naval officials to cross paths in the bay as RIBs can be seen or heard piercing across the water at any given time; aircraft carriers come and go, and training exercises involving the Navy, U.S. Coast Guard and Harbor Police are quite common. How do recreational boaters co-exist with naval operations in San Diego Bay?


Navy


The presence of the Navy is quite conspicuous to anyone who navigates through San Diego Bay. Lt. Robert Cole, who serves as


the Navy’s Waterways Management Division chief in San Diego, said


It is not uncommon to see Navy vessels rushing through the Big Bay during special training exercises. In this photo Chief of Naval Operations Adm. John Richardson transits the bay aboard a combatant craft medium assigned to Special Boat Team (SBT) 12 during a visit of San Diego and Naval Special Warfare.


naval operations. “Any type of recreational race or regatta is required to submit an


issues. “I would argue the overall


relationship is cordial and cooperative,” Cole continued. The Navy also makes an effort to


provide recreational boaters with proper notice of planned naval operations, Cole explained. “In nearly every instance of a planned training event that could have an impact on civilian/boater traffic, there is a discussion between all entities to ensure the commercial and recreational community is made aware and we make a determination on how to conduct that outreach effectively as well as a determination on how to


maintain safety and command and control of the event area,” Cole said. Cole added the Coast Guard and


Harbor Police are mostly in charge of enforcing jurisdictional issues, though the military arm, “maintains a security and force protection posture at all of their facilities within San Diego Bay.”


Harbor Police San Diego Harbor Police Officer


James Dreher said his agency monitors the entire bay up to 3 miles out and its jurisdiction overlaps with the U.S. Coast Guard and Navy. He said all the agencies work


The amphibious assault ship USS Makin Island departs Naval Base San Diego on its first operational deployment to the western Pacific region.


recreational boaters rarely become intertwined with naval operations. “Fortunately, the interference with


naval operations, which requires Coast Guard or Harbor Police response, is not a routine event,” Cole said. “There is minimal direct interference between recreational boating traffic and U.S. Navy operations.” Cole added all regatta or recreational boating events are vetted to ensure they do not interfere with planned


application to Coast Guard Sector San Diego for analysis and potential permitting,” Cole said. “Regardless of whether we permit the event or not, we vet their request to determine if there is potential for it to have an impact on planned naval events or movements. The San Diego Harbor Safety Committee is also a forum where the recreational community, the Coast Guard, and Navy Port Operations can discuss and mitigate any potential


Recreational boaters are advised to keep an eye out for vessels operated by San Diego Harbor Police, the U.S. Coast Guard and the Navy as all entities share the bay.


U.S. Navy photo by Chief Mass Communication Specialist John Lill [Public domain], via Wikimedia Commons


Port of San Diego photo


U.S. Navy photo by Mass Communication Specialist 2nd Class Timothy M. Black


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