(a) Location. The following area is a moving safety zone: Any navigable waters located within 1000 yards in all directions from the Cable Laying Barge (CLB) ULISSE while operating off the coast of Virginia Beach, Virginia while it conducts work within 12 nm of the shore. The CLB operations will occur within a perimeter enclosed by positions: 36°49′4.8″ N, 75°57′43.2″ W; 36°49′13.9″ N, 75°42′39.8″ W; 36°47′11.7″ N, 75°41′50.8″ W and 36°48′28.8″ N, 75°57′43.2″ W.

(b) Definitions. As used in this section, designated representative means a Coast Guard Patrol Commander, including a Coast Guard coxswain, petty officer, or other officer operating a Coast Guard vessel and a Federal, State, and local officer designated by or assisting the Captain of the Port Sector Virginia (COTP) in the enforcement of the safety zone. The term also includes the master of a U.S.-flagged vessel, initially the Tug Washington, supporting the CLB ULISSE for the sole purpose of designating and establishing safe transit corridors, to permit passage into or through this safety zone, or to notify vessels and individuals of the actual hazards present if they have entered the safety zone and inform them of the safe direction to which they should depart. If the US flagged vessel supporting the CLB changes, updates will be provided in the District Five Local Notice to Mariners.

(c) Regulations. (1) Under the general safety zone regulations in subpart C of this part, no vessel or person may enter or remain in any safety zone described in paragraph (a) of this section unless authorized by the COTP, or designated representative. If a vessel or person is notified by the COTP, or designated representative that they have entered one of these safety zones without permission, they are required to immediately depart in a safe manner following the directions given.

(2) Mariners requesting to transit this safety zone must first contact the designated representative who will be monitoring VHF-FM channels 13 and 16 while work is ongoing. If permission is granted, mariners must proceed at their own risk and strictly observe any and all instructions provided by the COTP, or designated representative to the mariner regarding the conditions of entry to and exit from any location within the moving safety zone.

(d) Enforcement. The Sector Virginia COTP may enforce the regulations in this section and may be assisted by any Federal, State, county, or municipal law enforcement agency.

(e) Enforcement period. This section will be subject to enforcement from March 2, 2025, until March 1, 2026. If cable laying work is completed before March 1, 2026, or for a different reason the COTP determines the zone need no longer be enforced, they will issue a general permission to enter.