VESSEL &
WATERCRAFT AD HOC
COMMITTEE REPORT
CFR CHANGE PROPOSAL
Issue:
• Title 33 CFR § 334.930 Paragraph 3
delineates the vessels and watercraft
authorized to transit through Anaheim
Bay via the public navigation channel
• The public navigation channel provides
the sole entry and exit route for vessels
and watercraft transiting into and out of
Huntington Harbour
• The recent ammunition pier project at
Naval Weapons Station Seal Beach
(NWSSB) rerouted and redesigned the
public navigation channel
• The CFR requires updating to reflect the
reconfiguration of Anaheim Bay
• The Commanding Officer of NWSSB
requests the City of Huntington Beach
input on proposed changes to the CFR
ISSUE STATEMENT
Concur with NWSSB Proposed Changes to 33 CFR § 334.930
with Recommended Amendment to Paragraph 3
Original:
(3) Recreational craft, such as water skis, jet skis (personal water craft), row boats, canoes, kayaks, wind surfers, sail boards, surf boards, etc., and any activity involving persons in the water, are specifically prohibited within the restricted area.
NWSSB Proposed Change:
(3) Vessels under sail, paddle boards, recreational swimming or any other activity involving persons in the water is prohibited.
Recommended Amendment:
(3) Only vessels under power, with a current California Boat/Vessel Registration, are authorized to transit through Anaheim Bay within the limits of the marked public navigation channel adjacent to the East Jetty. Vessels under sail, kayaks, canoes, row boats, paddle boards, hydrofoil boards, kite boards, wind surfers, sail boards, recreational swimming or any other activity involving persons in the water are prohibited.
RECOMMENDATION
• Since the 2020 reintroduction of lifeguards in Huntington Harbour:
• 106 kayakers have been rescued
• 130 paddle boarders have been rescued
• Exhaustion and loss of orientation root cause of most rescues • Novice paddlers tend to underestimate the wind and tidal currents • Tidal flows in the public navigation channel pose an increased risk • Hazards to navigation in narrow 250’ wide channel also a concern • OC Sheriff Harbor Patrol predicts an increased number of rescues if manually powered watercraft allowed in public navigation channel • OC Sheriff and HBFD lack the resources to respond to the predicted increase in the number of rescues in the public navigation channel
DATA ANALYSIS
SUBJECT MATTER EXPERT OPINION
QUESTIONS