Coast Guard Creates Temporary Safety Zone for Cannon Fire in Virginia

You might care about this because the Coast Guard is establishing a temporary safety zone on a part of the Albemarle and Chesapeake Canal in Chesapeake, Virginia. This rule is designed to keep everyone safe during an event where a Tall Ship will fire blank cannons. Imagine a large historic ship, and as part of a demonstration, it fires cannons that make noise but do not shoot projectiles. The Coast Guard wants to protect people, other boats, and the marine environment from any potential problems caused by these blank fires. They determined that anyone within 250 yards of the vessel firing the cannon could be at risk. Therefore, they are making it a rule that during specific times, no one can enter this special area without permission from the local Coast Guard Captain of the Port. This temporary zone will be active from June 19 to June 21, 2026. However, the actual enforcement times are only for short periods on those days. The Coast Guard put this rule in place quickly because they learned about the event recently and needed to act fast to ensure public safety on the water. What is particularly interesting about this rule is how swiftly the Coast Guard implemented it. Typically, they would invite public comments before finalizing a new rule. However, in this situation, they bypassed that step. They explained that they received short notice about the blank cannon firing event. They had to establish this safety zone by June 19, 2026, to protect everyone involved or nearby. Due to this urgent timeline, there was not enough time to gather and respond to public comments. This demonstrates that when there is an immediate need for safety, the Coast Guard has the authority to put temporary rules into effect very quickly. It also highlights their responsibility in overseeing even unique events on waterways, such as a historic ship firing blank cannons, to make certain they are conducted safely for all participants and observers. People who would be most interested in this document include boaters and sailors who use the Albemarle and Chesapeake Canal in Chesapeake, Virginia. If you plan to be on the water near the Great Bridge Bridge between June 19 and June 21, 2026, you need to know about these temporary restrictions. Local residents of Chesapeake, especially those living near the canal or planning to watch the Tall Ship event, should also be aware. Anyone organizing events on waterways that involve special activities, such as historical reenactments or public displays, might find this rule useful as an example of how safety measures are managed. Lastly, legal professionals interested in how government agencies create rules rapidly in urgent situations could also find this document informative.