SAN DIEGO — The Coast Guard will enforce temporary safety zones for the Big Bay Boom Fourth of July Fireworks on the waters of San Diego Bay on Thursday, July 4, 2024.
The Coast Guard Captain of the Port San Diego, Capt. James Spitler, will establish 1,000-foot radius safety zones around each of the barges within north San Diego Bay, and there will be an 800-foot radius safety zone in Glorietta Bay. The safety zones will be enforced from 8 p.m. to 10 p.m. and will be centered at the following locations:
Shelter Island Barge: 32-42-80N, 117-13-20W
Harbor Island Barge: 32-43-30N, 117-12-00W
North Embarcadero Barge: 32-42-90N, 117-10-80W
South Embarcadero Barge: 32-42-10N, 117-10-00W
Stingray Point (Coronado): 32-40-46N, 117-10-10W
“Independence Day celebrations should be enjoyed responsibly and safely,” said Capt. James Spitler, commander of U.S. Coast Guard Sector San Diego. “As part of the Big Bay Boom, we will increase our patrols to enforce the safety zones around each firework barge, ensuring the safety of everyone on the water.”
The safety zones are necessary to ensure the safety of participants, spectators, official vessels of the event, and general users of the waterway. During the enforcement period, spectators may not anchor, block, loiter in, or impede the transit of official patrol vessels in the regulated areas without the approval of the Captain of the Port or a designated representative.
All vessel operators desiring to enter any safety zone must obtain permission from the Captain of the Port by contacting on-scene Coast Guard patrol craft on VHF-FM channels 21 or 16, or the Coast Guard Sector San Diego JHOC command center via channel 16. Violating these zones is a felony offense. Boaters who enter these zones will be escorted from the area immediately and may be subject to fines of up to $250,000 and/or up to six years in federal prison.
If you have questions about this notice of enforcement, call or email Lt. Shelley Turner Waterways Management, U.S. Coast Guard Sector, San Diego, CA; telephone 619-278-7261, email MarineEventsSD@uscg.mil