Navy Sets Safety Zone for Haiti Shipping

The U.S. Navy is asking commercial shipping to coordinate their operations in a safety zone in the waters between Haiti and Cuba.

According to the Maritime Administration, which issued an advisory last week, commercial vessels are being asked to provide vessel data to the Shipping Coordination Center in Dam Neck, Va.

Such advisories are normally issued during times of war or national emergency to keep commercial ships out of harm’s way. The bulletin for Haiti is intended to ensure vessel safety, Marad said.

The advisory applies to ships carrying disaster relief to Haiti and international shipping transiting the zone, but participation is voluntary.

The zone is a rectangle with Guantanamo Bay at its northwest corner, stretching east to Haiti’s boundary with the Dominican Republic, and to a latitude approximately 13 nautical miles south of Haiti’s south coast.

Contact R.G. Edmonson at bedmonson@joc.com.