Scheduled channel closure for Riverfest 2023

28 Apr 2023 / Neches River/Port Neches, TX, United States

Riverfest, an annual event sponsored by the Port Neches Chamber of Commerce, is scheduled to be held on Friday, May 5th through Sunday, May 7th, 2023. Some RIVERFEST events will take place on the Neches River in the vicinity of Port Neches Park, including boat races and a fireworks display.

As a result, the Coast Guard will enforce Special Local Regulations adjacent to Port Neches Park in Port Neches, Texas, during the event. Specifically, vessels MAY NOT enter or remain in the portion of the Neches River, bound on the west by 30 deg. 00’08” N (near unused refinery dock) and on the east by 93 deg. 56’00” W (near FINA upper anchorage), during the boat races. Additionally, the Coast Guard will enforce a 500-yard safety zone around the launch barge during the scheduled fireworks display on Saturday, May 6th, 2023 (rain date is Sunday, May 7th).

The Coast Guard and other law enforcement agencies will enforce these regulations during the following times:

May 5, 2023: 2:00 p.m. until 6:00 p.m.

May 6, 2023: 8:30 a.m. until 6:00 p.m. / 8:30 p.m. until 9:30 p.m. (Fireworks Display)

May 7, 2023: 8:30 a.m. until 6:00 p.m. / 8:30 p.m. until 9:30 p.m. (Fireworks Rain Date)

Breaks during race events have been scheduled to allow shallow draft traffic to pass. Vessels desiring to transit through this area may contact Vessel Traffic Service (VTS) Port Arthur on channel 65A or 13 VHF-FM or the on-scene Coast Guard vessel on channel 13 or 16 VHF-FM.

This notice will be posted on the Coast Guard’s HOMEPORT website at http://homeport.uscg.mil and the VTS website at https://www.atlanticarea.uscg.mil/vtsportarthur/.

(For information about operations in the United States, contact GAC North America at [email protected])

Source: U.S. Coast Guard Marine Safety Unit, Port Arthur, Texas, Marine Safety Information Bulletin 16-23

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