33 CFR 100.704: Charleston marine event special local regulations

Last reviewed: October 14, 2026

This section applies to the marine events listed in Table 1 and is effective annually for the durations listed there. The COTP Charleston or a designated representative may control vessel movement in the regulated areas, and only event participants and official patrol vessels may enter unless authorized. The Coast Guard announces exact dates and times through notices.

Applies toThe section applies to the marine events listed in Table 1 of this section.

What it says

  1. The Coast Guard will announce the exact dates, times and nature of each event through a Notice of Enforcement published in the Federal Register, Local Notice to Mariners, and Broadcast Notice to Mariners.

    “The Coast Guard will notify the maritime community of exact dates and times each regulation will be in effect”
  2. A designated representative means Coast Guard Patrol Commanders, including coxswains, petty officers and others operating Coast Guard vessels, and Federal, state, and local officers designated by or assisting the COTP Charleston in enforcing the regulated areas.

    33 CFR 100.704(a)(1)““designated representative” means Coast Guard Patrol Commanders, including Coast Guard coxswains, petty officers, others operating Coast Guard vessels”
  3. Spectators are all persons and vessels not registered with the event sponsor as participants.

    33 CFR 100.704(a)(2)“All persons and vessels not registered with the event sponsor as participants.”
  4. The Coast Guard may assign an event patrol, as described in § 100.40, to each regulated event listed in Table 1, and the patrol may be contacted on VHF Channel 16.

    33 CFR 100.704(b)“The Coast Guard may assign an event patrol, as described in § 100.40, to each regulated event listed in Table 1 of this section.”
  5. A vessel in the regulated areas must immediately comply with directions when hailed or signaled by an official patrol vessel. Failure to do so may result in removal from the area, citation, or both.

    33 CFR 100.704(c)(1)“When hailed or signaled by an official patrol vessel, a vessel in these areas shall immediately comply with the directions given.”
  6. Only event sponsor designated participants and official patrol vessels may enter the regulated area, unless the COTP Charleston or designated representative authorizes otherwise.

    33 CFR 100.704(c)(3)“Only event sponsor designated participants and official patrol vessels are allowed to enter the regulated area, unless otherwise authorized by the COTP Charleston or designated representative.”
  7. Spectators may request permission to enter, transit, remain within, or anchor in the regulated area. If permission is granted, they must follow the directions of the COTP Charleston or a designated representative.

    33 CFR 100.704(c)(4)“If permission is granted, spectators must abide by the directions of the COTP Charleston or a designated representative.”
  8. The COTP Charleston or designated representative may delay or terminate any event at any time to ensure safety of life or property.

    33 CFR 100.704(d)“The COTP Charleston or designated representative may delay or terminate any event in this section at any time to ensure safety of life or property.”

Common questions

Can spectators enter a regulated area during a Charleston marine event?

Spectators may request permission from the COTP Charleston or a designated representative to enter, transit, remain within, or anchor in the regulated area. If permission is granted, they must follow directions.

“Spectators may request permission from the COTP Charleston or designated representative to enter, transit, remain within, or anchor in the regulated area.”

How do I find the exact dates and times of these marine events?

The Coast Guard will announce them through a Notice of Enforcement published in the Federal Register, Local Notice to Mariners, and Broadcast Notice to Mariners.

“through a Notice of Enforcement published in the Federal Register, Local Notice to Mariners, and Broadcast Notice to Mariners.”

What channel can I use to contact the event patrol?

The event patrol and Patrol Commander may be contacted on VHF Channel 16.

“The event patrol and Patrol Commander may be contacted on VHF Channel 16.”

Why might an event be delayed or terminated?

Such action may be justified as a result of weather, traffic density, spectator operation, or participant behavior.

“Such action may be justified as a result of weather, traffic density, spectator operation, or participant behavior.”

The text of 33 CFR 100.704

Electronic Code of Federal Regulations (eCFR), current as of March 31, 2026 · Read it on eCFR

Special Local Regulations; Marine Events within the Captain of the Port Charleston

The regulations in this section apply to the marine events listed in Table 1 of this section. The regulations in this section will be effective annually for the duration listed in Table 1 of this section. The Coast Guard will notify the maritime community of exact dates and times each regulation will be in effect and the nature of each event (e.g. location, number of participants, type of vessels involved, etc.) through a Notice of Enforcement published in the Federal Register, Local Notice to Mariners, and Broadcast Notice to Mariners.

(a) Definitions. The following definitions apply to this section:

(1) Designated representative. The term “designated representative” means Coast Guard Patrol Commanders, including Coast Guard coxswains, petty officers, others operating Coast Guard vessels, and Federal, state, and local officers designated by or assisting the Captain of the Port (COTP) Charleston in the enforcement of the regulated areas.

(2) Spectators. All persons and vessels not registered with the event sponsor as participants.

(b) Event patrol. The Coast Guard may assign an event patrol, as described in § 100.40, to each regulated event listed in Table 1 of this section. Additionally, a Patrol Commander may be assigned to oversee the patrol. The event patrol and Patrol Commander may be contacted on VHF Channel 16.

(c) Special local regulations. (1) The COTP Charleston or designated representative may control the movement of all vessels in the regulated area. When hailed or signaled by an official patrol vessel, a vessel in these areas shall immediately comply with the directions given. Failure to do so may result in removal from the area, citation for failure to comply, or both.

(2) The COTP Charleston or designated representative may terminate the event, or the operation of any vessel participating in the event, at any time it is deemed necessary for the protection of life or property.

(3) Only event sponsor designated participants and official patrol vessels are allowed to enter the regulated area, unless otherwise authorized by the COTP Charleston or designated representative.

(4) Spectators may request permission from the COTP Charleston or designated representative to enter, transit, remain within, or anchor in the regulated area. If permission is granted, spectators must abide by the directions of the COTP Charleston or a designated representative.

(d) Event delays or termination. The COTP Charleston or designated representative may delay or terminate any event in this section at any time to ensure safety of life or property. Such action may be justified as a result of weather, traffic density, spectator operation, or participant behavior.

Table 1 to § 100.704—Special Local Regulations; Marine Events Within the Captain of the Port Charleston[Datum NAD 1983] Date/time Event/sponsor Location Regulated area 1.

The First Saturday in April: Time (Approximate): 7 a.m. to 10 a.m Cooper River Bridge RunSponsor: The Cooper River Bridge Run Executive Committee Charleston, SC and Mt.

Pleasant, SC Location: The following is a safety or security zone.

All waters of the Cooper River, and Town Creek Reaches encompassed within the following points: Beginning at 32°48′32″ N, 079°56′08″ W, thence east to 32°48′20″ N, 079°54′20″ W, thence south to 32°47′20″ N, 079°54′29″ W, thence west to 32°47′20″ N, 079°55′28″ W, thence north to origin. 2.

One week (Monday through Sunday) in April: Time (Approximate): 8 a.m. to 5 p.m. each day Charleston Race WeekSponsor: Charleston Race Week LLC Charleston, SC Location: There are five race areas:(i) Race Area #1.

All waters of the Charleston Harbor encompassed within a 700 yard radius of position 32°46′10″ N, 079°55′15″ W.(ii) Race Area #2.

All waters of the Charleston Harbor encompassed within a 700 yard radius of position 32°46′02″ N, 079°54′15″ W.(iii) Race Area #3.

All waters of the Charleston Harbor encompassed within a 700 yard radius of position 32°45′55″ N, 079°53′39″ W.(iv) Race Area #4.

All waters of the Charleston Harbor encompassed within a 600 yard radius of position 32°47′40″ N, 079°55′10″ W.(v) Race Area #5.

All waters of the Charleston Harbor and Entrance Channel encompassed within a 500 yard radius of position 32°45′34″ N, 79°52′09″ W continuing to Charleston Entrance Channel Buoys Green 11 (LLN 2395.5) and Red 12 (LLN 2400). 3.

One Saturday or Sunday in April: Time (Approximate): 7:30 a.m. to 9:30 a.m Myrtle Beach TriathlonSponsor: GO Race Productions Myrtle Beach, SC Location: The following is a safety zone: Certain waters of the Atlantic Intracoastal Waterway within the following two points of position and the North shore: 33°45′03″ N, 78°50′47″ W to 33°45′18″ N, 78°50′14″ W, located in Myrtle Beach, South Carolina. 4.

One Saturday or Sunday during the last two weeks of May or the first two weeks of June: Time (Approximate): 6 a.m. to 11 a.m Low Country SplashSponsor: Logan Rutledge Children's Foundation Charleston, SC and Mt.

Pleasant, SC Location: All waters within a moving safety zone, beginning at Daniel Island Pier in approximate position 32°51′20″ N, 079°54′06″ W, south along the coast of Daniel Island, across the Wando River to Hobcaw Yacht Club, in approximate position 32°49′20″ N, 079°53′49″ W, south along the coast of Mt.

Pleasant, S.C., to Charleston Harbor Resort Marina, in approximate position 32°47′20″ N, 079°54′39″ W. 5.

One night during the first week of July: Time (Approximate): 8 p.m. to 10 p.m North Charleston FireworksSponsor: City of North Charleston North Charleston, SC Location: The following is a safety zone.

All waters within a 500-yard radius of the barge, from which fireworks will be launched on the bank of the Cooper River at River Front Park in North Charleston, South Carolina. 6.

One night during the first week of July: Time (Approximate): 8 p.m. to 10 p.m Patriots Point FireworksSponsor: USS Yorktown Foundation Patriot's Naval Museum Mt.

Pleasant, SC Location: The following is a safety zone: All waters within a 500-yard radius of the barge, from which fireworks will be launched on the bank of the Cooper River at Patriots Point in Charleston, SC. 7.

Ten consecutive days (Friday through the next Sunday) in July: Time (Approximate): 8 a.m. to 5 p.m. each day Beaufort Water FestivalSponsor: Beaufort Water Festival Beaufort, SC Location: All waters 200 yards from seawall at Waterfront Park extending from Lady's Island Bridge to Spanish Point in Beaufort, SC. 8.

One Saturday or Sunday in July: Time (Approximate): 12 p.m. to 5 p.m Beaufort Water Festival Air ShowSponsor: Beaufort Water Festival Beaufort, SC Location: The following is a safety zone: A portion Beaufort River near Riverfront Park in Beaufort, SC.

The zone is 700 feet wide by 2600 feet in length on waters of the Beaufort River encompassed within the following points: (1) 32°25′47″ N/080°40′44″ W, (2) 32°25′41″ N/080°40′14″ W, (3) 32°25′35″ N/080°40′16″ W, (4) 32°25′40″ N/080°40′46″ W. 9.

One Saturday or Sunday during the last two weeks of September or the first two weeks of October: Time (Approximate): 7:30 a.m. to 2 p.m Swim Around CharlestonSponsor: Kathleen Wilson Charleston, SC Location: The following is a moving safety zone.

All waters 50 yards in front of the lead safety vessel preceding the first race participants, 50 yards behind the safety vessel trailing the last race participants, and at all times extends 100 yards on either side of safety vessels.

The Swim Around Charleston swimming race consists of a 12 mile course that starts at Remley's Point on the Wando River in approximate position 32°48′49″ N, 79°54′27″ W, crosses the main shipping channel under the main span of the Ravenel Bridge, and finishes at the I-526 bridge and boat landing on the Ashley River in approximate position 32°50′14″ N, 80°01′23″ W. 10.

One Friday, Saturday or Sunday in December: Time (Approximate): 4 p.m. to 9 p.m Charleston Parade of BoatsSponsor: City of Charleston, SC Office of Cultural Affairs Charleston, SC Location: Charleston harbor, South Carolina, from Anchorage A through Shutes Folly, Horse Reach, Hog Island Reach, Town Creek Lower Reach, Ashley River, and finishing at City Marina.

Sections it refers to

The plain-English explanation on this page was written with AI from the regulation text above and checked automatically before publishing: every quote appears in the text, every number comes from it, and a second model confirmed each statement adds nothing the text doesn't say. Regulation text current as of March 31, 2026. The regulation text governs. RegKnot is not affiliated with the U.S. Coast Guard.