This is… gah…
As the federal government nears final approval for a 10-knot maritime speed limit along the East Coast, the Southeastern legal Foundation is warning that such a move would adversely impact the economies of coastal communities.
The National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA) has proposed a 10-knot speed limit for much of the Atlantic coast in a bid to protect the whale population. Violators could face up to $20,000 in fines and one year in prison. The Office of Information and Regulatory Affairs (OIRA) on Monday announced that approval for the speed limit had entered the final phase. 10-knots is equivalent to 11.5 miles per hour on land.
Full article, HERE. h/t Stretch
This will destroy not only the sport fishing industry on the east coast, but also will have a major impact on the cruise lines and commercial shipping industry. Those ships normally run 15-20 kts until they are just a few miles off shore. And the Navy ships are capable of more than that. Also, carriers run 25+ kts for launch and recovery of aircraft. If they have to move some unknown number of miles further out to sea, that will have a major impact on carrier qualifications for the squadrons and extend the ship’s days at sea.
Personally, I think this is just one more example of .gov overreach and kowtowing to the econazis… dammit…
The NOAA needs to get back to their primary job of falsifying temperature readings and deleting historical records.
This, to be frank.
I know the government will likely exempt itself from these regulations. However, one wonders if they don’t, what will the Coast Guard be able to do about “Go Fast” drug smuggling boats?
If they really want to save the whales, they could tear down the offshore windmills….
BINGO! But that would be putting reality ahead of ideology, and we can’t have that. After all, wishing will make it so! (With all due apologies to Vera Lynn.)
Dead whales and eagles from windmills is just something we have to live with, but if the same number was covered in oil…….
What Midwest Chick said.
They approve building offshore wind farms without any consideration on the effects to sea life, but how fast you can drive your boat???
This is no different than gun control efforts. It’s not about boats, it’s not about whales and it’s not about guns. It’s about control.
Off topic rant removed.
We need to end most of the admin agencies people and their over reach, but it will never happen with a Dem as President. Most of these admin agencies can also be removed.
I agree with The Debinair Dude although I did not watch Biden’s speech. Biden from the clips I saw was clearly drugged up and following a script made by his puppet masters. The Dems are out to destroy this country and everyone should realize it by now.
I can see my late friend Capt.Teddy White on the bridge of his 42′ Ocean Yacht sport fisherman blaring Sammy Hagar’s I Can’t Drive 55!
That rule will be ignored.
And enforcement will be highly selective, as we’ve come to see.
Yeah, maybe we should have just exterminate the whales.
If they are intelligent? future security problem.
If they are not intelligent? Still serve as ammunition for the enviromentalists and their homicidal agenda.
Perhaps I just need to mellow out.
If you remember that the federal government is the enemy of the American republic, its people, and constitution, then all of its actions are properly explained.
I’ve heard B-12 can work wonders.
Last night proved it.
I can imagining the gummint :: PTOOIE :: exempting pleasure boats out of Martha’s Vineyard, Hyannisport, high-end cruise ships, and such; and trammeling the Navy, Coast Guard, and middle-class catering cruise ships. Gotta save the world without giving up wind-surfing, of course!
Like, how far out? – to the 200mi limit?
Any idea what this will do to the waterskiing industries?
Not to mention Scuba divers that want to get out to undersea attractions and back as a nice day outing?
Or you do you have to get 200mi out and just deal with the sea state in your 16ft Boston Whaler?
Do they take local currents into account? Anyone ever seen what kind of power and speed it takes to get in and out of Florida’s Haul-Over Inlet? How about the Cape Cod canal with its 23kt current? Would you get a fine for engine speed zero while zipping under the Bourne outbound past Mass Maritime Academy? (PS did you get a chance to view the canal if you flew in/out Otis AFB?)
Even better – try the “10kt Challenge” crossing the Columbia Bar.
All- Good points,and Cranston, you know they didn’t even bother to check ‘local’ conditions… sigh
More pointless regulation based on faux pseudo study results.
Nothing these Communist/Democrats do surprises me. They care nothing about America or its citizens. Just look at the invasion of the Southern Border. They have weakened and diminished our military by their woke administration and the loss of weapons in Afghanistan as well as moving weaponry and munitions to Ukraine. Much of which there is no responsible tracking as to where it is and if any have been sold on the black market. That is not to mention the billions of dollars that have not been accounted for as to where it went. I would like to know how much went to “The Big Guy”
Dan- Of course…
John- Agreed!
Big ocean little whale theory.
I was on a sub for 3 years, we heard whales all the time but never hit one. Why 10 kts, what’s the basis? How many whales are killed each year by boats at 11 kts, 12, 13, … If subs aren’t on the surface, how fast can they go? Is this enforceable on non-US flagged vessels?
Doesn’t the size of the boat have an impact? I mean, a 16-foot boat hitting a whale and a 30-foot boat hitting a whale are very different.
It will surely make the drug runners easier to catch, and I’m sure they’ll obey the limit. How will we measure the impact and see if its effective? IF it’s not effective, I’m sure we’ll repeal it.