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Coast Guard Closes Brownsville Ship Channel Segment for USS VICKSBURG Dead Ship Tow

The Coast Guard established a temporary safety zone on the Brownsville Ship Channel to protect navigation during the tow of the decommissioned USS VICKSBURG to a shipbreaking facility.

2 min read Synthesized & fact-checked by The General Plan

The U.S. Coast Guard is establishing a temporary safety zone on the navigable waters of the Brownsville Ship Channel in Brownsville, Texas, covering all waters within a 500-foot radius of the dead ship tow of the USS VICKSBURG by the M/V CAITLIN. The zone prohibits entry by vessels or persons unless specifically authorized by the Captain of the Port, Sector Corpus Christi, or a designated representative.

Background and Rationale

The rule was triggered by a notification the Coast Guard received that International Shipbreaking would be conducting a dead ship towing operation within the Brownsville Ship Channel. The operation involves transiting the decommissioned former United States naval vessel USS VICKSBURG from the sea buoy to the International Shipbreaking Limited Dock. According to the rule, hazards from this operation include obstruction of vessel traffic, navigational limitations, and various other activities that create potential hazards for workers and the public. The Captain of the Port (COTP) Corpus Christi determined that these hazards associated with dead ship towing operations constitute a safety concern for anyone within the work area, and issued the rule under the authority of 46 U.S.C. 70034 to protect personnel, vessels, and the marine environment.

Emergency Rulemaking and Waived Notice

The Coast Guard issued the rule without prior notice and comment, invoking good cause under 5 U.S.C. 553(b)(B). The document explains that the Coast Guard was notified of the operation on October 6, 2026, but was required to establish the safety zone by October 20, 2026 — leaving insufficient time to solicit and respond to public comments. For the same reason, the agency also waived the standard 30-day delay before a rule takes effect, citing 5 U.S.C. 553(d)(3). The rule affects 33 CFR Part 165.

Enforcement Period and Mechanism

The safety zone is effective from October 22, 2026 through October 24, 2026, with actual notice used for enforcement purposes from October 20, 2026 until October 22, 2026. The rule specifies that enforcement will occur on only one day during the effective period — the day the vessel transits from the sea buoy to the International Shipbreaking Limited dock. The document states that the specific day and time of enforcement will depend on weather conditions and the progress of the transit, and will be announced to the public in advance.

What to Watch

The enforcement window runs October 20–24, 2026, with the single active enforcement day to be publicly announced based on weather and vessel transit conditions. Mariners and vessel operators on the Brownsville Ship Channel should monitor official notices for the specific date and time the 500-foot safety zone will be in effect around the USS VICKSBURG tow.

Related

Sources

14 cited

Every hard fact above is grounded in and cited to a primary source record.

  1. The operation involves the transit of the decommissioned former United States naval vessel USS VICKSBURG from the sea buoy to the International Shipbreaking Limited Dock.

    federalregister.gov

  2. The COTP Corpus Christi issued the rule under the authority in 46 U.S.C. 70034.

    federalregister.gov

  3. The Coast Guard was notified of the event on October 6, 2026.

    federalregister.gov

  4. The safety zone had to be established by October 20, 2026.

    federalregister.gov

  5. The rule affects 33 CFR Part 165.

    federalregister.gov

  6. The Coast Guard waived notice and comment under 5 U.S.C. 553(b)(B) and the 30-day delay under 5 U.S.C. 553(d)(3).

    federalregister.gov

  7. The safety zone covers all navigable waters in the Brownsville Ship Channel within a 500-foot radius of the dead ship tow of the USS VICKSBURG by M/V CAITLIN.

    federalregister.gov

  8. Entry of vessels or persons into the zone is prohibited unless specifically authorized by the Captain of the Port, Sector Corpus Christi, or their designated representative.

    federalregister.gov

  9. International Shipbreaking will be conducting a dead ship towing operation within the Brownsville Ship Channel near Brownsville, TX.

    federalregister.gov

  10. Hazards from the operation include obstruction of vessel traffic, navigational limitations, and various other activities which create potential hazards for workers and the public.

    federalregister.gov

  11. The rule is effective without actual notice from October 22, 2026 through October 24, 2026.

    federalregister.gov

  12. For the purposes of enforcement, actual notice will be used from October 20, 2026 until October 22, 2026.

    federalregister.gov

  13. The rule will be subject to enforcement on only one day during the effective period when the vessel transits from the sea buoy to the International Shipbreaking Limited dock.

    federalregister.gov

  14. The day and time of enforcement will depend on weather conditions and the transit of the vessel, and will be announced to the public in advance.

    federalregister.gov

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