Boating restrictions in False Creek, Burrard Inlet, and Fraser River in 2010

[mr.x]

Boaters using False Creek, Burrard Inlet and the north arm of the Fraser River will face restricted access and exclusion zones due to security measures during the Olympic Games next year.

A security fence under the Cambie Bridge from Jan. 25 to March 24 will restrict access to vessels wanting to head east of the bridge. Vessels moored in the area will be allowed to enter and leave False Creek if they're accompanied by a security escort.

Three exclusion zones will exist in the waters immediately around the athletes' village, the international broadcast centre at Canada Place and the Richmond Oval. Controlled access zones will stretch further out from the exclusion zones, allowing travel with permission from security vessels.

The restrictions were outlined by the Vancouver 2010 Integrated Security Unit at a public meeting in Vancouver late Tuesday.

Granville Island Ferries operations manager Jeremy Patterson said the measures will force his company to abandon two of its regular routes during the Games because the docks are located east of Cambie Bridge — near Science World and the Plaza of Nations.

ISU spokesman Const. Bert Paquet said security vessels will also patrol Howe Sound on a regular basis because of the importance of the Sea-to-Sky Highway.

Port Metro Vancouver Harbour Master Capt. Yoss Leclerc said he's pleased the security measures won't affect commercial traffic.

He said exclusion zones are located near Games venues and will not affect commercial traffic channels.

"The port is an important part of the supply chain for the Canadian economy and we wanted to protect that as much as possible," Leclerc said in an interview.

Commercial marine traffic in Vancouver is generally steady throughout the year but has slowed down due to the global recession.

LeClerc said SeaBus operations will not be affected by security measures as it's considered an important public transit operation.

http://www.vancouversun.com/Vancouver+boaters+face+restrictions+during+Games/1546748/story.html

[SpongeG]

makes sense

the red zones are going to be off limits during the games

none of us will be able to get near the convention centre either during the games

perhaps NBC or whomever broadcasts a show from there will have to hand pick people to make an audience if its therE?

[mr.x]

^ unfortunately, i think some people will still complain...just like how they complained about the homeless being removed from security zones like the convention centre and Olympic Village.

[SpongeG]

people will complain if you give them 5 choc chip cookies an dthe person next to them got 6 and theirs had sprinkles

[zivan56]

Even I agree with this. Better than a boat renter/uninformed people being shot for wanting to take a picture of the Olympic Village or Convention Centre.