Multiple River Bars Closed in Oregon and Washington

Coast Guard says Columbia River is among the closures 
(11/25/2011)


The following is the text of a press release issued by the U.S. Coast Guard:

(SEATTLE) -- The Coast Guard Captain of the Port (COTP) Sector Columbia River, in Astoria, Ore., and the COTP Sector Puget Sound in Seattle issued the closure of multiple river bars within Oregon and Washington due to hazardous conditions Thursday. The bars at Quillayute River, Wash., Grays Harbor, Wash., and the Columbia River are closed.

The bar closure applies to all vessels and any request to transit the bars prior to reopening must be approved by the COTP, Sector Columbia River. Mariners may contact the Coast Guard on VHF-FM Channel 16 or Sector Columbia River by telephone at (503) 861-6211 or Coast Guard Sector Puget Sound at 206-217-6001 for further information or to request crossing.

The Coast Guard will re-evaluate the bar closure on an ongoing basis and will re-open the waterway as soon as the offshore weather improves.

The Coast Guard understands the effects these closures have on commerce and will make every effort to re-open these waterways as soon as they are considered safe for navigation.