Marine Event or Event: An organized water event of limited duration conducted according to a prearranged schedule, and which presents an extra or unusual hazard to the safety of life that cannot be protected against by the existing Navigation Rules. This may include any concentration of traffic on water, whether participant or spectator, craft or not, and competitive or non-competitive in nature. Please answer the following questions in order to help determine if you are required to apply for a Coast Guard Marine Event Permit: 

1. Is it an organized water activity of limited duration conducted according to a prearranged schedule on the navigable waters of the United States?
2. Is it likely to cause a high concentration of craft or otherwise interfere with normal navigation?
3. Is it likely to introduce extra or unusual hazards to the safety of human life (i.e. Does the event involve an inherently hazardous competition (Example: A speed boat race with vessel traveling greater than 30 miles per hour.)?
4. Cannot be protected against by the existing navigation rules? 
5. Is there an expected accumulation of spectator craft?
6. Are you requesting the use of Coast Guard resources or the issuance of a special local regulation or safety zone? 
7. Will the event take place in or near a designated environmentally sensitive area, a critical habitat containing threatened or endangered species or an area of historic, cultural, or archeological significance?

 If you have answered "NO" to all of these questions, then a Coast Guard permit is not required. (However, check with state and local governments for their requirements.)

Section III: How do I submit an application?  ***NEW PROCEDURES...PLEASE READ!*** (as of 2018)

The preferred method for submitting an application is through Homeport: https://homeport.uscg.mil/Pages/MarineEventFormSubmission.aspx. 

*At this time, we are experiencing some changes with the new version of Homeport 2.0 that unfortunately does not allow the sponsor to upload attachments for a marine event package (chartlet, safety plan, additional documents, etc...), and has not been issuing tracking numbers upon submission. For all additional attachments and documents needed for your marine event application package, please email directly to D01-SMB-SECLIS-SPWMarineEvents@uscg.mil, and PLEASE title your email with the name and date of your event. If you are submitting documents for several events at the same time, please title your email "Several Events...(Name of Sponsor)" and continue to list them all out in the body of your email. This is to help us stay organized while we work through the hundreds of applications we will now be receiving several emails for. If you are uncertain if your application has gone through, please call the Marine Event Permit Coordinator at (203)468-4565/4583/4469 if you have questions. We understand this causes confusion and we are adjusting to the changes ourselves. At this time we are uncertain if this will be fixed in the near future, but will continue to do our best with processing your package in a timely manner.

Alternate methods of submitting a Marine Event Applications are via email by filling out the blank PDF application and emailing it to: D01-SMB-SECLIS-SPWMarineEvents@uscg.mil or by faxing a copy to (203)468-4445, ATTN: Marine Event Permit Coordinator. 

You may also mail to:

IMPORTANT: Include any other pertinent information regarding your marine event. In accordance with 33 CFR 100.15(c) 9, attach a copy of a chart of the local area with detailed drawings showing the intended route or event location. Be specific and detailed in your description of the safety measures you will take during the event and include a schedule of activities. We encourage event sponsors to submit material provided to event participants with your marine event permit application. After we have issued you a permit, any changes to the schedule of activities should be reported to this office immediately. Failure to prove sufficient information or to dedicate sufficient safety resources to the event may result in return or disapproval of your application or revocation of your permit.

NOTE:  Applications must be submitted no less than 135 days before the start of the event unless the following applies:

-The sponsor submitted an application for the event in the year immediately preceding.

-The Coast Guard received no objection to the previous application.

-The Coast Guard did not promulgate special local regulations for the previous event.

-The Coast Guard approved the previous event.

If all the above criteria are met, the application may be submitted no less than 60 days before the start of the proposed event.