It’s no war zone: San Diego Bay balances boating, Navy operations

SAN DIEGO — The southwestern-most city in the United States has a rich history when it comes to recreational boating. There are roughly as many marinas in San Diego as there are in the rest of Southern California combined. The Navy also has a major presence in San Diego as large naval carriers and cruisers dominate the waterfront. It is not uncommon for recreational boaters and naval officials to cross paths in the bay as RIBs can be seen or heard piercing across the water at any given time; aircraft carriers come and go, and training exercises involving the Navy, U.S. Coast Guard and Harbor Police are quite common. How do recreational boaters co-exist with naval operations in San Diego Bay? Navy The presence of the Navy is quite conspicuous to anyone who navigates through San Diego Bay. Lt. Robert Cole, who serves as the Navy’s Waterways Management Division chief in San Diego, said recreational boaters rarely become intertwined with naval operations. “Fortunately, the interference with naval operations, which requires Coast Guard or Harbor Police response, is not a routine event,” Cole said. “There is minimal direct interference between recreational boating traffic and U.S. Navy operations.” Cole added all regatta or recreational boating events are vetted...