Update 2025-06-07: The security zone has shrunk quite a bit. U.S. Coast Guard Sector Maryland-National Capital Region’s Post on Facebook now shows the security zone starting from the Memorial Bridge down to the 14th Street Bridge. The zone will be in effect June 13, 2025, at 2:00 PM until June 14, 2025, at 10:00 PM. See the map here:
This year marks the 250 anniversary of the US Army, and they are putting on a massive parade in Washington D.C. on June 14, ending in a fireworks show. Unfortunately, it looks like you won’t be able to see it from the boat. The US Coast Guard and Secret Service has decided to enact a Security Zone during the event which basically includes the entire river from the Key Bridge and the Sousa Bridge, all the way down to the Wilson Bridge. Yes, this includes Alexandria.
According to the latest information from USCG (we just got off the phone with them), the regulations for Security Zone 6, in 33 CFR 165.508, will be enforced from 2PM on June 13 until 10PM on June 14, 2025. During the enforcement period, entry into or remaining in this large zone is prohibited unless authorized by the Coast Guard Captain of the Port Maryland-National Capital Region. Public vessels and vessels already at berth at the time the security zone is implemented do not have to depart the security zone. All vessels underway within the security zone at the time it is implemented are to depart the zone at the time the security zone is implemented. Vessels at anchor will also have to depart the zone.
To seek permission to transit the zone (good luck with that!), the Captain of the Port Maryland-National Capital Region can be contacted at telephone number (410) 576-2693 or on Marine Band Radio, VHF-FM channel 16 (156.8 MHz). Coast Guard vessels enforcing this zone can be contacted on Marine Band Radio, VHF-FM channel 16 (156.8 MHz).
This info is subject to changing rapidly, but so far the long and short of it is, “Don’t enter or traverse this part of the river between 2PM on June 13 and 10PM on June 14.” If there’s a change, we will update this article as needed. For the visual learners here, see the map above in the update.
