Purpose
The purpose of this rule is to reduce the incidence of vessel masts coming into contact with high tension power lines. Masts of sailboats and other masted vessels typically contact the high tension power lines when vessels drag anchor during storm events (hurricanes, winter storms, severe local thunderstorms), presenting grave danger to all persons aboard the vessel and to the vessel itself. These events also have caused power outages affecting thousands of customers in the Lower Keys and present life-threatening dangers to persons in hospitals and to other special-needs patients in the Lower Keys. The effect of this rule will be to prohibit the anchoring of sailboats and other vessels with masts within a portion of Pine Channel adjacent to high tension power lines.