Federal Lightering Zones - Gulf of Mexico

These data represent federal and traditional lightering zones and prohibited lightering zones within the Gulf of Mexico. Lightering or Lightering operation means the transfer of a cargo of oil in bulk from one oil tanker less than 150 gross tons to another oil tanker less than 150 gross tons, or a cargo of hazardous material in bulk from one vessel to another. Lightering includes all phases of the operation, from the beginning of the mooring operation to the departure of the service vessel from the vessel to be lightered, except when that cargo is intended only for use as fuel or lubricant aboard the receiving vessel. The U.S. Coast Guard has designated areas in which tankers may lighter cargoes of oil bound for coastal onshore terminals. Transfer of oil between vessels is to occur within 'Lightering Rendezvous Areas' and is prohibited in 'Prohibited Areas'. Not all ships choose to utilize the Lightering Rendezvous Areas depicted in this dataset, but all are required to avoid lightering in the Prohibited Areas.

To support ocean planning activities pursuant to the Executive Order Regarding the Ocean Policy to Advance the Economic, Security, and Environmental Interests of the United States, the Energy Policy Act, the Rivers and Harbors Act, and the Coastal Zone Management Act.

The native coordinate system for this layer is WGS 1984 World Mercator (ESPG: 3395). Please note: all MarineCadastre.gov data served by the NOAA Office for Coastal Management and hosted through Esri REST services are in the WGS 1984 Web Mercator Auxiliary Sphere (EPSG: 3857) projection.

NOAA makes no warranties or representations whatsoever regarding the availability, quality, accuracy, content, completeness or suitability for the user's needs of such information. The services, information, and data made available on the Marine Cadastre web site are provided "as is" without warranties of any kind. These data are intended for coastal and ocean use planning. Not for navigation. https://www.marinecadastre.gov/about/disclaimer.html

These data are intended for coastal and ocean use planning. Not for navigation.

Version 6.2 (Build 9200) ; Esri ArcGIS 10.4.1.5713

The attributes in this dataset are believed to be accurate.

Maximum scale of intended use is 1:80,000.

Spatial and attribute properties are believed to be complete, although attribute information has been simplified. Geometric thresholds from original data are preserved. No tests have been completed for exhaustiveness.

These data are believed to be logically consistent. Geometry is topologically clean.