Where Virtue Reigns The Unfortunate Find Relief---The original motto of the Society MARINE SOCIETY
AT SALEM IN NEW ENGLAND Organized 1766 SALEM, MASSACHUSETTS 01970
North Shore Harbor Safety Committee Meeting Minutes
Date: Thursday November 29, 2012 Time: 10:00 AM – 12:00 AM Where: Winter Island Function Hall 50 Winter Island Rd Salem, MA 01970
Introduction:
LCDR Scott White and Captain Bob Blair opened the meeting with introductions.
The following Committee Members were present: Capt. John O’Connor III, Commander, USCG Sector Boston Capt. Robert Blair, District Two Pilot Capt. David Cox, Chairman and President of the Boston Marine Society Commander Jason Smith, Chief of Prevention, USCG Sector Boston LCDR Scott White, Chief, Waterways Management, USCG Sector Boston Mark Cutter, Assistant Branch Chief, USCG Sector Boston CWO Chris Sparkman, ATON Officer, USCG Sector Boston Capt. William McHugh, Salem Harbormaster Capt. Steve Palmer, Moran Shipping Agencies Bion Pike, Manchester Harbormaster Craig Smith, Marblehead Assist. Harbormaster Michael Smith, Dock Master Eastern Yacht Club Webb Russell, Marblehead Harbormaster Melissa Abbott, Gloucester Cruiseport Marine Terminal Mel Kalorny, Ipswich Bay Yacht Cub Bill Fabri, Ipswich Bay Yacht Cub Phil Karwowski, USCG Auxiliary, North Shore Division Bob Cusack, Nahant Dory Club Maurice Poolin, USCG, MCPO (Ret.) Lt Gary Duncan, Mass Environmental Police Lt Roger Thurlow, Mass Environmental Police Jim Caulkett, Gloucester Harbormaster BM1 Lucas Marland, USCG Station Merrimack River CWO Manny Munoz, Commanding Officer, USCG Station Gloucester
LCDR Scott White explained how the Port and Waterways Safety Assessment (PAWSA) study conduct in the Port of Boston in July 2011, recommended the fostering of a Harbor Safety Committee throughout Sector Boston’s area of responsibility. He went on to review the mission of the Harbor Safety Committee, and then talked about the Strategic Plan for the Central MA Harbor Safety Committee. He talked about the working groups that were formed and what projects they will be moving forward with:
Recreational Vessel Awareness.
Terminal Berth Sounding & Under Keel Clearance.
Debris Management.
Maintenance Dredging.
Captain O’Connor III spoke of the importance of the Harbor Safety Committee and thanked all for attending and encouraged all to spread the word to as many stakeholders from the North Shore, and to encourage them to participate.
The video “The Mariner's Guide to the Port of NY and NJ” developed for ports of New York & New Jersey was shown.
The floor was opened to discuss items of interest or concern for the North Shore:
Jim Caulket brought up the issue of the Annisquam River needing to be dredged. The channel depth and width is narrowing each year because of silting. This has been an ongoing issue for many years and has not been addressed due to lack of Army Corps of Engineer funding available. Mr. Cutter suggested a work group be formed with federal, state, and local agencies along with the private sector to discuss options and a way-ahead.
Ipswich River was brought up as another concern that dredging is needed.
There were multiple discussions on a variety of safety concerns regarding recreational mariners. These concerns mentioned were; life jacket safety awareness, inexperience/lack of knowledge of rules, driving under the influence, paddle boat safety awareness, jet skiers to close to swimming areas, and excessive speed.
Lt Gary Duncan mentioned that the State of Massachusetts has no regulation regarding paddle boards wearing PFD’s. Jim Caulket mentioned that the Massachusetts Harbormasters Association has been lobbying for a regulation in Massachusetts.
Phil Karwowski suggested a mass distribution this spring of the “Paddle Smart” news letter/brochure and the stickers through yacht clubs, mariners, harbormasters, etc. It was also suggested we coordinate a media outreach campaign through press releases and possibly using the weather channel.
Capt. Blair is very active in the paddle board community and spoke about the importance of “paddle smart” and volunteered to reach out to the paddle board community and encourage the usage of the sticker.
Mark Cutter spoke of using the Marine Event Permit process of a way to distributing “Paddle Smart” information.
Bob Cusack suggests a one day boating safety seminar for Kayaks, Paddle Boards, etc, be held in the spring, to encourage PFD’s usage, “Paddle Smart” stickers, and rules of the road.
CWO Manny Munoz suggested we expand on the local media coverage of the annual boating safety day that is held in conjunction with National Boating Safety Week at CG Station Gloucester, this may help draw a large crowd from the boating public.
It was suggest that the CG use a Safety Marine Information Broadcast (SMIB) during the summer season as a way to relay different types of boating safety messages.
The harbormasters agreed that debris management is an issue in their harbors. The concern is not so much the retrieval of the debris; it’s the disposal cost and the proper disposal facilities. They agree with the setting up of a sub-committee for exploring options for debris management. Though it was a great turnout for the first meeting, it was suggested that we need to spread the word about the importance of the Harbor Safety Committee to yacht clubs, mariner, and to businesses that are involved in water activities that would benefit the most from the Harbor Safety Committee.
Moving forward;
It was agreed that the sub-committee should continue on with drafting a concise informational handout/pamphlet to address large vessel/recreational awareness to be distributed to the public at yacht club, mariner, boat shows, etc. Continue to work on outreach and educating the public through distributing “Paddle Smart” information through harbormaster, yacht club meetings, mariners, boat shows, and at kayak, canoe, and paddle board stores and rental locations. Continue to seek out ways to better manage debris. Spread the word on the mission and the importance of the Harbor Safety Committee and encourage more stakeholders to attend future meetings and get involved. Explore hosting a meeting in Gloucester that involves the federal, state and local government agencies and private interties to discuss dredging and a way forward.
The next meeting is to be held on April 29th at 1000 hours at Winter Island Function Hall in Salem, MA.
Please forward this information along to yacht clubs, mariners and businesses that are involve water activities and encourage them to get involved. Thank you