Month: June 2017

MARITIME MATTERS – JUNE 2017

PANYNJ

• The Port Authority has committed to conducting a review intended to create a 30 Year Master Plan for the Port of NY/NJ. An overview presentation was made to the Steering Committee of our Harbor Safety, Navigation and Operations Cttee at their 7 June 2017 meeting.
• Hatch Consultants will be engaged for the roughly 15 month study which will conclude in February 2018. The consultants will be reaching out to many Port Stakeholders during the course of their study.
• Charles Bontempo is the PANYNJ Project manager for this important undertaking.

Tappan Zee Bridge

• The deconstruction of the “old” TZB will commence in Fall, 2017
• Traffic is expected to shift to the new TZB during the first half of October 2017.
• The main structure will be decommissioned and be deconstructed between October 2017 and July 2018. By the end of Summer 2018 the new permanent navigational lights will be operational.
• During late November 2018 there will be a scheduled 48 hr closure of the main channel to lower the suspension span. During the closure, the West Span channel (360ft) would remain available. The actual closure date/time will be discussed and arranged between the TZB engineers, and the River users.
• It is expected that there will be approximately 350 disposal barge trips up and downstream to dispose of the deconstructed materials.
• We will use the same communications system/process as during the construction phase.

MAPONY/NJ

• The SHIPPING 101 Spring Session was held at the Seamen’s Church Institute training room during June 12-16. 18 students were in attendance, and all students toured the GCT Bayonne container facility.
• On June 16, 2017 presented an award to MIDN Connor Sexton during the annual US Merchant Marine Academy Awards Convocation held at Kings Point, NY

NY State Senate Hearing-S.3312

• On June 5, 2017 MAPONY joined NYSA, MMMCA, and the Retail Shippers federation in testifying in FAVOR of NY Senate Bill S.3312 which is intended to remove the so-called “5-p” clause from the charter of the Waterfront Commission that allows the Waterfront Commission to limit the size of the longshore workforce in the Port. This clause results in a lack of flexibility for Port employers to employ what they consider to be the “right” size and skill set of the required workforce. No other port in the USA is limited by this kind of hiring restraint, and it makes our Port less competitive for new cargoes.

WORKFORCE DEVELOPMENT

• On 20 June, 2017 the PANYNJ facilitated a presentation by the Department of Labor which demonstrated the efficacy of formalized apprenticeship programs and demonstrated how funding was available to initiate and sustain such programs. Information regarding this initiative has been previously distributed to MAPONY/NJ Members.

THE SULCVs ARE COMING!

• Coordination meetings of key operational Port Stakeholders continue with the goal of ensuring that the SULCVs arrive safely, and operate in coordination with all port operations with a high degree of safety, and the least amount of operational conflict.
• The next SULCV coordination committee meeting will be held on June 29.

HARBOR HAPPENINGS – JUNE 2017

USCG

• The MACY’S 4^th of July fireworks display will only have barges placed in the East River this year. For full detail of restricted areas and viewing areas, please check the USCG HOMEPORT website.
• There is still very minor leakage at the CON ED site in the East River, and divers are continuing operations. Speed restrictions will remain in force while clean-up and dive operations are being conducted.
• Noted that the NOAA hurricane forecast now predicts 11-17 named storms are to be expected.
• Noted that there were diving operations in Morris Canal with NYPD doing investigation in connection with the skydiving show death.
• Noted that during the 28 May sailing of a Fleet Week vessel, NYPD chased the linesmen off the pier when lines were only partly released. Security Plans and jurisdictions will be reviewed.

USACE

• Various maintenance dredging projects are “in the works”, including: Newark Bay (not yet funded but ready to be advertised) work expected to begin in the Fall; Sandy Hook Channel environmental review planned to commence in Fall; Cheesequake Creek funded for sampling and testing, although actual dredging still not funded; Wards Point testing has been completed, waiting for testing results.
• City Wide Ferry Landing Permits are still under review: Hallets Point under review; Roosevelt Island is waiting on NY State review; and the 2018 routes and the Homeport Navy Yard are expected to be completed this month
• Noted that the Haverstraw Channel is experiencing shoaling and needs to be surveyed and restored.

NOAA

• The New Bayonne Bridge air-gap sensor is operational on the new roadway.
• The NOAA Navigational Response Teams have started their Hudson River surveying work and will move from the Newburgh area and go South.

PANYNJ

• PANYNJ is still in the process of arranging/installing the current meter to be located at Bergen Point.

NYCEDC

• NYCEDC is in the process of upgrading the landing at the Brooklyn Passenger Vessel Terminal in order to accommodate larger vessels, and increase resiliency.
• The City Wide Ferry System will hire a harbormaster to coordinate their operations who will be located at their Pier 11 Location.

VTS

• The US Coast Guard Vessel Traffic System advised that effective immediately the Navigational Clearance for the Bayonne Bridge has been set at 215 feet.

 

 

The fleet arrived in the Port of NY/NJ on the morning of May 24 and was an impressive sight to see. Ed Kelly, Executive Director of MAPONY/NJ, was privileged to “ride in” on the USS KEARSARGE, the amphibious assault vessel that was the “flagship” of the visiting fleet.  The city looks great coming in and we are all so proud of our Sailors and Marines.  Fleet Week in the Port of NY/NJ was actually started by MAPONY/NJ many years ago, and continues to be a source of pride.