Month: October 2017

HARBOR HAPPENINGS – OCTOBER 2017

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HARBOR HAPPENINGS—OCT. 2017

USCG:

  • The Hudson River Anchorage proposal will move forward with 2 Port And Waterway Safety Assessments (PAWSA) to involve key stakeholders in structured discussions to evaluate safety concerns, physical conditions, and potential mitigations. One PAWSA will be held in Poughkeepsie on NOV 7/8, while the other PAWSA will be held in Albany on NOV 15/16. Members of HOPs will be present at each PAWSA.
  • The Area Maritime Security Cttee (AMSC) full cttee met at the Brooklyn Passenger Terminal with ADM Poulin (USCG) speaking.
  • The main span of the “old” Goethals Bridge is scheduled to be lowered on OCT 27, 2017. The lowering will take place during Friday night through mid-day Saturday.
  • The Tappan Zee Bridge is planning a 36 hour channel closing in late November to accommodate the lowering of the “old” span. Updates will be made as the timing gets closer, and can be seen on the USCG Homeport website.

NOAA:

  • NOAA confirmed that their Sturgeon study may not have considered the potential of any impact arising from underwater cables. The study should be re-visited to ensure that this potential problem is properly addressed.
  • The study to overlay grid lines at anchorage areas is moving forward.

USACE:

  • The Sandy Hook survey for dredging work will take place this Fall/Winter
  • Cheesequake Creek water testing is continuing.

PANY/NJ:

  • Port Jersey maintenance dredging will commence in November
  • Soundings data will be released in Mid-November.
  • The Bergen Point Current Meter continues to be under study.

NJDOT:

  • The Carteret Development Plan currently envisions both a marina and a ferry at the property.
  • Raritan Bay has been nominated to become a No Discharge Zone. Hearings are being held to evaluate all concerns.
  • NJDOT will be involved in the Freight Movement Studies to be conducted by NJ

Education Sub-Cttee:

  • The education Sub-Cttee will meet on OCT 24 to discuss creation of a potential operating budget, and various educational programs designed to enhance safety on shared waterways.

Passenger Vessel Sub-Cttee:

  • NYCEDC is currently working with USCG Waterways to evaluate a Staten Island ferry landing
  • There is a possibility of a “new” for-hire ferry service from Tottenville to/from NYC

 

HOPS Full Cttee Schedule-2018

  • JAN 17/MAR21/MAY16/JUN 20/SEP 19/NOV 14

Maritime Career Awareness Day

  • The first Annual Maritime Career Awareness Day was held on OCT 18, 2017 at the Brooklyn Cruise Terminal from 1000-1230hr.
  • The Event was arranged by NYC EDC as part of the Mayor’s JOBS promotion program.
  • Over 200 students from 6 NYC area High Schools were part of the program. All the invited students/schools had programs involving maritime studies, technology, and/or logistics.
  • There were 24 participating organizations who arranged for staff to talk to students, display materials, and offer take-aways. Additionally 4 volunteer organizations helped to escort the students through 5 display areas that included the career hall, a heavy equipment demo area, a vessel display area, the cruise terminal processing area, and a demo by teamsters.
  • Diana Reyna, Deputy Brooklyn Borough President; and Ed Kelly, Executive director of MAPONY/NJ gave keynote talks to the students
  • It is hoped that this will become an annual event promoting maritime sector careers.

 

3rd Avenue Bridge

  • The 3rd Avenue Bridge will be the subject of an art project which will hang decorative LED lights on the exterior facing of the Bridge.
  • The lights are scheduled to be turned on in Spring 2018 for an 11 month project time.
  • The engineering group arranging the lighting has done similar project work on the SF Bay Bridge.
  • No lights or other structure will cause any air-gap or other intrusion during the build/dismantle phase.
  • HOPS does not anticipate any commercial traffic problems, but recommended that the group meet with interested boathouses, or passenger vessels to ascertain whether they would foresee any problems.

BOEM:

  • BOEM held a meeting in Riverhead, Long Island on OCT 3 to explore potential wind power facilities to be potentially located off the Long Island south shore.
  • It was noted that there are currently no navigational entities represented on the Review Panel.
  • HOPs will reach out to BOEM and invite potential lessees and NYSERDA to discuss navigational requirements.

Raritan Bay Pipeline Project:

  • Representatives of Williams Companies visited the HOPs Steering Cttee meeting to discuss initial plans for the Northeast Supply Enhancement Project which will pertain to the establishment of 23.49 miles of 26-inch diameter pipe which will serve offshore operations with landfall in Morgan Shore in southwestern Raritan Bay.
  • The reps discussed their plan for a float pipe arrangement prior to the sinking and burial of the line.
  • Work would be expected to commence Fall, 2018.
  • There was       general discussion of traffic patterns, and required markings, lights, visibility, materials, etc.
  • The group was appreciative of the discussion, and will rejoin HOPs at a future meeting before design plans are finalized.