HARBOR HAPPENINGS – MAY 2018
USCG:
• On June 8, 2018 CAPT J. Tama will relieve CAPT M. Day at a USCG Sector New York Change of Command ceremony which will take place at the parking lot of USCG Sector New York at Fort Wadsworth, Staten Island. We welcome CAPT Tama, and we offer our thanks and best wishes to CAPT Day who will be reassigned at USCG HQ in Washington DC
• New York City has been recognized as a Coast Guard City, an honorific designation awarded to a City that is highly supportive of USCG Mission and Personnel. The naming ceremony was held on May 9, 2018 at NYC City Hall.
• It was noted that Hurricane Season will officially open on June 1, 2018. All mariners are to be aware of Port conditions.
• Fleet week will take place from 23-30 May, 2018 with the Parade of Ships to take place 23 May. Vessels will be berthed at various locations throughout the Port.
• The consideration to open the bridge behind Ellis Island is still underway. The latest deadline for comments was 21 May. MAPONY/NJ has filed comments IN FAVOR. The opening of the bridge to small craft traffic will help to keep those vessels away from main channels, and will provide safer transit options.
• USCG advised of a tanker/fishing craft collision offshore of Long Island. There was no spill. Accident investigation will ensue.
• The Hudson River Harbor Safety Committee adopted their By-Laws on April 11, 2018. The next meeting will be held on June 5, 2018.
BRIDGES
• Tappan Zee-the old main span was successfully lowered, as per schedule on May 7-9, 2018, and is now fully open.
• Goethals- work continues, but all work is now out of the channel, and no further delays/closures expected.
• Outerbridge- work is being done to repair/improve the fenders
• Lehigh Valley- RR personnel now asking for deviation from the agreed 1 hour notification for opening. The replacement span is now scheduled for 15 July, 2018, and a 36 hour closure is expected. In the event of bad weather, the work will be shifted to July 22, 29, or August 5 as necessary. The Towboat and Harbor Craft Cttee will meet with bridge representatives on May 30 to ensure coordination.
• The Whit-Penn Bridge is tentatively scheduled to be replaced during August, 2018. Further details will be discussed at the June HOPs meeting.
USACE
• Maintenance of the Newark Bay 50ft channel will take place during late August-November 2018. Newark Bay 40 ft work will take place in January 2019. Work will be “move-on-demand”.
• Sandy Hook Channel maintenance is scheduled for October 2018.
• Wards Point project is ready to start, subject to funding. It is possible for a Summer 2019 start.
• Weeks is conducting sand mining operations in Ambrose Channel.
NYC EDC
• NYC EDC announced that the NYC Ferry program will receive $300 Million over 5 years. Improvements will include an expansion of the Pier 11, and 34th St facilities, as well as the establishment of an additional Ferry Homeport.
• The 2nd TLD Career Fair will be held on October 23, 2018 at the Brooklyn Cruise terminal.
• Noted that the RFP for the sale of environmental offset credits will close on May 30, 2018.
NOAA
• Presented the NOAA PRECISION NAVIGATION concept (further discussion below)
• Confirmed that the anchorage grids are completed in the NY Harbor
• Advised that the ENC surveys for the Hudson River have been completed and will be available for Spring 2019. It is noted that this detail will NOT appear on raster charts.
• Confirmed that NOAA Navigation Response teams (NRTs) and MIST units are prepared for the upcoming hurricane season.
PANYNJ
• Current meters are scheduled for installation on/about July, 2018
• Harbor modeling-talks continue with Stevens Institute who are re-tasking after the departure of Alan Blumberg who had been the Stevens lead.
• Still evaluating the PANYNJ/USACE studies to design deep draft anchorages and “bend-easing” in the deep channel.
• AMPT installed new cranes on 94/96. Dredging completed at these sites
• Updated charts/survey data to be available soon.
TOWBOAT and HARBOR CARRIERS
• Annual meeting will be held on May 30, 2018 at Snug Harbor
• Reminded all parties to support S07677, the safe boating bill intended to require proper boating training
• TSAC FAC held in Charleston with emphasis on reviewing recommended regulation reductions
EMPIRE WIND PROJECT
• The lead persons for this project, representing Statoil/TetraTech/Anatech again met with the HOPs Cttee to continue to brief regarding their offshore wind project
• The project would cover approx 80,000 acres, is located approx 14 miles south of Jones Beach, and would be intended to produce 1.8 GW of power
• This project is rather NYS-centric, and expects an RFP by late 2018/early 2019.
• Met-buoys could be deployed by Fall of 2018 to establish parameters
• Permits could be submitted by 2020
• Permit reviews and public comments would ensue 2020-2022
• Construction could begin 2023, for a 25+ year life expectancy.
• The project managers will continue to consult/update
NOAA PRECISION NAVIGATION
• Senior NOAA staff have approached the HOPs Cttee in order to more fully explain the NOAA Precision Navigation process, and to gain more insight into the requirements of the NY/NJ Harbor.
• For those not acquainted with the NOAA Precision Navigation concept, it is a highly detailed and location-specific determination of bathymetric, hydrographic, and meteorological data and models which would combine to make navigation safer in a specific Port/location. The first Precision Navigation project has been activated in LA/LB, and has been well-received.
• NOAA is now evaluating whether the lower Mississippi or NY/NJ will be the next area to be developed.
• Information is now beginning to be exchanged between NOAA and the Deep Draft Working Group of HOPs.