No decision yet about anchorages, Guard says
The U.S. Coast Guard issued a report Tuesday that says current rules for anchoring large vessels on the Hudson River are unclear and more time is needed to resolve the issue.
The 77-page report outlines recommendations made during two workshops in November but does not provide new guidance for the shipping industry, which had hoped to establish 10 new anchorage grounds between Kingston and Yonkers. The report also does not say when a final decision about anchorage grounds might be made.
“... The Coast Guard has not yet made any decisions regarding establishing anchorages or using other waterways-management tools to manage navigation risk on the Hudson River,” the report
states. “The Coast Guard will use this ... report, together with other information, to determine whether, and to what extent, regulatory actions are needed.”
The Ports and Waterways Safety Assessment workshops in November came amid significant public outcry over the anchorage grounds sought by the Maritime Association of the Port of New York/ New Jersey. One of the proposed sites is in the Rhinebeck area, across the river from Kingston; and two
are in the Esopus area, across from the Rhinecliff waterfront park.
The Coast Guard says in the new report that, in proceeding, it will assess risks regarding the types of vessels that would be anchored, the type of cargo being hauled, the locations of anchorage grounds and the ability to deal with any problems that might arise.
“During the PAWSA (Ports and Waterways Safety Assessment) workshops, we acknowledged that the existing anchorage regulations are unclear, and we are considering how those regulations could be made more
readily understood,” the report states. “We have no outcome timelines at this time.”
Hayley Carlock, environmental advocacy director for Scenic Hudson, said in a written statement Tuesday that attention must be paid to what the Coast Guard does next.
“While the Coast Guard is not moving forward with new anchorage regulations at this time, the report states that decisions have not been made on whether the Coast Guard will continue to push forward the ill-conceived anchorages proposal in the future,” Carlock wrote.
Among the findings
cited in the new report:
• Foreign-flagged vessels transit the river as far as Albany and mixed nationalities among crew members can increase risks.
• Barges at anchor usually have bright deck lights for safety reasons, but some residents feel the barges might be displaying too many lights.
• Paddle craft users are usually unaware of the best safety practices, and they are not required to take a boating safety course.
• People who use small boats are generally not experienced with Hudson River tides and currents.