2004 Annual Report
Background The Maine and New Hampshire Port Safety Forum is a non-profit, volunteer association established in 1990. It serves the public interest towards the safe and efficient operation of vessels and marine shoreside facilities; and the protection of the environment from marine casualties in the coastal waters of Maine and New Hampshire. The Forum is comprised of representatives of various organizations united by their mutual concern for the safety of local ports. The Forum encourages active participation of stakeholders who have an interest in the safety of life and property at sea, an efficient and productive marine industry, and a clean marine environment. The Forum identifies and monitors risks to those interests and recommends voluntary actions to mitigate or eliminate those risks. Membership Forum members, and their represented interests, during 2004 were:
Member Forum Seat Organization Daniel Guay Shipping Agent Chase-Leavitt Agency Joe McCarthy Spill Response MSRC Dick Harnum Terminal Operator Webber Energy Jon Johansen Public Seat Maine Coastal News Peter Milholland Environmental Org. Friends of Casco Bay Mark Klopp Pilot Portland Pilots Chris DiMillo Marine Trades DiMillo’s Marina Duke Tomlin Tug Operations Maineport Towboats David Gelinas Pilot Penobscot Bay & River Pilots Patricia Aho Public Seat Maine Oil Dealers CAPT Stephen Garrity Co-Chair U.S. Coast Guard Brian Nutter Co-Chair Maine Port Authority Rick Berry State of NH New Hampshire Dept of Environmental Services Dave Sait State of Maine Maine Dept of Environmental Protection John Dalton Maine Harbormasters Town of Yarmouth
2004 Accomplishments Change of Administration: In July, Capt. Mark O’Malley departed for a new assignment in Miami and was replaced by Capt. Stephen Garrity. Designated Routing in Sheepscot River: Capt. Earl Walker took the lead in working with the Maine Department of Marine Resources (DMR) to identify a recommended route for deep draft vessels transiting the Sheepscot River. DMR was instrumental in making several key contacts and assisting with setting up public meetings to solicit input. John Mauro of the USCG Aids to Navigation Office assisted in drafting the recommended route and providing letters from the USCG to advise interested parties of the proposal. Two public meetings were held to solicit comments. New charts with the designated transit lane were made available electronically by NOAA. Designated Routing in Casco Bay A working group was formed led by Capt Walker to develop a recommended route for deep draft vessels transiting Casco Bay. This effort was impacted by the fact that part of the route was through an area under IMO guidelines. Therefore, it was decided to proceed on two separate efforts focusing on the inner and outer harbor areas. A draft report from Mr. John Mauro at the USCG Aids to Navigation, entitled Port Access Route Study for Casco Bay was circulated for comment. The study involved analysis of potential traffic density and safety issues. Dave Mercier, Maine Marine Patrol, was very involved in reviewing the report with Lobster Council members in the Portland area, who were very supportive of the plan concept. Designated Route for Frenchman Bay NOAA suggested several recommended changes for the approach route for cruise ships entering Frenchmen Bay. These were reviewed by local pilots and fishermen who recognized the benefits of the changes. The changes were approved and forwarded to NOAA for incorporation on echarts Aids to Navigation Global Terminal in Portland reported the need for a day marker near the mud flats along the edge of the channel. A request was forwarded to the Marine Safety Office and CG D1 Aids to Navigation with the support of the Port Safety Forum. Definition of Lobster Boats as engaged in Fishing Status There were concerns raised regarding the definition of a vessel engaged in fishing as it related to lobster boats. Through discussions with the USCG and NAVSAV it was determined that when a boat is hauling/tending traps it is in a fishing status and should be displaying proper signage. However, vessels that are in transit to/from lobster grounds are not considered as engaged in fishing, as their movements are not restricted, at these times they should not be displaying fishing signs/lights. As a side note to this issue the cooperative efforts between pilots, the Dept. of
Marine Resources and fishermen resulted in the development of workable moving safety zones around transitting commercial deep draft vessels supported by all parties. Current Data Research at Searsport Efforts were initiated with NOAA to develop new models of the longshore current movements in Searsport harbor. Local pilots have noticed a change in current intensity since the completion of the new pier facilities. NOAA is planning to due a major study of the Penobscot Bay, including Bangor and Bucksport areas, next year in hopes of gaining an better understating of the entire river and bay network Harbor Management Plans Work was begun to try to determine which harbors in Maine and New Hampshire have Harbor Management Plans and have the respective communities provide copies of these plans to the USCG so that the Aids to Navigation section can insure that proper safety information is in place. CG D1 is cooperating in this effort with the Maine State Planning Office. Port Security Maine and New Hampshire facilities were 100% compliant with the new security requirements filing deadline of July 1, 2004. There were some minor adjustments made but all facilities were fully compliant by the October 31,2004 deadline. No vessels entering Maine and New Hampshire were detained for non-compliance. Action Plan for Vessels in Distress: Discussions continued this year regarding the proper procedures for a vessel in distress to get to a safe port for repairs prior to the situation becoming critical. The PSF decided that a plan for how to handle this needed to be developed. It was decided that this should be a project undertaken by the MSO, Maine DEP and New Hampshire DES, but these efforts were placed on hold pending outcome of similar discussion from the IMO. As of year end there has been no report from the IMO on this issue. David Sait, MDEP, and Barbara Parker, MDEP, suggested that this issue be part of the CANUSLANT exercise that was scheduled for next June in Bar Harbor. It was also noted that the Pacific States – British Columbia Oil Spill Task Force, had published a draft Places of Refuge Plan that was available for review at the following web site. http://www.oilspilltaskforce.org/ Awards Capt. O’Malley presented Brian Nutter of the Maine Port Authority with a Certificate of Commendation from the US Coast Guard and the Department of Homeland Security for his efforts in keeping the Port Safety Forum running and encouraging cooperative leadership for the Maine and New Hampshire area. Subcommittees The Port Safety Forum has two standing subcommittees, and two special subcommittees were established during the year.
Navigation Subcommittee. This subcommittee, chaired by a Pilot Representative, is tasked with overseeing waterways management and navigational safety in the area including aids to navigation, dredging, and bridge construction. A working group under this premise was formed to work on the Casco Bay Transit Lane. It included Capt. Earl Walker (Portland Pilots), John Mauro (USCG – ATON), David Sait (MDEP), Jeff Monroe (City of Portland). Membership/Election Subcommittee. This subcommittee for 2004 was comprised of, Joe McCarthy, Daniel Guay and Peter Milholland. They were tasked with soliciting nominations and coordinating the regular election process held during the October meeting in Bangor. Reelected to three-year terms were David Gelinas (Pilot), Tom Hardison (Terminal Operator), and Patricia Aho (Public Seat), and newly elected were Allison Jordan (Commercial Fishing) and Larry Roe (Marine Consruction). These new members will begin service in January 2005. Boating Safety Subcommittee This committee was formed to discuss issues of mandatory boating safety training and what can be done to further educate recreational boaters on the safety issues between recreational craft and fishing and commercial traffic. A number of close calls have been noted recently which could have been avoided. These incidents were taking place inside the designated deep draft transit lanes. Serving on the Subcommittee are Capt. David Gelinas (Penobscot Bay pilots), ENS. Bleacher and PO Tant, (USCG – Group), Capt. Mark Klopp (Portland Pilots), Jon Johansen (Maine Coastal News), Terry Stockwell (DMR), and Lt Ron Pigeon (MSO). Harbor Management (ad-hoc) Subcommittee Serving on this ad-hoc committee are John Mauro (USCG), Jim Connors (Maine SPO), John Dalton (Maine Harbormasters Assn) 2004 Election Results Current Term Members, re-election in Oct 2004 Pilot (Midcoast/Downeast) David Gelinas Terminal Operator (Casco Bay) Tom Hardison Commercial Fishing Allison Jordan Public Seat #1 Patricia Aho Marine Construction Larry Roe 2004 Meetings Meetings were held in 2004 as follows: January 14th in Newington, NH, April 15th, in Portland, ME, July 8th in Augusta, ME, and October 14th, Bangor, ME. Chair Notes Forum Members: Thank you for your voluntary participation in the Maine and New Hampshire Port Safety Forum. The Forum celebrates 13 years of commitment to safety, waterways
management, and environmental protection through prevention initiatives. We commend you for your outstanding stewardship, contributions, and accomplishments through this forum. Respectfully, Stephen Garrity Captain, U. S. Coast Guard Co-Chairs, Port Safety Forum Brian Nutter Maine Port Authority
Port Activity
Cargo Ship Calls 2004
700
600
593
500
400
300 204 200 130 100 45 5 0 Eastport Kennebec River Searsport Penobscot River Rockland Portland Portsmouth
53
40
Cruise Ship Calls for 2004
90
85
80
70
60
50
40 30
30
20 9 9 10 9 11
10
8
0 Bangor Bar Harbor Belfast
0 Boothbay Harbor Bucksport Camden Castine Portland Rockland
Schedule of Meetings for 2004 The Port Safety Forum meeting dates for 2004 are: • • • • January 12, 2005 Portsmouth, NH April 13, 2005 Portland, ME July 13, 2005 Augusta, ME October 12, 2005, Bangor, ME
For More Information For more information about the Maine & New Hampshire Port Safety Forum or if you are interested in participating in any of the issues, or on subcommittees, please contact: Maine Port Authority 16 State House Station Augusta, ME 04333 Phone: 207-624-3564 Brian.Nutter@Maine.gov Or US Coast Guard Marine Safety Office Portland 27 Pearl Street Portland, Maine 04101 Phone: (207) 780-3090, Fax: (207) 780-3567
Fax 207-624-3251