Nassau County News

The U.S. Department of Transportation’s Maritime Administration (MARAD) on Monday announced more than $7.5 million in grants to nine Marine Highway projects. The funding, provided by MARAD’s America’s Marine Highway Program, will go toward enhancing existing services in Florida, South Carolina, Kentucky, Louisiana, Michigan, Oregon, Texas, Virginia, and Washington“This $7.5 million investment will improve our country’s vital fuel-efficient waterway transportation system, which makes an important contribution to exports and economic growth,” said U.S. Secretary of Transportation Elaine L.

The U.S. Department of Transportation’s Maritime Administration (MARAD) today announced the designation of nine Marine Highway Projects and a Marine Highway Route that will benefit Connecticut, Florida, Michigan, New York, Oregon, Texas, Virginia, Washington State and American Samoa. Marine highways are navigable waterways that can be used as alternate options to traditional shipping methods. “The designation of marine highways by Congress will help move cargo and people to help grow the economy and shift freight off of congested highways,” said Transportation Secretary Elaine L. Chao.

The global marine environmental science consulting firm  CSA Ocean Sciences (CSA) announced the completion of a survey to collect data for hydrodynamic model calibration and verification in Nassau Sound, located north of Jacksonville, Florida.The CSA team measured inshore and offshore water level, tides, current and waves to calibrate and validate a hydrodynamic model. The team installed water level recorders and a wave-enabled Acoustic Doppler Current Profiler (ADCP) and conducted an estuarine water discharge survey to gather the needed data.Morgan & Eklund, Inc. (M&E), CSA’s sister company, a licensed survey company specializing in hydrographic surveys, teamed with CSA on this project. The project was contracted and managed by Olsen Associates, Inc.

Maritime security experts are gathering this week at Maritime Security 2015 East in Jacksonville, Florida, to exchange information and ideas, as well as learn about and see emerging technologies and operational concepts in action. Presentations were made by speakers from the Navy and Coast Guard, along with state, city and local organizations with maritime security and law enforcement responsibilities. The event is taking place at the Jacksonville JAXPORT Cruise Terminal. A dramatic on water demonstration was led by Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission (FWC).

NOAA’s Marine Debris Program provided $967,000 through its Restoration Center to support locally driven, community-based marine debris prevention and removal projects. Eleven groups across the country received funding to remove derelict fishing nets, litter, lumber, tires and other harmful marine debris from shorelines and coastal waters. “Marine debris plagues coastlines all over the country, and these communities have the expertise and motivation to address it,” said Nancy Wallace, Marine Debris Program director.

The U.S. Merchant Marine Academy (USMMA) will welcome 237 “plebe candidates” of the Class of 2017 into the Regiment of Midshipmen as they take the Academy oath administrated by Rear Admiral Helis during Acceptance Day Ceremony and Parade, Saturday, September 7, 2013 at 9:30 a.m. They will be sworn in as U.S. Navy Reserve midshipmen by Vice Admiral Robin R. Bruan, chief of Navy Reserve, commander, Navy Reserve Force. Braun has accumulated 5,800 flight hours in Navy aircraft. Her awards include Defense Superior Service Medal…

The Coast Guard continues to investigate a probable hoax distress call that was received June 11, 2012, alleging a yacht explosion off Sandy Hook, N.J. Coast Guard Vessel Traffic Service New York received the distress call at approximately 4:20 p.m., reportedly from the master of the yacht Blind Date, stating the vessel suffered an explosion with 21 people aboard. A massive, multi-agency search took place 17 nautical miles east of Sandy Hook, and involved two Coast Guard boat crews, four Coast Guard aircraft crews, response units from New York City Police Department, Fire Department of New York City, New Jersey State Police, and Nassau County Police Department. Good Samaritan boats also participated in the 5 1/2-hour, 638-square nautical mile search.

Coast Guard Vessel Traffic Service New York received an apparent distress call Monday, reportedly from the yacht Blind Date, stating the vessel suffered an explosion, seven people were injured and all 21 people aboard the yacht had abandoned ship into liferafts. A later call to the Coast Guard reported that three people aboard the boat had died, and that several people had 2nd and 3rd-degree burns, and that people aboard were abandoning ship into liferafts. Coast Guard search east of Sandy Hook included two Coast Guard boat crews and four Coast Guard helicopter crews, who searched approximately 638 square nautical miles. Response units from New York City Police Department…

On Sunday evening, a gas leak was discovered in a hot water system servicing Barry and Jones Halls at the U.S. Merchant Marine Academy in Kings Point, New York. Midshipmen and staff on duty immediately evacuated Barry and Jones Halls, which share mechanical systems, and two adjacent barracks. Emergency responders transported thirty-nine midshipmen to local hospitals for evaluation, however no one was admitted. The barracks buildings were ventilated, and a hazardous materials team from the Nassau County Police Department tested the air in the barracks to ensure it was free of carbon monoxide, and that the buildings were safe to reoccupy. Midshipmen were permitted to return to their rooms by approximately 10:30 p.m. Sunday evening.

A barge carrying more than 5 million gallons of home heating oil reportedly struck an unknown object and began taking on water near City Island, N.Y., at approximately 2:30 p.m., Jan 22. No pollution is reported at this time. The commercial tug Meredith C. Reinauer was pushing a barge to Boston, Mass., when they reportedly struck the object near Execution Rocks, N.Y. The master of the tug contacted the Coast Guard and reported the barge was taking on water in a ballasting void. The tug brought the barge to anchor off of Hart Island, N.Y. A Coast Guard 41-foot response boat crew from Coast Guard Station Kings Point was quickly on scene to confirm that the vessel was not discharging any oil. Commercial divers from Randive, Inc.

The Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) issued a notice stating that it has determined that adequate facilities for the safe and sanitary removal and treatment of sewage from all vessels are reasonably available for Hempstead Harbor, Nassau County, New York. The harbor is thus designated a Vessel Waste No Discharge Zone. The Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) issued a notice stating that it has determined that adequate facilities for the safe and sanitary removal and treatment of sewage from all vessels are reasonably available for Oyster Bay/Cold Springs Harbor Complex, Nassau and Suffolk Counties, New York. The harbor complex is thus designated a Vessel Waste No Discharge Zone. (Source: Holland & Knight)

Halter Marine has answered the call from the Venezuelan Navy for a variety of patrol boats. The company recently delivered four 80 ft. (24.3 m) boats to the country's government, which completes the contract for the design and construction of 12 total vessels in this size range. Designed for high speed operations in coastal and riverine environments, the vessels will be used for a variety of patrolling efforts in Venezuelan territorial waters, specifically to counter illegal drug traffic, provide search and rescue assistance, and disaster relief. Powered by a pair of Detroit Diesel marine engines, the vessels will have a range of 1,000 nm and a maximum speed of 25 knots. Halter also supplied the last two 54 ft. patrol boats for the Venezuelan National Guard.

Kvichak Marine recently delivered the second of a two-boat order for the Nassau County Police Department of New York. Marine 6 will join Marine 5 for patrol and rescue operations on the south shore of Long Island. The 38-ft. all-aluminum vessel has a beam of 13.5 ft. and replaces a 36-ft. fiberglass boat that operated in the NCPD for more than 17 years. "We definitely wanted aluminum construction for our new vessels," said First Chief of Patrol Robert Bishop. Twin Caterpillar 3126-DITA @ 420 hp diesel engines, fitted to Twin Disc MG507-1 reversing marine transmissions power Marine 6. The engines are coupled to a pair of Hamilton 321 propulsion jets via Spicer U-joint shafts.

The Coast Guard is monitoring a tanker that ran aground in East Rockaway Inlet, NY about 450 yards from shore. Poling and Cutler Marine, the owners of the tanker, notified the Coast Guard Sector in New Haven, CT, that the tanker ran aground on sandy bottom and is carrying 672,000 gallons of #2 home heating oil. Coast Guard pollution response officers report that the ship suffered no apparent hull breach and no oil product entered the water. A unified Command consisting of New York DEC, Nassau County PD and FD, Hempstead Bay Constable, Coast Guard and Poling and Cutler, has been established to monitor the situation, develop plans to refloat the vessel and to develop as contingency plans in the case of a cargo release.

Kvichak Marine Industries of Seattle is currently building two 38 ft. patrol boats for the Nassau County Police Department (NCPD) of New York. The first vessel is scheduled for delivery in May 2000 with the second to follow in December. With a beam of 13.4 ft. and a 2.6 ft. draft, the all-aluminum vessels will replace two 36 ft. fiberglass boats that operated in the NCPD fleet for 17 years. Powered by twin Caterpillar 3126-DITA diesel engines, fitted to Twin Disc MG507-1 marine gears, the vessels will be used for patrol and rescue on the South Shore of Nassau County. Due to the operating conditions the vessels will encounter, the NCPD chose Hamilton 321 propulsion jets over conventional propellers and shafts.