Fisher Island News

John Waterhouse is a ubiquitous character in the U.S. maritime industry, a deep-thinker, a signature bow tie and more than three decades of naval architecture and marine engineering experience and success as co-owner of the Seattle-based Elliott Bay Design Group (EBDG).While growing up, John Waterhouse spent some time in Vancouver, BC, Canada, and it was as a young boy standing on the shores of English Bay, watching ships come in from around the world to load and unload their cargos, when he realized that a maritime career could be his future.

Capt. Michael R. Coughlin, commanding officer of the Naval Undersea Warfare Center (NUWC) Division, Newport, and James Russell, president and chief executive officer (CEO) of the New Bedford Whaling Museum (NBWM), signed an education partnership agreement (EPA) for undersea acoustic research during a brief ceremony on Friday, March 31. Under the EPA, NUWC Newport will provide research, expertise, and material on the Navy's historic and current role in marine mammal research in conjunction with the museum’s recently acquired collection of historic marine mammal recordings, photographs and collection equipment. The William A. Watkins Collection of Marine Mammal Sound Recordings and the William E.

Coast Guard Station New London crewmembers rescued three mariners after their vessel caught on fire at 6:45 A.M., Sunday, near Cerberus Shoal. A father of one of the mariners notified Coast Guard Sector Long Island Sound that the 50-foot long liner Long Shot was burning near Fisher’s Island. The crewmembers had abandoned ship and boarded a life raft. Watchstanders at Sector Long Island Sound launched boat crews from Coast Guard Station Montauk and Coast Guard Station New London. A helicopter crew from Air Station Cape Cod also responded. Station New London crewmembers in a 45-foot Response Boat Medium arrived on scene at 7:15 A.M. and recovered the mariners and life raft. The mariners were all wearing survival gear, including lifejackets, and no injuries or medical concerns were reported.

1909-  The British barkentine Ladysmith, during a thick fog, stranded three miles WSW of the Fisher's Island Life-Saving Station.  The keeper was notified by telephone and the life-savers, in surfboat, proceeded to the scene.  They safely rescued the Ladysmith's master, his wife, and 9 seamen.   1983- The Coast Guard retired the last operational HU-16E Albatross, ending the "era of seaplanes" for the service.   (Source: USCG Historian’s Office)

1909- The British barkentine Ladysmith, during a thick fog, stranded three miles WSW of the Fisher's Island Life-Saving Station.  The keeper was notified by telephone and the life-savers, in surfboat, proceeded to the scene.  They safely rescued the Ladysmith's master, his wife, and 9 seamen. 1983- The Coast Guard retired the last operational HU-16E Albatross, ending the "era of seaplanes" for the service. (Source: USCG Historian’s Office)

The U.S. Attorney for the District of Connecticut stated that the operations manager of the Fisher Island Ferry was sentenced to 30 days imprisonment, one year of supervised release, and a $10,000 fine for violation of federal law. The manager pled guilty to directing the ferry crews to open the overboard discharge valves on the vessels’ sewage systems during the period 2000 through 2004, thereby allowing raw sewage and untreated sludge to be discharged directly into the Thames River in New London and into Long Island Sound. The practice continued until the U.S. Coast Guard did an unannounced inspection of a ferry in 2004. Source: HK Law

The fourth vessel to join the Fisher Island fleet, Heron, has been delivered. Built by Eastern Shipbuilding Group in Panama City, Fla., and designed by Elliott Bay Design Group (EBDG), Seattle, the 120-ft. double-ended vehicle ferry was accepted by Fisher Island Community Association on October 9, 2002. EBDG completed the upgraded Contract Design and later served as Owner's Representative during vessel construction. The new vessel measures 120 x 46 x 7 ft., and carries 22 vehicles and up to 100 passengers. According to EBDG Project Manager Will Nickum, P.E., Heron was "designed for maintenance." Special consideration was placed on improvements geared towards maintenance and compatibility with the existing fleet. Length, o.a., molded 120 ft. Length, design load waterline 116 ft.

Seattle-based Elliott Bay Design Group (EBDG) is proud to announce that the Heron, the fourth vessel to join the Fisher Island fleet, has been delivered. Built by Eastern Shipbuilding Group in Panama City, Florida, the 120 ft. double-ended vehicle ferry was accepted by Fisher Island Community Association on October 9, 2002. EBDG completed the upgraded Contract Design and later served as Owner's Representative during vessel construction. The new vessel measures 120 ft. length overall with a beam of 46 ft. and a draft of 7 ft. The Heron carries 22 vehicles and up to 100 passengers. According to EBDG Project Manager Will Nickum, P.E., the…

Kevin J. O’Connor, United States Attorney for the District of Connecticut, announced that MARK EASTER, age 54, of 152 Gager Road, Bozrah, Connecticut, waived indictment and pleaded guilty today to illegally causing raw sewage and untreated sludge to be discharged into the Thames River and Long Island Sound. EASTER’s plea of guilty was accepted this afternoon by United States Magistrate Judge Thomas P. Smith in Hartford. Under the terms of the plea agreement, if accepted by Magistrate Judge Smith, EASTER will serve a term of imprisonment of 30 days. In addition, he faces a maximum fine in the amount of $25,000 per day. “This crime against the environment occurred for several years, and thousands of gallons of raw sewage were knowingly deposited directly into our waterways,” U.S.

Trinity Yachts will Christen their two recent deliveries of M/Y Zoom Zoom Zoom with the exterior design by Geoff van Aller and M/Y Lady Florence at the exclusive Showboats International Rendezvous located on Fisher Island , FL. this November.