Two Tugs Per Ship in NY/NJ For Now

In the wake of the World Trade Center terrorist attack, a number of new measures are being instituted to ensure the near and long-term safety and security in ports. Naturally, New York/New Jersey is a focal point, and the following is a statement from Admiral Richard Bennis regarding the matter: In the past week, the U.S. Coast Guard has instituted several new vessel-operating requirements aimed at ensuring safe and secure navigation within the Port of New York and New Jersey. Among the safety measures requirement for each and every vessel to be escorted by two tugboats from the time the vessel enters the port complex until it reaches destination. The goal of the these safety requirements is threefold:

• To ensure that the port remains open to vessel traffic and the integrity of the marine transportation system is maintained • To provide all vessels that enter or navigate within the port complex all the safety resources that are available within the port • To have the port's resources readily available to intercede when a vessel or waterway's safety or integrity may be threatened. These may seem like extraordinary measures to members of the maritime community. These are extraordinary times. The events that unfolded on September 11 were and still are unfathomable. The extent to which we must all cooperate to ensure the safety of our port, our city and our nation requires extraordinary measures and the availability of all maritime resources to minimize or avert maritime incidents. In this regard, all members of the maritime community can contribute to the present and future viability our nation's premier port by cooperating with the USCG.

As with all vessel-operating requirements in the Port of New York and New Jersey, the safety measures currently in place will be discussed, reviewed and refined with the cooperation of vessel owners and operators over the next several months. As in the past, the participants and stakeholders in the maritime industry will reach consensus on the very best protocols and regulations to facilitate maritime commerce, vessel safety and the protection of maritime and environmental resources. And as one united maritime industry, vessel owners and operators will play a critical role in defining the future of the Port of New York and New Jersey. In the present, the wound is deep and the stitches fragile. We must work together for the wound to heal. It is truly "…the best of times and the worst of times." The Coast Guard- Activities New York relies on the courage, commitment and good counsel from the maritime community and will continue to do so in the formative months ahead.