New sludge vessel joins NYC fleet
The New York City Department of Environmental Protection has added the sludge vessel Red Hook to its collection of waste-transport ships. Built in Brownsville, Texas, the vessel measures more than 350 feet in length and about 53 feet in beam. Red Hook carries eight storage tanks with a combined capacity of roughly 1.2 million tons and, consistent with the fleet’s tradition, is named after a wastewater treatment facility.
Red Hook becomes the fourth vessel in a group of sludge carriers that together move more than 2 million gallons of sludge every day. Sludge-carrying vessels have been part of New York City’s waste-management operations since 1930, when ocean dumping practices were discontinued under federal programs. Each ship typically completes about 14 round trips during a normal week.
For additional information about the NYC Department of Environmental Protection Communications & Intergovernmental Affairs, contact (718) 595-6600.
Connecticut DEP: Ice contained most of the oil leak
A faulty pipe at a Bridgeport, Connecticut, facility operated by Triram led to the release of several hundred gallons of oil into the Connecticut River, officials reported. The factory stores heated asphalt products in tanks, so material did not solidify even in cold weather; an issue with piping caused the release, according to Shawn Schain, a spokesman for the Connecticut Department of Environmental Protection (DEP).
Most of the discharge was contained on site because the plant maintains environmental control dykes. A limited amount—at most a few hundred gallons—reached the shoreline, but much of the spill became trapped in ice, Schain said. The DEP responded to the incident to coordinate containment and cleanup.
Chelsea Gwyther, executive director of the Connecticut Watershed Council, indicated the boating community need not be overly concerned about impacts to recreational activity, and DEP officials expect only minimal effects on aquatic life, shoreline ecology, and boating.
— Annie Norcia
Sea Music Festival seeks paper proposals
Mystic Seaport is accepting proposals for papers to be presented at the 30th annual Sea Music Festival, scheduled for June 12–13. The festival honors seafaring life and culture through performances and scholarly talks. Organizers invite submissions on topics such as shipboard work songs, maritime cultures and change, nautical technology, and regional musical traditions.
Submissions should examine maritime music or verse—on oceans or inland waters—from historical, folkloric, literary, ethnomusicological, or related perspectives. Accepted papers will be included in the Music of the Sea Symposium, part of the festival program.
Mystic Seaport, located in Mystic, Connecticut, houses more than two million artifacts and one of the nation’s largest collections of maritime photography. For festival details, call Michael O’Farrell at (860) 572-5317 or e-mail [email protected].
Sunsail expands into Italy and Sicily
Clearwater, Florida–based Sunsail Sailing Vacations has expanded its Mediterranean operations with new bases in Tropea on Italy’s southwest coast and Palermo on northwest Sicily. Both locations offer bareboat and skippered charters, ideal for exploring nearby island groups such as the Aeolian, Lipari, and Aegadian islands.
Tropea on the Calabrian coast provides a convenient starting point for trips to southern Italy, nearby Aeolian isles about 30 miles away, and Sicily itself offers varied cruising grounds. Palermo makes access to the Aegadian islands, Malta, and Tunisia straightforward. The region is renowned for its natural scenery and cultural heritage, including Mount Etna, Europe’s highest active volcano.
Author event at Mystic Seaport
David Macaulay will present his account of a sunken ship and its voyage on April 22 as part of Mystic Seaport’s 2009 Maritime Authors Series. The program includes a wine-and-cheese reception at 5:30 p.m., a presentation, audience Q&A, and a free book raffle. Tickets are $20 for nonmembers and $15 for members. For information, call (860) 572-5339 or e-mail [email protected].
Fishing sunglasses earn innovation award
Old Harbor Outfitters received the 2008 Best New Product Award at the International Convention of Allied Sportfishing Trades for a line of premium fishing sunglasses developed for offshore conditions. The lenses incorporate polarized “beneath the surface” technology and improvements in ultraviolet protection, anti-fogging, water repellence, and durable frame materials, helping anglers see deeper beneath the water’s surface.
Coast Guard Auxiliary to increase Long Island Sound presence
The U.S. Coast Guard Auxiliary plans to boost its patrol presence on Long Island Sound by adding more vessel patrols. Initiatives will include expanded public education, increased courtesy vessel examinations, and outreach to raise awareness of Rescue 21, the Coast Guard’s shore-based communications and response system that helps mariners in distress.
The Auxiliary is a volunteer component supporting maritime safety, environmental missions, and public education with roughly 28,000 volunteers nationwide.
Guy Harvey launches charitable jewelry collection
Artist Guy Harvey’s Signature Jewelry Collection by Nautora features sculpted pieces inspired by his marine artwork, depicting species such as blue marlin, sailfish, dolphins, and sea turtles. A portion of sales will be donated to The Guy Harvey Ocean Foundation, which supports ocean conservation education for students.
New fishing guide and charter locator
BoatUSAngler.com now offers a Fishing Guide and Charter Locator to help anglers plan trips. The directory allows searches by region, state, or target species and includes contact details, business descriptions, equipment and boat information, credentials, and customer ratings. Listings often link directly to charter or guide websites for additional information.
PFD loaner program seeks expansion
The BoatU.S. Foundation’s Life Jacket Loaner Program—the only national initiative lending child-sized life jackets for free—operates at more than 350 sites and is seeking $50,000 to expand to new locations and replenish existing inventories. Since 1997 the program has loaned more than 50,000 life jackets annually and helped save at least three lives. Donations are tax-deductible; $10 purchases a vest-style jacket and $250 funds a new, fully stocked loaner site.
Boating safety education marks 60 years
This year marks the 60th anniversary of the Coast Guard Auxiliary’s public boating-education program. Established as the Auxiliary’s long-standing mission, public education has served as “preventative search and rescue,” aiming to reduce accidents through training. Created by Congress in 1939, the Auxiliary’s nearly 30,000 volunteers teach safety classes, perform vessel safety checks, assist in search-and-rescue missions, and support the Coast Guard in many non-law-enforcement roles.
This article originally appeared in the April 2009 issue.