Halesite
– Supervisor Chad A. Lupinacci and Councilman Ed Smyth were joined by
Director of Maritime Services Dom Spada and Senior Harbormaster Fred
Uvena,
and Janine Burns, Liaison to the Commander, Neptune Sail and Power
Squadron, announcing plans for increased enforcement against unsafe
boaters in Huntington’s waterways during the 4th of July holiday
weekend, and unveiled major infrastructure improvements at
Mill Dam Marina on Thursday, July 2.
The
Harbormaster and Bay Constables, who are trained to recognize impaired
boaters, will be cracking down on speeding boats, overcrowded boats and
intoxicated
boaters, as they do all season long, with a heightened presence this
holiday weekend.
“Last
July 4th, our Harbormaster’s Office apprehended an intoxicated boater,”
said Supervisor Lupnacci. “There is no excuse for drinking and boating
and
avoidable tragedies.”
On
Friday, July 3rd and Saturday, July 4th the Huntington Harbormaster’s
Office will have a full complement of four (4) patrol boats and the pump
out boat
in service. Boaters should call VHS Channel 16 for emergencies on the water and Channel 9 for pump out service. Extra life jackets are available at the Harbormaster’s Office, (631) 351-3255.
“This
has been an unusual and very busy boating season. The shutdown from the
ongoing public health crisis has driven more people to the water,” said
Supervsor
Chad A. Lupinacci. “This has resulted in more kayakers and boaters
needing rescue, with our Harbormaster’s Office averaging one rescue a
day from early May through mid-June. When you enter Huntington’s
waterways, be prepared: Wear a mask when on the docks until
you are on your boat and have your lifejackets, flares, and
documentation on board.”
Councilman
Ed Smyth commended the Department of Maritime Services for the major
infrastructure improvements mostly completed in-house over the past 18
months: “Huntington residents and boaters get their money's worth from
the Maritime Bureau. Newly-appointed Director Dom Spada, and his staff,
renovated Mill Dam Marina in-house after decades of neglect. These
desperately-needed improvements keep our public
waterfront facilities safe for residents, visitors and employees. In
addition, the Maritime Bureau beamed with pride over the new
state-of-the-art emergency response boat. Although far less glamorous
but equally necessary, Maritime also unveiled
the town's new pump-out boat, which keeps our beaches and waterways
clean.”
Maritime
Services Director Dom Spada recognized the Town’s maritime
infrastructure was in severe disrepair and took action, tasking his team
to make the
majority of the infrastructure improvements to Mill Dam Marina in-house
over the past 18 months after completing the installation of LED
lighting on all the Town’s navigational markers:
- New ADA-accessible configurations for docking
- New, larger head float
- Redecked all docks and building out finger floats to replace frog hooks
- Replaced the bulkhead
This
winter, the Department of Maritime Services took delivery a new
state-of-the-art 34-foot North River Liberty patrol boat, 75% of which
was paid for
by $330,000 in FEMA Port Security Grant funding secured by Director
Spada. The new response vessel, which has proved very useful on several
occasions this season, adds new features to the Harbormaster’s fleet
with thermal imaging to detect body heat, a side
scanner to give rescue personnel a wider range of visibility for
searching underwater lands for rescues, a radiation meter, a lift to
recover injured boaters and passengers from the water, and a generator
for better lighting on rescue scenes.
In
March 2020, Maritime Services also took delivery of a a new 26-foot
Sound Marine pump out boat, built locally on Long Island with over 60%
of the cost
covered by a NYS Clean Vessel Assistance Program (CVAP) Grant, which
includes a 325-gallon holding tank to pump boats out and keep our water
clean.
[VIDEO: https://huntingtonny.granicus.com/MediaPlayer.php?view_id=4&clip_id=2209]