I am reaching out to the Greater Boating Community to find a solution to a dredging problem located off the southeast corner of Manhattan Beach in Sheepshead Bay Channel.
In the United States Coast Guard District 1 Notice to Mariners for several years under shoaling, it states,“Increased shoaling found in the vicinity of Sheepshead Bay Channel. Specifically, near SHB buoys 6 and 7. Aids marking this channel may be unreliable. All mariners are urged to use extreme caution when transiting this area.”
To request dredging, the USCG referred me to the US Corp of Army Engineers (USCAE). The USCAE said that there is no shoaling problem. In addition, the USCAE stated that the channel from buoys 6 and 7 to the entrance to Sheepshead Bay is not a Federal Channel and therefore, not their responsibility.
Heading north between buoys 6 and 7 you will reach buoy 8 at the midpoint to the entrance to Sheepshead Bay and at the entrance to the Bay is Buoy 12. Between the turning Buoy 12 and the wooden footbridge from Emmons Ave. to Manhattan Beach, there are Buoys 16 and 18. All these buoys are maintained by the United States Coast Guard.
Several years ago, the USCG published a wish list in the Notice to Mariners, #29,2019 for Sheepshead Bay.
“Low water at MLW, until further notice”
I think it would be reasonable to conclude that these marked channels with USCG maintenance must be a federal responsibility.
In Sheepshead Bay, there are the Mirimar, Veruna and Sheepshead Bay Yacht Clubs, mostly with sailboats. Many of the sailboats draw more than 4 feet of draft. There are 7 fishing party boats, a large whale-watching boat and a 152-foot Dinner Boat. There are NO BOOZE CRUISE boats in the Bay. Many of these commercial boats have much difficulty transiting between buoys 6 and 7 at mid to low tide. In the past, there were as many as 50 fishing party boats.
In terms of tax revenue between the boats, restaurants and other commercial businesses, Sheepshead Bay is a destination to attract visitors spending much money and generating much tax revenue. It would be enough to justify dredging. Walking along the water and looking at the boats are a large part of what makes Sheepshead Bay a destination for tourists.
Over the years, much of the sand causing the shoaling came from Plumb Beach. Jetties have been installed since Tropical Storm Sandy and several Nor’easters, with dredging, future problems might be mitigated.
In 1992, there was a large fire at 3030 Emmons Ave, a seven-story apartment house. Several of the fire hydrants were inoperative which made the fire more difficult to extinguish. If a Fire Boat had been there, the fire might have been extinguished more rapidly.
Over the years, there has been much new construction along Emmons Avenue as our infrastructure has gotten less reliable, including fire hydrants. NYC purchased three new fire boats. Unfortunately, all would have trouble entering Sheepshead Bay.
The new fire boats are 140 feet long and need 9 feet of draft. Their main feature is that they can deliver 20,000 to 50,000 gallons of water per minute and can travel at approx. 21 knots.
The residents of Canarsie are requesting a commuter boat from Canarsie Pier to Manhattan from the city. The larger boats can carry 350 passengers. It also draws 6 feet and 3 inches to the bottom of the propeller. The operator cannot keep a regular schedule but work around a tide schedule if they also go into Sheepshead Bay.
Currently, NYC Parks Dept. is renovating all the piers in Sheepshead Bay at a cost of approx. 16 million dollars. All equipment and supplies for the repair were brought on large barges with tugboats. I heard from the captains in the bay that these tugboats occasionally run aground at buoys 6 and 7.
I have spoken with members of the NYPD Harbor unit. They, too, have difficulty transiting this area with their larger police boats. Being jetties.
The Coast Guard says one thing and the USCAE says another. As I have said, I am reaching out to the Greater Boating Community for any ideas on how to solve this problem. If you, my fellow boaters, can reach out to your elected politicians, you can help solve this problem. I can be reached by e-mail at ecalpremmus@verizon.net.
Stan Kaplan
