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Despite vigorous opposition from boaters and environmentalists, Spaceport Camden has cleared its first major hurdle to becoming a reality. The Federal Aviation Administration released its Environmental Impact Statement on Thursday with the proposed alternative being to issue a launch site operator’s license to the county. See Spaceport Camden Might Be in Doubt and More Reason to Oppose Spaceport Camden. Our thanks to Ted Arisaka for keeping us updated on this issue.
FAA releases spaceport environmental impact statement
By GORDON JACKSON gjackson@thebrunswicknews.com Jun 17, 2021
Last week, U.S. Sen. Raphael Warnock wrote the Federal Aviation Authority to request it delay the release, scheduled for June, of the environmental impact statement for the Spaceport Camden proposal in Georgia’s southeastern corner. See A Call for More Study of Proposed Spaceport. Our thanks to Ted Arisak for this reference.
With a new administration, Spaceport Camden’s liftoff looks in doubt
SaportaReport
Spaceport Camden is a proposal to build a rocket launch facility in Camden County, Georgia. Our thanks to Ted Arisaka of Save Georgia’s Anchorages for sharing this information. See A Call for More Study and Monthly Closures of St. Andrews Sound.
There’s a reason why launches take place directly at the water’s edge. Rockets fail. Debris falls. Fires rage.
Spaceport Camden will have to launch over Cumberland Island and Little Cumberland Island to reach open water.
Ted Arisaka
Sen. Raphael Warnock sent a letter to the Federal Aviation Administration on Monday asking the agency to slow down and complete a thorough review of a proposed spaceport in Camden County. Spaceport Camden is a proposal to build a rocket launch facility in Camden County, Georgia. See Petition to Stop Camden County Spaceport.
Sen. Raphael Warnock calls for more study of proposed Spaceport near Cumberland Island
Savannah Morning News
The Golden Ray went aground and partially capsized in Georgia’s St. Simons Sound on September 7, 2019. With numerous delays, the wreck of the capsized PCTC has taken more than a year to remove from St. Simons Sound, Georgia. See Engine Room Section.
Fire at the Golden Ray salvage operation (Jeanne Gliebe/Facebook)
Video: Fire Breaks Out Aboard Wrecked Ro/Ro Golden Ray
Maritime Executive
The Georgia Department of Natural Resources Coastal Resources Division is hosting a Climate Conference on August 12-13, 2021 at the Jekyll Island Convention Center. The theme for this conference is Minimizing Georgia’s Risk, Maximizing Georgia’s Future.
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The Coast Guard rescued seven adults after their 25-foot vessel became aground at the South Jetty of the Savannah River, Friday. Owner intoxicated and only three life jackets for seven passengers.
PHOTO AVAILABLE: Coast Guard rescues 7 after vessel ran aground at South Savannah River Jetty
Following passage of new regulations in Georgia for anchoring in the coastal waters of the state (House Bill 833 Effective July 1, 2020), Ted Arisaka, an experienced skipper and frequent contributor to Cruisers Net who has been active in the debates and issues surrounding boater access to public waters, posted this summation. Thank you Ted.
Anchoring in Georgia 2021
By Ted Arisaka
“Anchoring Permits” are only required if you plan to anchor in one place for more than 14 days in a year. “One place” is defined by a circle of 1 mile radius.
“Anchoring Restriction Areas” are a separate concept – you may not anchor in these areas overnight:
– Within 300 ft. of a marina
– Within 150 ft. of a marine structure (such as a private dock)
– Within 500 ft. of an approved shellfish area
These zones are mapped on GA DNR’s website here:
https://gcmp.maps.arcgis.com/apps/webappviewer/index.html?id=b5a616ad152a462bad0b73cdb5eeb107
Marina setbacks are shown in red. Structures setbacks are shown in purple. Shellfish setbacks are shown in brown.
They are not charted by NOAA (I have requested this) nor are there currently ATONs in situ to delineate these areas. If you are on FB, we have a group there dedicated to GA Anchoring and one member took GA DNR’s KMZ files and converted them to GPX which you can import into AquaMap. Here is the post:
https://www.facebook.com/groups/SaveGeorgiasAnchorages/permalink/895344771296834/
Also in this group, I took Bob Sherer’s (Bob423) long track through the state and overlaid the anchor restriction zones for shellfish harvest so one could get a sense for where they are in relation to the AICW:
https://photos.app.goo.gl/daiwXxCkMxNaiJVt5
As far as enforcement goes, I have only heard of one case where an anchored cruiser was asked to move in Turner Creek by GA Department of Natural Resources (DNR). The law enforcement officer was courteous but was mistaken on the particular setback being cited and some of us contacted GA DNR to alert them to the need for additional training. Technically it is a misdemeanor, so potentially $1000 fine and one year in jail.
GA DNR is telling us that this is “complaint driven” and they do not have the manpower or intention to patrol the coastal waters looking for violations.
There is another issue brewing due to Georgia’s handling of subtidal shellfish leases. Note that when the new anchoring regulations were enacted last year that a 500 foot setback was agreed to by all parties at the time, not knowing how the state was going to pursue the management of shellfish areas. The new leases will impact where vessels may anchor. Defining those areas and determining what the state’s intentions are is an ongoing struggle.
So at the end of the day, I personally would anchor in Georgia, in my usual spots, keeping away from docks and feel that I would be fine. At least for this spring and summer.
The Golden Ray went aground and partially capsized in Georgia’s St. Simons Sound on September 7, 2019. The wreck of the capsized PCTC has taken more than a year to remove from St. Simons Sound, Georgia. See Cutting Chain Failure.
The position of the cutting chain in Golden Ray’s hull on Sunday (St. Simons Sound Incident Response)
Chain Link Breakage Continues to Plague Golden Ray Wreck Removal
Maritime Executive
The Golden Ray went aground and partially capsized in Georgia’s St. Simons Sound on September 7, 2019. The wreck of the capsized PCTC has taken more than a year to remove from St. Simons Sound, Georgia. See Cutting Chain Failure.
Rigging the cutting gear for the fourth cut (St. Simons Sound Incident Response)
Photos: Work Begins on Fourth Cut Through the Hull of the Golden Ray
St. Marys, Georgia originally began as a town established by the British in 1787. After St. Augustine, Florida, St. Marys is the second-oldest continually inhabited city in the U.S.
Exploring St. Marys, Georgia’s Historic Seaside Community
Forbes
Shortly after restarting operations on the third cut through the hull of the wrecked roll-on/roll-off carrier Golden Ray, salvors have been forced to stop work again and shift to the next section due to another broken chain link. See Golden Ray Removal.
Fuel oil spill cleanup inside of the environmental protection barrier, February 25 (St. Simons Sound Incident Response)
Cutting Chain Failure Forces Golden Ray Salvors to Shift Efforts
Maritime Executive
Spaceport Camden is a proposal to build a rocket launch facility in Camden County, Georgia. If you oppose the proposed SpacePort, you can sign an online petition below, via the Sierra Club. Our thanks to Ted Arisaka of Save Georgia’s Anchorages for sharing this site. See Proposed Spaceport.
Click here for petition STOP The Camden County Spaceport Project!
Sierra Club
More photos. The wreck of the capsized PCTC Golden Ray has taken more than a year to remove from St. Simons Sound, Georgia. Also see Safety Zone and Golden Ray.
Cutting operations to separate Section Seven from the Golden Ray wreck resume, Feb. 4 (St. Simons Sound Incident Response)
Golden Ray Wreck Removal Resumes After Broken Chain Connector
Maritime Executive
Rocket launches will require monthly closures of St. Andrews Sound, Christmas Creek, offshore waters, and the Intracoastal Waterway. We won’t be able to fish, crab, shrimp or boat around Cumberland Island. If a launch is scrubbed, the closures will extend for days.
Contact the DNR to oppose Camden spaceport. It’s not consistent with Georgia’s Coastal Zone Management. Send your comments by March 8, 2021, to Diana Taylor, Department of Natural Resources, One Conservation Way, Brunswick, Georgia 31520 or CRD.Comments@dnr.ga.gov.
Camden’s spaceport will close our waterways
Brunswick News
Our thanks to Ted Ariska of Save Georgia’s Anchorages for forwarding this GNR link further defining Georgia’s anchoring restrictions. See New Boating Laws. Cruisers Net urges you to contribute to the lobbying efforts of SAGA at this AGLCA link.
The wreck of the capsized PCTC Golden Ray has taken more than a year to remove from St. Simons Sound, Georgia. This is the first clear view of the autos lost. Also see Safety Zone.
© Savannah Corps of Engineers via Facebook The Golden Ray has been awaiting removal since September 2019, when the 656-foot-long ship caught on fire and capsized with 4200 newly built vehicles on board.
Capsized Car-Carrying Cargo Ship Cut in Half as Salvage Continues
CarandDriver
Video: Stern Section of Golden Ray Removed on Barge
Maritime Executive
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