Our thanks to Tom Hale of SAIL magazine for allowing Cruisers Net to reprint this report from his blog.

Click here for ICW Caution Areas July 2019

The Coast Guard doing what they do so well. Kudos Coast Guard!

Coast Guard Station Pensacola responds to vessel on fire

Coast Guard Station Pensacola assisted Orange Beach Fire Department

Editors’ Note: Click on images to download high resolution version of photos, as well as to view video

NEW ORLEANS — The Coast Guard responded to a vessel that caught fire approximately 4 nautical miles south of Perdido Pass, Alabama, Saturday.

Watchstanders at Coast Guard Sector Mobile received a report at approximately 2 p.m. that the charter vessel Hoss Fly III was on fire off the coast of Perdido Pass.

All eight passengers aboard were transferred to a good Samaritan vessel. There were no injuries reported.

Sector watchstanders directed the launch of a 45-foot Response Boat-Medium crew from Coast Guard Station Pensacola to assist Orange County Fire Department in the response.

The crew arrived on scene at 2:30 p.m., and the fire was declared extinguished at 2:49 p.m.

The cause of the fire is under investigation.

-USCG-

Great suggestions for boaters to help curb the enormous amount of plastics in our waterways.

3 Simple Ways to Reduce Plastic Waste and Pollution When Boating

From the BoatUS Foundation for Boating Safety and Clean Water

ANNAPOLIS, Md., July 24, 2019 — Each year, an estimated 18 billion pounds of plastic is dumped into our oceans from coastal regions. According to a study by the World Economic Forum, at the current rate of pollution, there will be more plastics than fish, by weight, in the ocean by 2050. To help reverse this trend, here are three tips from the nonprofit BoatUS Foundation for Boating Safety and Clean Water to help boaters reduce plastic waste and pollution while on the water.

Pack for the boat trip: Microplastics are very small pieces of plastic, less than 5mm in size, that are the result of larger plastic products partially decomposing from sunlight, heat and wave action. While we haven’t seen the full effects on humans consuming fish and other marine species contaminated with microplastics, studies show that ingested microplastics can seriously damage marine organisms. One of the simplest ways to reduce plastics aboard your boat is to fill up and carry aboard (or stash in a cooler) an insulated container that can hold enough cold water for the day instead of buying individual bottles. Invest in a set of non-breakable plates, cutlery, and food and drink containers to limit single-use plastics aboard. These efforts won’t break the bank, don’t take a lot of extra effort, and can pay big dividends for boaters and the environment in the long-term.

Get your crew involved: Before heading out, provide your crew with a pre-departure briefing and remind them not to put anything overboard. Boats are notoriously windy places, and popular, crowded summer anchorages are particularly prone to wind-driven pollution. When underway, secure possessions as well as any trash below deck or in a storage container. If anything is lost overboard, or if you come across plastic pollution such as a deflated birthday balloon, and conditions permit, it may be a good opportunity — and good practice — for the captain and crew to safely conduct a man-overboard drill to retrieve the item.

Recycle: If your family gets you a fishfinder, a pair of shiny, new boat fenders, or a new boat doodad for your birthday or other event, thank them profusely but unwrap the gift at home and recycle the gift’s packaging if possible. If your marina or boat club doesn’t have a recycling program for plastics and other recyclables, ask about starting one. Ensure all your boating guests know where recyclables go. When fishing, do your best to retrieve fishing line snags, and when respooling, recycle the old line instead of throwing it in the trash.
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Our thanks to Waterway Editor, Ed Tillett, for permitting Cruisers Net to publish this article from Waterway Guide’s weekly newsletter.

Editor’s Note: This is part of an ongoing series of timely updates and insights on an issue critical to both cruisers and Georgia residents that is being researched and covered by Waterway Guide Editor-In-Chief, Ed Tillett. We will continue to keep readers informed via our news website, newsletter and on Facebook. 

The public comment period has ended for some provisions of Georgia’s new laws related to anchoring and securing a permit to stay overnight on boats in its coastal waters. The state’s Department of Natural Resources (DNR) is tallying the results. What impact the comments, emails and phone calls to DNR will have on the state’s handling of this issue remains to be seen.

When House Bill 201 (HB201) was signed into law on May 7, 2020, resident and visiting boaters, and boating interest groups,  realized that they had been left out of the conversation about problems the state was attempting to correct. By the time the legislature passed HB201 it was too late to adjust. Now there is focused interest on revising some of the provisions of the new law. Conversations are ongoing and meetings are being held to refine everyone’s understanding of the regulations. Regardless, the law is in effect and becomes enforceable on January 1, 2020.

This is a complicated issue to unravel due to the language and intent of HB201, what the law requires of DNR, and the history of how Georgia has defined and dealt with “live-aboard” vessels. From the analysis conducted by boating interests since the new law’s passage, there appears to be a misunderstanding on the state’s part of how extended and weekend cruising vessels should be classified, and what the state stands to lose if those boaters are reluctant to visit.

Georgia has one of the most scenic stretches of coastline in America. The Atlantic Intracoastal Waterway (AICW) that runs along the coast of Georgia is a marine highway used by thousands of vessels each year. An overarching concern by many marinas and coastal communities is that the new laws will discourage boating activity due to unreasonable oversight, additional costs and heightened enforcement aimed at residents and visitors.

Short of a dedicated and expensive survey, there are no substantive numbers available to define the economic impact of boaters who transit the state or visit their vessels for weekend pleasure or extended vacations. There are published estimates and overall figures associated with boating in the state from industry groups that may put into perspective the value of vessels on the water.

• The National Marine Manufacturers Association (NMMA) reports that $4.3 billion in economic activity, 638 businesses and 15,000 jobs are tied to boating. There are 322,000 registered vessels in Georgia and the state’s residents spent $632 million on new boats, trailers, engines and accessories in 2018.
• There are 30 marinas, 17 service facilities, 43 identified anchorages and 15 fuel docks along the AICW of Georgia. Many local economies such as Savannah, Thunderbolt, Wilmington Island, Sunbury, Darien, St. Simon’s Island, Brunswick, Jekyll Island, and St. Mary’s cater to transiting and weekend boaters. (WG Explorer)
• An unconfirmed survey indicates that the average transiting vessel spends $85 per stopover. With 76% spending $25-$100, 96% spending $25-$200, and 4% spending in excess of $200. These numbers appear reasonable to anyone who has spent time cruising the AICW.

Whether boats will bypass Georgia on their way north or south due to concern or outrage over the new regulations remains to be seen. Weekend trips by residents and locals will be affected only by their reluctance to deal with new laws. Either way, the recent passage of the regulations has disappointed residents, visitors and business owners alike who were surprised by the state’s handling of what it says are too many derelict and abandoned vessels, and irresponsible full-time residents living on boats.

Extended cruisers and local residents who spend weeks throughout the year on their boats exploring America’s waterways value their lifestyle and independence. Georgia’s new laws will add another layer of requirements and oversight on to responsible boaters who will now be required to show no harm with several of the provisions. The cost of this action by the state may not be readily measured in economic terms, but the price of negative public relations appears to be mounting for Georgia.

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