Coronavirus: Marinas Allowed To Open In NY, NJ, CT

For all those boaters eager to pump the bilges and clean off barnacles, the hour has come in the new coronavirus outbreak. Saturday evening, New York's, New Jersey's and Connecticut's governors announced they have agreed to allow boatyards, launches and marinas to open up.

Plus, golfers can get out on the links in New York. The Democrat and Chronicle reported that New York updated its guidance for golf courses as well as marinas.

Gov. Andrew Cuomo, New Jersey Gov. Phil Murphy and Connecticut Gov. Ned Lamont said marinas, boatyards and marine manufacturers will be allowed to open for personal use as long as strict social distancing and sanitization protocols are followed.

Chartered watercraft services or rentals will not be allowed. Restaurant activity at such sites is limited to take-out or delivery only.

This announcement aligns the policies of the three states on this particular service.

"Throughout this pandemic, we've worked closely with our friends in neighboring states to implement a uniform regional approach to reducing the spread of the virus," Cuomo said in the joint statement issued Saturday night. "Aligning our polices in this area is another example of that strong partnership, and will help ensure there is no confusion or 'state shopping' when it comes to marinas and boatyards."

"We've committed to working with our regional partners throughout this crisis to align our policies when and where appropriate," said Murphy. "A unified approach is the most effective way to alleviate confusion for the residents of our states during the ongoing public health emergency."

"Our states share workforces, resources, public transit, and we all have share a connection on the water," Lamont said. "This is yet another example of how our states have shared interests, which is all the more reason to collaborate on these kinds of decisions. This decision provides uniformity across our marinas."

The decision in New York is promulgated by Empire State Development, the agency that issues decisions on essential v non-essential. For marinas, boatyards, and recreational marine manufacturers, for ongoing marina operations and boat repair/maintenance, where such facilities adhere to strict social distancing and sanitization protocols. Use of such sites for the purposes of personal use or operation of boats or other watercraft is permissible, provided that no establishment offer chartered watercraft services or rentals.

Officials at Empire State Development said as of April 18 that while golf courses are not essential and cannot have employees working on-premise, groundskeeping may be done and private operators may permit individuals access to the property so long as there are no gatherings of any kind and appropriate social distancing of six feet between individuals is strictly adhered to.