Commercial Anchorages on the Hudson: Objections to Coast Guard Plans

CORTLANDT, NY — The Coast Guard is considering establishing 10 new anchorage grounds in the Hudson River from Yonkers to Kingston, New York —and many citizens plus the Town of Cortlandt are adamantly opposed.

They are considering this action, Coast Guard officials said, after receiving requests suggesting that anchorage grounds may improve navigation safety along an extended portion of the Hudson River, which currently has no anchorage grounds, allowing for a safer and more efficient flow of vessel traffic.

The Coast Guard is seeking comments and information about the operational need for new anchorage grounds and what form possible regulations should take.

The Coast Guard received requests from the Maritime Association of the Port of NY/NJ Tug and Barge Committee, the Hudson River Port Pilot's Association, and the American Waterways Operators to consider establishing new anchorage grounds on the Hudson River.

The anticipated users of the proposed anchorage grounds are commercial vessels and their attending tug, tow, or pushboats.

The approximate depths of the proposed anchorage grounds range from 21 feet to 65 feet, which would accommodate a variety of vessel types and configurations, and would not interfere with the areas where vessels have historically transited the Hudson River.

• Contemplated Kingston Flats South Anchorage Ground
• Contemplated Port Ewen Anchorage Ground
• Contemplated Big Rock Point Anchorage Ground
• Contemplated Roseton Anchorage Ground
• Contemplated Milton Anchorage Ground
• Contemplated Marlboro Anchorage Ground
• Contemplated Newburgh Anchorage Ground
• Contemplated Tompkins Cove Anchorage Ground
• Contemplated Montrose Point Anchorage Ground
• Contemplated Yonkers Extension Anchorage Ground

Cortlandt town officials object to the proposed Montrose Point Anchorage Ground, which would accommodate up to three vessels with a draft of less than 26 feet for long term use.

Town Supervisor Linda Puglisi issued this statement:

The Cortlandt Town Board and I on July 19, 2016 voted unanimously to oppose any Coastguard anchor sites proposed off our shores in the Hudson River for many reasons.

The anchors would be a detriment to the visual aesthetics of the Hudson River that our residents enjoy on a yearly basis. The Town of Cortlandt government has spent millions of dollars to purchase property along this shoreline to add to the assets of the town. They include a recent purchase of 100 acres from Con Edison, Inc., a life estate with a property owner and a former marina. All of this land is now part of our landscape.

Also, we have the Indian Point nuclear plants (2), the ongoing construction of the Spectra expanded gas line project going throughout our community from across the river and we now do not need anchors off our shores in the Hudson River.

We have submitted a request to the Coastguard to hold their public meetings in Cortlandt and have passed an official Town Board resolution opposing this Coastguard anchor plan. We encourage our residents to also contact the Coastguard stating their opposition to this plan.

Visit federalregister.gov for more information on the proposal and how to submit comments.

Coast Guard officials are requesting comments to assist them in determining the best way forward with respect to establishing the new anchorage grounds on the river.

To aid us in developing a possible proposed rule, we seek any comments, whether positive or negative, including but not limited to the impacts anchorage grounds may have on navigation safety and current vessel traffic in this area, the proposed number and size of vessels anchoring in each proposed anchorage ground, and the authorized duration for each vessel in each proposed anchorage ground. We are also seeking comments on any additional locations where anchorage grounds may be helpful on the Hudson River or any recommended alterations to the specific locations considered in this notice. Please submit any comments or concerns you may have in accordance with the “Public Participation and Request for Comments” section above.

Comments are running strongly against the plan, mostly by residents who don't want to look at commercial vessels anchored offshore. Others say that letting the commercial vessels that transit the river be able to anchor would ruin many years' work to clean up the Hudson. See the comments here.

Comments and related material must be received by the Coast Guard on or before Sept. 7, 2016. You may submit comments identified by docket number USCG-2016-0132 using the Federal eRulemaking Portal at http://www.regulations.gov.

CHART: USCG