Get Full Government Meeting Transcripts, Videos, & Alerts Forever!
Get email alerts on the Harbor Infrastructure Emergency Planning topic
No spam. Unsubscribe anytime.
Board raises concerns about steamship slips and emergency alternatives; notes Steamship Authority is a state entity
Summary
Members discussed risks if the town loses steamship slips, urged contingency planning including a second commercial pier in the harbor plan, and clarified jurisdictional limits: the Steamship Authority is a state entity and the harbor master can close the port but does not control the Steamship Authority.
Board members discussed harbor resilience after recent issues with Steamship Authority slips and emphasized the need for alternative offloading options.
Board members said losing one or both steamship slips would create immediate logistical problems for food and freight delivery. One participant noted the harbor plan included an alternative commercial pier and said that a second slip or alternative offload site is important for emergency preparedness.
The board discussed jurisdiction: the Steamship Authority is a state entity and decisions about restoring service would require state-level involvement; the harbor master can close the port for safety reasons (for example, oil spills or accidents) but does not have authority to direct the Steamship Authority’s operational decisions. Members recalled past incidents, including a fast ferry that nearly sank after being pushed onto rocks in a strong wind, to underscore the operational risk.
Members asked staff to continue advancing harbor-plan elements addressing alternative offload capability and to keep contingency planning on future agendas. No formal motion was made at this meeting to alter harbor infrastructure plans.
