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County paid contractors $31,781 to break harbor ice and free fishing fleets
Summary
Barnstable County reported deploying contracted vessels to break heavy ice in multiple harbors after the storm; the county said the operation cost $31,781 and prioritized access for dredging, ferries and fishing vessels.
Ken Cerillo briefed commissioners on a multi‑day icebreaking effort to restore harbor access after harbors froze during the storm. The county solicited contractors after the Coast Guard’s smaller assets could not access some embayments; two contractor vessels, managed by Robert Bawa’s crew, worked north and south sides of the Cape to open mooring fields and give harbor masters access.
Cerillo described thick ice conditions in several embayments and explained the operation required moving according to tides and weather. The county authorized and paid the contracted crews at a rate described in the briefing, and staff reported the total county charge for the effort was $31,781. Commissioners praised the rapid execution, and local harbor masters and fishermen expressed gratitude for the assistance that allowed dredging and boat operations to resume.
Commissioners noted the county’s ability to act quickly when legislative or emergency approvals are in place, and they thanked crews and harbor masters for the coordination that minimized damage and supported commercial fishing activity.
