“A vessel that sticks out way beyond the slip is an accident waiting to happen,” the Fishermen head boat Captain Ron Santee told the Harbor Commission in a letter reported at Tuesday’s meeting of the Harbor Commission .
“I know this is a bad situation, and the owner wants to make it right and certainly does not want damage to his vessel or mine,” he continued, in urging the Harbor Commission to “correct the situation immediately.”
At issue is the docking of the Keyport Princess, an 88-foot super ship, billed as the biggest and fastest in the fleet and capable of taking 100 passengers. Docked at the Keyport Marina, the ship’s piers were severely damaged in last week’s storm and upon the request of Mayor Lori Hohenleitner, it was agreed that boat could dock at the Atlantic Highlands harbor until the Keyport marina repairs are completed.
But Santee said when the boat first came in and he saw a picture of it he immediately contacted Harbor Master Lou Fligor citing dangers in the slip where it was located because of its size and difficulty in maneuvering without endangering the adjacent boat. Fligor immediately responded, he said, and told the Princess owner to move the boat to another slip, given the circumstances cited.
Apparently, according to Santee’s letter, the boat’s owner Ethan Hartley complied. However, the letter continues, Jack Bevins, Jack Bevins, Senior VP, Marine Operations at Seastreak at the Harbor and apparently also a captain of the Prowler, told Hartley to move the boat back and not to worry about it and the boat is now immediately adjacent to the Fishermen.
But Santee is questioning why Hartley, whom he believes has a personal difference with him, has the influence to override the harbor master.
Santee said when the mayor first said the boat could be docked; she would have had no idea of the hazards or the site restrictions in place for the dock. “She was more than willing to help a bad situation when the mayor of Keyport called, but was not informed of what is actually going on,” his letter continued.
But Santee said there are multiple problems. Northeast, east and northwest winds are prevalent for the next three months, he said, and wind plays a major role in leaving and docking a vessel. “A vessel that sticks out way beyond the slip is an accident waiting to happen. With no blemish or accident on his record in the more than half century the Santee fishermen have been a part of the harbor, “why should I have to worry about this every day?”
Santee said in the past boats in the harbor had to be 65 x 20 feet with an allowance of up to 73 feet for a pulpit or anchor sprit, designed so as not to impede other vessels.
He pointed out he and both the Sea Fox and Prowler, two other long time head boats in the harbor all meet the size requirements for their slips and he questioned why the Princess does not have to do the same. Moving it to another slip one away from his own could eliminate any problems, he said.
Harbor Committee Chairman Tom Wall cited the letter at Tuesday’s meeting, noting it had only been received when the Harbor Office opened Monday morning, but the agenda was amended so action could be taken immediately in order to keep Santee informed and to make a decision on any recommended action.
Commissioners discussed the matter briefly and agreed to forward the letter to the lease committee to make a determination on what steps should be taken before there are any final agreements with the Keyport Princess,
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